Multiple Developers Laid Off from PlayStation Visual Arts Group
In a recent announcement, several developers revealed that they have been laid off from PlayStation’s Visual Arts group. Among them is former senior level designer Daniel Bellemere, who expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with talented colleagues on amazing projects. Bellemere, based in San Diego, was working on an undisclosed project, and it remains unclear whether he was employed at PlayStation’s Visual Arts Group or Sony San Diego.
The Visual Arts Service Group, headquartered in San Diego and established in 2007, aimed to enhance some of PlayStation’s most popular franchises. One of their notable achievements was their contribution to The Last of Us Part 1, which involved bringing the game in-house at the original studio, Naughty Dog, to complete the project.
Matt Barney, another former employee, bid farewell to PlayStation and Sony Interactive Entertainment, acknowledging the anticipated layoff wave. While some developers mentioned the end of their contracts with PlayStation’s Visual Arts Group on social media, it is uncertain whether this was the natural conclusion of the contract term or a result of layoffs.
Rigging artist Sean Teo, who had also worked on The Last of Us Part 1, shared on his LinkedIn page that his contract at PlayStation Visual Arts had come to an end. Teo expressed his flexibility in seeking new opportunities in video games, cinematic films, and commercial work.
Unfortunately, job losses have been prevalent in the gaming industry in 2023. Frontier Developments, based in Cambridge, UK, experienced layoffs earlier this week. Additionally, Zen Studios, owned by Embracer Group, was recently hit with layoffs.
Embracer Group had announced a major deal in May, which unexpectedly fell through, leading to a substantial revision of their earnings forecast. This setback prompted a restructuring program in June, resulting in the closure of studios and termination of projects. As a result, Embracer made layoffs at Gearbox Software Publishing, Crystal Dynamics (known for their work on Tomb Raider), and Beamdog (the studio behind the Knights of the Old Republic remake). Furthermore, they shut down Volition, the developer of Saints Row, in August and are reportedly contemplating the sale of Gearbox, the creators of Borderlands, which they acquired in a deal worth up to $1.4 billion in 2021.