Sony’s PlayStation has recently confirmed layoffs at its subsidiary, Visual Arts Studio, leading to several experienced designers’ exit, as Game Rant reported. While most gaming enthusiasts are more acquainted with first-party studios such as Naughty Dog and PlayStation Studios, these support studios like Visual Arts are the unsung heroes behind many blockbuster games.
The role of support studios
Visual Arts Studio has been instrumental since its inception in 2007 in aiding Sony with some of its biggest game releases. The studio generally collaborates with first-party developers like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio. Notably, they were heavily involved in the release of ‘The Last of Us Part 1’ before development responsibilities were handed over to Naughty Dog.
Departures and their impact
The news about the layoffs became public when several ex-employees announced their exit. Daniel Bellemere, a former senior-level designer who had previously worked on major projects at Ubisoft, revealed that he was leaving due to the layoffs. Other former employees like Sean Teo, a rigging artist, and Matt Barney, a senior technical recruiter, also confirmed their departures. Given the critical roles these employees played in previous projects, this move is expected to have a ripple effect.
Layoffs in the broader gaming industry
This isn’t an isolated incident; the gaming industry has witnessed several rounds of layoffs in 2023. Last month, Epic Games let go of an astounding 870 employees, and CD Projekt Red reportedly cut about 9% of its staff. Microsoft, too, has yet to be immune, laying off over 10,000 employees throughout the year.
Despite these layoffs, Sony’s gaming projects continue to thrive. For example, Insomniac’s ‘Spider-Man 2’ broke records by selling over 2.5 million units in just 24 hours. Santa Monica Studio’s ‘God of War: Ragnarok’ was a finalist for “Game of the Year” at the 2022 Game Awards. However, the staff cuts at Visual Arts Studio mean several skilled developers are now on the job market, likely seeking opportunities at other studios.
