Several developers have recently been laid off from PlayStation’s Visual Arts group.
One of them, former senior level designer Daniel Bellemere, expressed his disappointment, saying: “Unfortunately, following a wave of layoffs last week, my time at PlayStation has come to an end. Despite the news being unexpected, I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside incredibly talented colleagues on amazing projects. I will cherish the memories I have from my time there.”
Bellemere, who is based in San Diego, was working on an undisclosed project. It is unclear whether he was part of PlayStation’s Visual Arts group or Sony San Diego.
Founded in 2007 in San Diego, the Visual Arts Service Group aims to enhance PlayStation’s popular franchises.
The group gained recognition for its contributions to The Last of Us Part 1, even assisting the original studio, Naughty Dog, in completing the game.
Another former employee, Matt Barney, bid farewell to PlayStation and Sony Interactive Entertainment, expressing his fondness for the company. He wrote, “Goodbye PlayStation / Sony Interactive Entertainment, it’s been real! 👋 I anticipated this wave of layoffs for a few months. I have a strong attachment to PlayStation, and that’s why I chose to stay even when given the chance to leave.”
Additional developers have shared on social media that their contracts with PlayStation’s Visual Arts group have reached their conclusion. However, it is unclear whether this was a natural end to the contract or a result of the layoffs.
Sean Teo, a rigging artist who worked on The Last of Us Part 1, announced the end of his contract at PlayStation Visual Arts and his search for new opportunities in the gaming, film, and commercial industries.
The games industry has seen significant job losses in 2023, with companies like Frontier Developments and Zen Studios also experiencing layoffs.
Embracer Group, the owner of Zen Studios, faced setbacks when a major deal with Savvy Games Group fell through unexpectedly. This led to a restructuring program, resulting in studio closures and project terminations, including at Gearbox Publishing, Crystal Dynamics, and Beamdog. Embracer also recently shut down Volition, the developer of Saints Row, and is reportedly considering selling Gearbox, the creator of Borderlands, which it acquired in a billion-dollar deal in 2021.
