Sony has recently conducted layoffs at its Visual Arts studio in San Diego and PS Studios Malaysia, according to reports from Kotaku and statements from former employees on LinkedIn. The layoffs were announced earlier this week, with March 7 designated as the last working day for the affected staff. These employees had been involved in various projects, including a canceled live-service game at Bend Studio.
Visual Arts, known for providing art and technical support to PlayStation's first-party studios, has notably contributed to projects like The Last of Us Part 1 and 2 remasters. LinkedIn posts from former employees, as identified by IGN, confirm layoffs at both Visual Arts and PS Studios Malaysia. One ex-Visual Arts employee mentioned that the layoffs resulted from "multiple project cancellations."
This marks the second instance of layoffs at Visual Arts within two years, following another round in 2023. The current staff size and ongoing projects at Visual Arts remain undisclosed, with IGN seeking further comment from PlayStation.
These layoffs are part of a broader trend in the gaming industry, which saw over 10,000 developers laid off in 2023, escalating to more than 14,000 in 2024. In 2025, the trend persists, though exact figures are less clear as more studios opt not to disclose the numbers affected.
