Bend Studio Lays Off Staff Following Project Cancellation

Bend Studio, a first-party Sony developer, has experienced a round of layoffs after the cancellation of a live service concept it was working on. According to a report by Bloomberg, approximately one-third of the staff have been let go. Although Sony has not confirmed the exact number of affected employees, the company has released a statement through Kotaku. A spokesperson stated, "Bend Studio recently concluded work on a live service concept, but after careful consideration, we decided not to proceed with it. As the team transitions to its next project, we have made strategic adjustments to position the studio for long-term success, which included a workforce reduction." Sony expressed gratitude for the contributions of the affected staff and remains confident in the studio's future. This development comes after the cancellation of a live service concept by Bend Studio, as well as another title by Bluepoint Games, earlier in the year.