Sony Closes Down Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios

Sony has made the decision to close Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios. According to Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony's Studio Business Group, this choice was made after evaluating the company's game portfolio and project status to ensure alignment with business priorities. Hulst noted that while mobile gaming remains a key growth area, the focus will be on titles that fit PlayStation Studios' reputation and have broader global appeal. For Firewalk, Sony explored options but ultimately chose to discontinue the game and shut down the studio. The number of affected employees is unclear, but both studios employ a combined total of 62-250 people. Hulst acknowledged the difficulty of the news, particularly for departing colleagues, and stated that the decisions were made to strengthen the organization. Sony will work to place some of the impacted individuals within its global studio community. Despite the challenges, Hulst expressed confidence in the company's ability to create memorable entertainment experiences and build a resilient organization.