It’s not easy for the gaming industry right now. After that bubble we saw during the pandemic burst, studios have been trending toward layoffs or even closures. The same can be said for big names like PlayStation. Sony is keen on seeing costs go down for the PlayStation division as we’re finding out there are more means of dialing things back.
Thanks to a report from PlayStation LifeStyle, we’re learning that Sony’s CFO Hiroki Totoki noted they are still reforming the PlayStation side of things. Part of the process right now is cutting costs and going through a new structure. New processes are in place to ensure they know how to evaluate a game’s production. But beyond that, moves are being made to ensure they have means of cutting down costs in a variety of areas.
During the Q&A session with stakeholders, it was noted that Hiroki Totoki has areas where costs are being cut, and further optimization is in place for sales and marketing. Right now, they are seeing good results, but the move to continue seeing these results is still underway. The areas where costs will be cut are unclear, though we’re hopeful it doesn’t result in more layoffs or studio closures.
Most recently, I’m sure you recall the closure of Firewalk. The studio had previously released Concord, which was a disaster. With this live service game failing to capture players’ attention, we’re interested in seeing if Sony will continue the hunt for a new live service title hit. You can even read more about the comments made by Sony’s president over the failure of Concord right here. Regardless, it’s been a rocky year for many studios, and we’re hopeful that 2025 will see an improvement.
