In the aftermath of Sony's extensive layoffs affecting approximately 900 staff within the PlayStation business, allegations have surfaced regarding the work environment at Firesprite, a studio owned by Sony.
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Allegations of Crunch and Toxic Workplace Culture
Eurogamer's report sheds light on a series of concerning issues within Firesprite, including allegations of crunch, high-profile exits, and a toxic workplace culture. Described by one source as "death by a thousand cuts," these claims raise questions about the studio's internal dynamics. Sony has refrained from commenting on the allegations, and IGN has reached out to Firesprite for their response.
Firesprite's Background and Recent Developments
Acquired by Sony in 2021, Firesprite had previously contributed to various PlayStation games, such as The Playroom, Run Sackboy! Run!, and the PSVR title The Persistence. The studio's involvement extended to the development of the PSVR2 launch title, Horizon Call of the Mountain, under the supervision of Guerrilla Games.
The recent wave of layoffs impacted Firesprite, resulting in an undisclosed number of job cuts and reportedly leading to the cancellation of a live-service game based on Twisted Metal. Despite these challenges, Firesprite persists in its efforts, currently working on a PlayStation project codenamed Project Heartbreak.
Widespread Impact of Sony's Layoffs
Sony's recent workforce reduction affected several prominent studios, including the closure of the London studio and layoffs at Naughty Dog, Guerrilla Games, and Insomniac, the developer behind Spider-Man. Jason Schreier, a Bloomberg reporter, noted that Guerrilla's Horizon Online game managed to survive the workforce reduction.
These layoffs reflect a challenging period for the gaming industry, with widespread staff cuts observed throughout 2023 and continuing into 2024. Microsoft, too, faced a similar situation, laying off 1,900 staff following its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the owner of Call of Duty.
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