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[Pound_lb003]

SCEA can confirm a reduction in workforce has taken place at Sucker Punch Productions. Sucker Punch is appreciative of the tremendous work team members contributed to the inFAMOUS and Sly Cooper series, and wishes them the best in their next endeavors.

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/20/infamous-dev-sucker-punch-suffers-layoffs

EDIT:

If you're a recruiter, this guy was affected - you know how to follow links, his resume is easy to find! Hit him up!

https://twitter.com/Dralex789

Layoffs, no numbers yet. If everyone put their feelers out, as per usual and find these people jobs straight away!

https://twitter.com/BelgianBoolean/status/501906292378578945

 

[Bunta]

Damn, that blows.

 

[Fracas]

what the fuck

 

[icespide]

bummer

 

[BronsonLee]

Finishing up on Last Light?

 

[makingmusic476]

Maybe just the usual contraction after finishing a big project? First Light is finished and now they're doing pre-production on their next title?

Seems strange that they wouldn't be ramping up for something new. Hopefully nothing got canceled like at SSM.

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

With First Light probably wrapped, they're probably winding down to start planning their next project.

 

[BY2K]

Did... did Second Son do that bad?

EDIT: Or it's just a few people, which would be normal if First Light wrapped up.

 

[Qassim]

Project finished (Second Son and Last Light), lay offs commence. It's an odd practice in the industry, shame it is so prevalent.

At least that is my guess..

 

[StrongBlackVine]

I don't know sure, but isn't some turnover normal after a project is wrapped up?

 

[NEO0MJ]

That terrible. I wonder if it's because Second Son didn't perform to expectations?

Did... did Second Son do that bad?

It sold close to or even exceeded a million worldwide by now.

 

[makingmusic476]

With First Light probably wrapped, they're probably winding down to start planning their next project.

I kinda figured pre-production for a new project would've taken place while the bulk of the team wrapped up First Light.

But maybe not.

 

[EdReedFan20]

Probably staff (some now redundant) that worked on Infamous: Second Son and it's DLC Infamous: First Light (Which is coming out very soon (if not already out)). This seems to happen every time a major game is released.

 

[hodayathink]

Yeah, they're clearly not a two team studio at this point, so having some people let go as they finish off a project doesn't seem that out of the ordinary.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Wonder if the dlc has wrapped. Not going to freak out yet if it's the normal part of the dev cycle.

 

[Pound_lb003]

Did... did Second Son do that bad?

No, it sold really well actually.

I can't see why there'd be layoffs to be honest. But if it's only a few I thought the thread would be beneficial to raise awareness more than anything. It does actually help find those people new jobs.

 

[BronsonLee]

That terrible. I wonder if it's because Second Son didn't perform to expectations?

It sold close to or even exceeded a million worldwide by now.

Pretty sure Second Son did very well for them.

Wonder if the dlc has wrapped. Not going to freak out yet if it's the normal part of the dev cycle.

It comes out next week, so I bet they've been done for a bit.

 

[ButchCat]

Wow they are not even yet? How much did it cost them to make?

 

[RoboPlato]

That sucks. I wish everyone the best.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

That terrible. I wonder if it's because Second Son didn't perform to expectations?



It sold close to or even exceeded a million worldwide by now.

It's sold close to 700K in the US alone, not counting digital sales...which is the series best by far.

I don't think this really has anything to do with performance, as the game has done better than any title in Sucker Punch's history, more than likely.

Could just be some staff redundancies being removed after wrapping up projects and moving on to the next.

 

[catmario]

Oh... Terrible news. ;(

I loved second son, what's happening to Suckerpunch?

 

[jayu26]

That terrible. I wonder if it's because Second Son didn't perform to expectations?



It sold close to or even exceeded a million worldwide by now.

It sold shipped(?) a million worldwide in seven days, if memory serves me right.

Edit: Salex actually did the leg work...

It sold (not shipped) over 1 million in 9 days.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

Wow they are not even yet? How much did it cost them to make?

Don't think this has anything to do with the game losing money.

 

[BronsonLee]

That sucks, especially since they just finished First Light. Departures after a project are normal but not layoffs. I wish everyone the best.

Hmm? Layoffs are absolutely normal.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Finishing up on Last Light?

Most likely. Hopefully just the usual churn cycle

 

[travisbickle]

No, it sold really well actually.

I can't see why there'd be layoffs to be honest. But if it's only a few I thought the thread would be beneficial to raise awareness more than anything. It does actually help find those people new jobs.

Might not be layoffs, just end of contractual agreements.

 

[KillGore]

Doesn't this happen with most studios? They take more than what they can support, so the game is finished, then layoffs are made till the new project is running, then the cycle continues.

Bummer though

 

[KoopaTheCasual]

The gaming industry's allowance of "hiring spree - ship product - downsizing" is insane. I don't understand how this is "normal".

 

[iamvin22]

happens with every project that ends for years now. ive been laid off way more times than i can count. at this point its normal within the industry which is also sad.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

It sold a million worldwide in seven days, if memory serves me right.

Yep and I doubt the game had ridiculous budget or expectations.It's probably already sold more than inFAMOUS 2.

 

[Setsuna]

Were these long time employees or employees on a temporary contract

 

[RoboPlato]

Hmm? Layoffs are absolutely normal.

Total brain fart ony point. Edited.

 

[Minions]

Almost always happens when projects finish. If it was a huge layoff we would have likely seen quite a few news stories already. Hopefully those laid off find employment quickly. Just because it is commonplace does not make it suck any less.

 

[IAmRandom31]

Very likely just the normal layoffs that occur once a project is done.

Makes me wonder if the people they bring in are just contracted and once the project is finished their contract is over and they may or may it stay on. Not sure how the vidyagame industry works in that regard. Always sucks though lord knows I know all to well

 

[SniperHunter]

awful

 

[TheBaronOfNA]

Did... did Second Son do that bad?

Sold above expectations, dude...

 

[Freeman]

I have to assume SS performed above expectations, this has to be just a regular contraction after finishing First Light, unless Sony financial situation is forcing them to shoot themselves in the foot like this.

 

[Pound_lb003]

Might not be layoffs, just end of contractual agreements.

Contractors and the term 'laid off' definitely don't go hand in hand.

 

[anexanhume]

SP opts to work with smaller teams on longer cycles, so hopefully the losses were fairly small.

 

[iamvin22]

No, it sold really well actually.

I can't see why there'd be layoffs to be honest. But if it's only a few I thought the thread would be beneficial to raise awareness more than anything. It does actually help find those people new jobs.

a game could have sold 10 million in its first year of launch and they would still lay off people due to their contracts. it has to deal with insurance and full time positions.

 

[EL CUCO]

With First Light probably wrapped, they're probably winding down to start planning their next project.

This sounds about right.

Sorry about those that got hit

 

[Gator86]

I wish they'd just keep these people on and move to two teams. I'd love a new IP from them and an Infamous follow-up.

 

[Neuromancer]

For what it's worth I've thought all the Infamous games have been pretty great, so thanks for all your hard work. Best of luck to everyone affected.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Perhaps they weren't satisfied with the the quality and seek to replace those they have fired? Maybe Sony wants nothing less than a universally held 9ish game.

 

[Animator]

Happens after every project unless you are at a stage with the next project where you can roll people over to. It makes no sense to keep a ton of people on the payroll when you have no work for them to do for months. It sucks, but that's the reality of this industry.

 

[Salex_]

It sold shipped(?) a million worldwide in seven days, if memory serves me right.

It sold (not shipped) over 1 million in 9 days.

 

[travisbickle]

Contractors and the term 'laid off' definitely don't go hand in hand.

A friend of a friend said they were "laid off" in a tweet, it's not exactly going to stand up in court.

 

[FinalStageBoss]

Oh... Terrible news. ;(

I loved second son, what's happening to Suckerpunch?

Nothing. This is what happens when a major project wraps up.

 

[jayu26]

It sold (not shipped) over 1 million in 9 days.

Thank you for the leg work.

 

[msdstc]

Second Son sold so ridiculously well though didn't it? I can't imagine this has anything to do with not meeting their goals, probably more likely what others in the thread have said, about the First Light project being complete.