Support NeoGAF

[DemonNite]

I think all these layoffs prove one thing, that there was a lot of bloat within Sony WWS. They need to become a well oiled machine for this gen and I suppose the layoffs are part of the process to achieve that goal. Sony have been synonymous with over-promising and under-delivering in the PS3 era. They can't afford to repeat that this gen, so they need fine tune every studio for the better. I hope those affected can get back on their feet too.

And this is exactly what is happening to one of those studios affected.

 

[TheRealTalker]

Fudging NEIL



WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE?

Spoiler

good luck to those effected by the layoff

 

[Elios83]

Japan studio was actually the first to be rebooted and restructured. Read up about Allan Becker being sent there.

Yup I've read about it but honestly, talking about restructuring, just because they made two niche (and kinda pointless) games with Rain and Puppeteer while Polyphony is still a total mess out of touch with the market, The Last Guardian is constantly being reworked, teams like Clap Hanz missed the PS4 launch window with fundamentally no excusing while others like Team Siren should have already announced their games like Gravity Rush 2....seems a bit extreme and it's not what I expect from a successful reboot.
Hopefully E3 will shed more light on what they're doing.
Also not to be mean but Evolution (with their major bombas like Pacif Rift and Apocalypse and now the Driveclub debacle) and Team London (with their shitty and unsuccessful titles like Eyepet and Wonderbook) would have been shutted down ages ago if it wasn't for Sony....and people are questioning a simple restructuring

 

[Raonak]

Hopefully these studio restructuring will make them more efficient. But always sad to hear about layoffs

 

[Bluekaveli]

I think Sony said, Welp we have about 8 million console out in the wild; let's lay off some people lol.

 

[fasTRapid]

Can I pm a mod so I can get clearance ? Don't wanna get roasted again.

This thread just got interesting.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Dam that sucks.

 

[Man-is-Obsolete]

This thread just got interesting.

Yea, it did. But seems he disappeared after that.

 

[IncandescentPrecept]

They would have to be the most clueless people in the world for this to be true. A successful console should strengthen first party output by the simple fact that they will have a larger install base than previous gen.

Adding more people to a team does not mean you will make better games. Plus, you don't neec all the people all the time when a game is being developed.

 

[rothbart]

I hope DriveClub is not the next The Last Guardian...

I'm pretty sure The Last Guardian is still The Last Guardian. We don't yet know the full scope of its delays or its ultimate quality... lol. Maybe Duke Nukem Forever would be a better choice?

 

[ksdixon]

I heard a rumor of a possibly Syphon Filter PS4 reboot. Has the studio which was supposedly working on that game suffered layoffs/been shut down, or has that project been cancelled outright?

Does anyone know? I was quite looking forward to the possibility of a new Syphon Filter.

 

[Some Nobody]

1. KZ: SF
2. Knack
3. Resogun
4. Doki Doki Universe
5. inFamous : Second Son
6. MLB 14
7. Helldivers
8. Driveclub
9. Hohokum
10. Pixeljunk Shooter
11. The Order
12. Playroom

(not part of the 20 : fl0w, Sound Shapes, Flower, Escape Plan )
( presumably part of the 20, but couldn't meet the schedule, Rime, Rapture, SoTB )

Seeing it all laid out like that, Sony's actually close to meeting its promised 20 if we exclude out the 3 games announced at Gamescom.

I personally expect one or two PS4 ports of a high-profile PS3 release last year, either Puppeteer, Beyond or TLoU... inFamous is apparently going to go the route of Festival of Blood for its DLC, so I expect Sony to treat as another game to its list instead of part of Second Son.

There were another 10 in development as well scheduled to hit in 2015-2016, but one of those was the cancelled SSM game, so we're down to 9.

Still, Sony's coming pretty close to that number.

 

[clutch.as.it.gets.]

......As long as there is enough people left at Evolution to make a PS4 Motorstorm, then I'm fine.

Honestly i don`t think Motorstorm will continue on the PS4. The suits would say its "too niche".

Arcade racer are dead - unfortunately.

 

[driver116]

I have a feeling Mercs will come out on the PS4/PS3.

They should give the KZ franchise to Cambridge and have GG make tech tools etc.

Do you really think I believe layoffs won't affect a LAUNCH TITLE that still doesn't even have a release date when we're basically in April? I don't believe everything Sony says, it's not like they'd come out and say "after the layoffs Driveclub is fucked sry"

They just don't want to release it because the PS4 is selling well enough without it.

 

[ClivePwned]

That overall target of 5000 job cuts seems to be hitting its stride.

cold, but so is this photo

 

[CoolCat]

edited

 

[mrklaw]

The evolution stuff might just be a secondary adjustment after the closure of Sony Liverpool and evo taking some of the wipeout team in.

 

[Fezan]

Awww Yissss! Come on Thu, drop them bombs

Spoiler

(or relatively mundane, non hype information...thats cool too, i guess)

!!!

Don't bet on it. He is been away for more than 7 hours. May be Sony ninja got to him

 

[Dusky]

Seth Killian Leaves Sony Computer Entertainment

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/03/25/seth-killian-leaves-sony-computer-entertainment.aspx?utm_content=bufferfcb43&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Welp.

Edit: apparently this is old news, oh well.

 

[Wax Free Vanilla]

I'm betting Evolution gets shutdown after #DRIVECLUB is released.

Don't Sony want to relocate their Euro gaming hub to the Netherlands? So every studio in the UK will be killed off in the next three years.

 

[TetraGenesis]

STAHP STAHP STAHHHP.

I hate hearing this week after week.

Neil Druckmann is on the rampage.

10/10. Would buy Definitive Edition of this comment.

 

[Bundy]

Don't Sony want to relocate their Euro gaming hub to the Netherlands? So every studio in the UK will be killed off in the next three years.

Where have you heard that?

 

[Cyberia]

DriveClub's game director Col Rodgers has left Evolution Studios, VideoGamer.com can reveal.

Rodgers left the studio in February to form indie startup Big Red Switch Games, a development studio that he says is working on "some cool game concepts".

Rodgers also confirmed to VideoGamer that his departure is not connected to today's wave of layoffs, which saw redundancies at Evolution, Guerrilla Cambridge and Sony London Studios.

http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/driveclub/news/driveclub_game_director_leaves_evolution_studios.html

 

[TheRealTalker]

Well if you look at the bright side

now that the review process of all WWS have ended... Sony at least believes whatever PS4 game Bend is working on as profitable

http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/driveclub/news/driveclub_game_director_leaves_evolution_studios.html

good luck to his new studio


a lot of guys going independent this past few years

 

[jonabbey]

I'd buy a Motorstorm on PS4. What with the better online infrastructure and greater graphics, it'd be a good time. We might get 60fps out of the deal, too.

 

[Vinc]

Sigh. The world really needs more console gamers.

 

[gundamkyoukai]

Yup I've read about it but honestly, talking about restructuring, just because they made two niche (and kinda pointless) games with Rain and Puppeteer while Polyphony is still a total mess out of touch with the market, The Last Guardian is constantly being reworked, teams like Clap Hanz missed the PS4 launch window with fundamentally no excusing while others like Team Siren should have already announced their games like Gravity Rush 2....seems a bit extreme and it's not what I expect from a successful reboot.
Hopefully E3 will shed more light on what they're doing.
Also not to be mean but Evolution (with their major bombas like Pacif Rift and Apocalypse and now the Driveclub debacle) and Team London (with their shitty and unsuccessful titles like Eyepet and Wonderbook) would have been shutted down ages ago if it wasn't for Sony....and people are questioning a simple restructuring

PD is not part of Japan studios neither is Clap Hanz .

 

[FiggyCal]

Is BigFest cancelled? ;_;

 

[JCreasy]

Neil Druckmann is on the rampage.

 

[Nightengale]

Is BigFest cancelled? ;_;

Big Fest isn't internally developed.

 

[TheOddOne]

Speaking of Evolution Studios.

- Martin Kenwright reveals Starship studio

Evolution founder opens multifaceted new project covering games and beyond

Martin Kenwright, founder of both Evolution Studios and Digital Image Design, has gone public with an ambitious new project based in his home town of Liverpool. New studio Starship was founded in .

With Starship, Kenwright plans to go beyond the bounds of his previous games-focused work and take his teams talents to new areas like entertainment and health. Whilst further details are under wraps until E3 later this year, Kenwright makes clear that the studio has its sights set high.

The concept for Starship takes our AAA softology and wraps it around the antidote. The content that we're working on now breaks new ground in a multitude of ways; in concept, in our approach to its creation, in how it's funded, right through to how it's marketed. Work on a number of genuinely game-changing products is already underway and we'll be in a position to unveil the first as we get closer to summer."

Joining Kenwright on his new venture is a team assembled from a cohort of veterans, many of whom were members of Evolution and Studio Liverpool. Between the 20 staff currently on the books, over 69 projects have been brought to fruition. Key amongst that team is Clemens Wangerin, who takes the role of COO. Previously director at Studio Liverpool, Wangerin's new role puts him at the heart of Starship's plans.

 

[CoolCat]

edited

 

[Cyberia]

Studio Director Matt Southern of Evolution Studios was among them to leave the studio.

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/vi...me&authToken=B9PE&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-name

Left the studio last month.

 

[tait269]

Studio Director Matt Southern of Evolution Studios was among to leave the studio.

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/vi...me&authToken=B9PE&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-name

Left the studio last month.

Wow.. He had been there a long time :/ 10 years