![Rumor: Massive layoffs at Sony Online Entertainment [Update]](https://d1lss44hh2trtw.cloudfront.net/resize?type=webp&url=0&width=1032&sign=hjPf1YK82dV-QT8oL3v_lLzC62zix4hvLjTqBJFhHgY "Rumor: Massive layoffs at Sony Online Entertainment [Update]")
Rumor: Massive layoffs at Sony Online Entertainment [Update]
As much as a third of Sony's MMO-making division has been laid off, according to rumours, and three studios may be outright closed.
[Update 12:30pm - XdM] An anonymous source at Sony Online Entertainment tells Shacknews that rumors of layoffs and the cancellation of The Agency are accurate. According to the source, a number of the layoffs also reduced the size of the EverQuest 2 team and although the Planetside Next team also took some layoffs, the project is alive and well.
[Original Story - AO] Rumours are circulating that Sony Online Entertainment, the company's MMO-centric division, has been hit with massive layoffs and three studios have been outright closed.
The first word came from 3D Realms veteran George Broussard, who tweeted, "Word that Sony Online Entertainment Seattle is having layoffs and that studio closure is possible."
A shadowy Kotaku source claims that Sony's Seattle, Denver and Tuscon studios are closing. The three are respectively responsible for The Agency, Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, and Pox Nora, among other games.
Kotaku also reports that half of the DC Universe Online studio Austin were let go, as well as many at EverQuest II studio San Diego.
All in all, the layoffs are said to have reduced Sony Online Entertainment's workforce by a third.
SOE Seattle's action-espionage MMORPG The Agency was announced back in 2007 but has still yet to see the light of day, suffering repeated delays. It's not quite clear how these supposed layoffs and will affect the game, which is expected in the second of this year, but it can't be good news. The fate of Planetside Next, SOE's follow-up to MMO shooter Planetside, is also unknown for now.
Sony has yet to officially confirm these rumours.
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Shacknews
replyComment on Rumor: Massive layoffs at Sony Online Entertainment, by Alice O'Connor.
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The fate of Planetside Next, SOE's follow-up to MMO shooter Planetside, is also unknown for now.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!!!
Fuck, PLEASE don't let this slip away. I half expect some news like this to trickle through, seeing as we have seen zero progress in the last couple months.-
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Really? I know nerfblox was getting the hype train rolling, but the media that was coming out, and the methodology in which it was being released, did not appear to be from a source that was in a "good" position. If anything it seemed like --- OH SHIT WE'RE ABOUT TO LOSE OUR JOBS, LETS THROW OUT SOME BULLSHIT AND SEE IF WE CAN DRUM UP ENOUGH HYPE TO SAVE OURSELVES!!
There was little to no acknowledgment that a new planetside was even in the works. Then suddenly we get three pictures and notification that there already in beta?-
Oh, I agree that everything regarding the sequel was shady to say the least. We had a couple crappy renders of models and pretty much nothing else. I thought they were waiting to have a huge official announcement at some upcoming event or something.
If it wasn't for the interview with Smedley who seemed to go into a bit more detail regarding the project, and even to give a release date - I wouldn't have got my panties in a knot. Shit, the dude said it was releasing this month. Asshole.
I'm just a rabid fan of the original game that's foaming at the mouth to get a remake or sequel. With this announcement regarding layoffs, I completely agree in hindsight that all of the media was probably done in a desperate attempt to calm fears or gather more funds.-
Oh, and Smedley just twittered (twitted, twat, ?) this yesterday regarding the project:
@Jake_Matter nothing new to report. Lots of work going on. A lot of new team members going onto it helping out. I mean a lot.
http://twitter.com/j_smedley/status/52967620177178624
Here's hoping....
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I guess quitting EQ2 was the right decision then! Considering they'd already cut the staff in half back in November, if done so again they'll probably be left with just a handful (if that) of people supporting / developing. Didn't help that the last 2 expansions were incredibly lacklustre.
Still, a shame.. hope they all manage to find work again soon enough. -
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SWG's time has passed. The only reason it is not completely dead is that ToR isn't out yet.
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SWG'S DEAD MAN, ITS DEAD, LET IT GO
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WTB HOLOCRON, PST!
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so that's what happens when you keep making shitty games
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The EQ2 teams was already pretty much halved last year, if they do the same again they'll only be left with a handful (if that) of devs. Guess I was right to quit back in November.. 2 lacklustre expansion packs and the general direction of the game was all over the place (but generally heading downhill)
Still, a real shame for some of the great talent they had there - hope they all manage to find new work soon!-
Doh.. nuke please.. thought my original post had been eaten.
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I'd say that SOE has been in shambles for years, I'm surprised they've held out this long. Perfect example: they just "launched" Free Realms on the PS3--a game that's been on PC's for several years now--and despite their announcement to do this nearly a year ago, the servers have been down since launch day so no one can actually play the game. I've heard a number people express interest in checking out the PS3 version; but with the servers down since launch, how many people are going to still be interested by the time things are up and running. Sounds a lot like the Fat Princess launch... Pathetic.
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the only way to win is not to play
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Sony's confirming it with a statement handed to various other news outlets:
As part of a strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce, SOE announced today that it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios. As part of this restructuring, SOE is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games. All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern.
This strategic decision will have no impact on SOE’s current portfolio of live games; additionally SOE will transition development efforts for the Denver and Tucson studios’ suite of products to its San Diego headquarters. This strategic alignment of development resources better positions SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages, and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year.
http://www.giantbomb.com/news/sony-online-lays-off-more-than-200-cancels-the-agency/3015/
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-03-31-sony-confirms-the-agency-is-cancelled -
Guess DC Universe didn't do very well. Not surprised. It didn't look like it would. I think the writing is on the wall for SOE. They can release all the MMO's they like, but they aren't going to get any traction. Only The Old Republic can save us from WoW.
Even now, a lone rebel Corellian cruiser is attempting to repel several star destroyers as it enters orbit around Tatooine. On board the lead star destroyer, a dark sith--once named Mike Morhaime--called now Darth Selloutus attempts to recapture the stolen data disc of hope stolen by the rebel alliance led by the often-pompous EA. They seek to find the war hero, Bioware, amidst the sands of Tatooine and have them lead the rebels to victory. Elsewhere, deep in a palace on the capital world of Coruscant, the Emperor, Darth IfNotCallofDutyThenFireThemus rubs his hands together, cackling to himself. "Games will soon be completely under my control and I'll rob them ALL of fun. Not just the Guitar Hero's and Tony Hawk's and Blur's, but ALL will be drained of their fun! I will milk them all until nothing but rehashes of the same games come year after year and once I've done that a few years, there'll be no games left to amuse or entertain anyone. And then... we shall have... peace... in the galaxy..." -
The SOE studio in Tucson was also shut down. They basically handled the Poxnora MMO.
http://azstarnet.com/business/local/article_0ed8bc8f-e575-5935-aa81-559ec7ad19f0.html
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