Sony layoffs at three UK studios

[VR46]

Sony has this morning laid off an unconfirmed number of staff at three UK developers - Evolution Studios, Guerrilla Cambridge and SCE London Studio.

"Numerous" people from each studio have been made redundant, Videogamer reported.

Sony has blamed the staffing changes on a recent internal review of "all current projects".

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-25-sony-layoffs-hit-three-uk-studios

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

Does this mean Driveclub is nearly ready, or the total opposite?

[MisterBubbles]

I really think that Driveclub might get canned, i wouldn't be at all surprised if it did.

[VR46]

I can't see them not releasing it now after all the work and hype, but all the signs/assumptions as to it's quality don't install confidence in the slightest.

Thing is, apart from DriveClub, Project Cars and The Crew what other racing games are due on PS4 this year?

Am hoping for a rally game, even if it is WRC 5.

[wakka]

Racing games don't really seem to be as big as they were. 10 years ago you couldn't move for them.

I feel like they've gone a bit out of vogue for the moment.

[nakamura]

Racing games have become too dull. You literally spend 5 mins in a car then onto the next.

[speedlolita]

Last racing game I got into was Forza 4, and even then the most fun I had was adjusting car settings and doing time trials..

[Kron]

Sony's game plan of late does seem to involve a hell of a transition from original content to the kind of stuff we're seeing via PS+. I can't say it gives me a lot of faith in what's going to come to the PS4 as far as exclusives go as the cost cutting is just going to escalate the case for them to continue with the easy PC ports.

Sounds like Evolution studios are stuffed unless Driveclub sells in exceptional numbers.

[QualityChimp]

They need to make the cars into zombie cars. Zombies are so hot right now.

[Lebowski]

I really think that Driveclub might get canned, i wouldn't be at all surprised if it did.

Slimming down normally happens at the end of a project when most of the work is done, wouldn't it be more likely that drive club is nearing launch and there getting the bad press of lay offs out of the way before announcing the launch date?

Even if its not a game that doesn't receive universal critical praise it will still probably sell loads, Killzone and second son the other first party exclusives have sold very well despite getting mainly sevens and eights, it would be a crazy decision at this point to scrap it completely.

From what I've read of people that played early builds its not that bad, what Sony should do is release it as a beta via ps+ or via there network beta forums, get public and critical feedback and then if it is rubbish go fix it based on whats wrong with it if its not send it out into the wide world of retail.

[EvilBoris]

They need to make the cars into zombie cars. Zombies are so hot right now.

Needs more crafting

And a hunger bar.

[Neon Ignition]

I imagine Guerillas layoffs relate to excess staff after Killzones work is mostly done, they're likely straight onto Killzone 5 but won't need the volume of staff this early on. Could be similar for Evolution depending on the state of Drive Club, might just need enough staff for polish and tuning.

Racers have tailed off though, however if MS announces Xbox One Forza Horizon 2 for this year at E3 they have one genre in the bag. So want that game.

[EvilBoris]

In the case of drive club it could well be that they are laying off the staff they use in eArly/pre production such as artists and sound engineers.

This is the issue with having your own studios, you are responsible for all the bills and admin that comes with employing people.
Games are becoming increasingly outsourced, looking at the credits to any AAA game is an eye opener to see how many 3rd parties are involved.

As for driveclub, I doubt it will be canned, but I fully expect it to become a full retail title, with Sony using this latest delay to justify additional content being created for inclusion on day one

[Lebowski]

Needs more crafting

And a hunger bar.

dont forget, laborious resource collection, maybe you could be a mad scientist, that collects car parts in a scrap yard by punching scrap cars, these parts could then be put together to make Frankenstein style zombie cars, via a crafting menu we could call it CarCraft.



oh for **** sake the names already taken, back to the drawing board fellas

[sj33]

With so many people being made redundant at Sony, presumably because they no longer need the resources, it makes you wonder why they couldn't actually support the Vita with a couple of games.

[fishbowlhead]

In the case of drive club it could well be that they are laying off the staff they use in eArly/pre production such as artists and sound engineers.

This is the issue with having your own studios, you are responsible for all the bills and admin that comes with employing people.
Games are becoming increasingly outsourced, looking at the credits to any AAA game is an eye opener to see how many 3rd parties are involved.

As for driveclub, I doubt it will be canned, but I fully expect it to become a full retail title, with Sony using this latest delay to justify additional content being created for inclusion on day one

Exactly. Sony have more in house devs than Ninty, MS put together so this is going to happen, especially with extra staff brought in to help with crunch times, like any business.