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Sony Online Entertainment lays off 5% of workers photo

The bad news just keeps on rolling. Hot off the heels of June's NPD results showing the worst industry performance for almost a decade, it's also been made public that Sony Online Entertainment has laid off 5% of its workforce.

"In a move to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs, Sony Online Entertainment has eliminated 5% of its full-time workforce, equaling 41 people," SOE confirmed in a statement. "SOE looks forward to continuing its leadership role in the online games industry as it celebrates the highly successful launch of Free Realms, the 10-year commemoration of its ground-breaking EverQuest franchise, and the continued performance of the company’s other games."

It always sucks when innocent people lose their jobs, but it sadly seems that such things shall continue to happen. But hey, Activision's still doing great, so at least it's not all bad, right?


Continue: More Sony Online Entertainment stories





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12 comments | showing # 1 to 12

Necro BABS's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 17:43
Necro BABS
and yet everything is peachy for the guys shelling this shit out at all the big events
Bulkmailer's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 17:43
Bulkmailer
The company I work for just laid off 6 people and cut my hours in half. This shit sucks big time.
Technophile's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 17:47
Technophile
Yeah, activision is doing fantastic now that they laid off a ton of people because of the merger. *grumblegrumble*
Havoc Fang's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 17:48
Havoc Fang
In a few months, when nuclear winter occurs, we will all gather around a fire, huddling for warmth, and ask each other: Why do these things happen? Why have there not been things made to try to either stop, prevent, prepare for or delay these events?

And then we will blame our dirty, dirty capitalism.

China will be happier, though.
Zippyduda's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 18:11
Zippyduda
I don't know why they said "leadership role in the online games industry". Far from the truth...

It's a shame they make a positive light of people being unemployed. Yeah it's all good and amazing for Sony's CEO's sitting in their high chairs with swimming pools full of money, but not for people struggling to pay the mortgage.
whormongr's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 18:14
whormongr
I don't get why sony would put forth the effort of free realms on pc and hold to home on ps3 there seems to be a bit of a disconnect: why not make free realms for ps3 or even everquest? it would certainly be a bigger attractor than home and could easily be a micro transaction breadwinner
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 18:15
Holyetheline
Best of luck to those who lost their jobs.
Ganjookie's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 18:21
Ganjookie
IMO I think that the extra support hired on for the release of FreeRealms would be a good % of the 41, QA as well. The game has been out for awhile and the initial call volume has dropped enough for them to let them go.

I hope dev teams of major releases stay intact, changing team members in the middle of a project is never good.
BattyAdroit's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 19:54
BattyAdroit
This sucks for those employees. SOE is terribly underrated.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/17/2009 22:36
Chronic Logic
Oh noes! Well no worry for Sony, remember, they said they're aiming for the long term, whatever that means...
Doos's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/18/2009 12:00
Doos
What they didn't tell you is that those were the employees working on the 'Party Chat' functionality. The guys working on 'Home' related stuff got a raise.
BattyAdroit's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/18/2009 12:45
BattyAdroit
@Chronic: SOE has only been under the control SCE since March of last year; previously they were under Sony Pictures. The point being, I'm not sure that they ever issued any hubristic statements like that.

It's kind of like getting mad at Master Chief when Windows crashes.

Anyway, it sucks when anyone gets fired from anything due to the economy. Although, by your own response, I have the feeling you arn't really responsible for things such as 'paying bills.' Empathy is often difficult for teenagers.
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