Jobs on the line as Sony cuts UK projects

Staff across Sony’s UK studios are anxiously waiting to see if they will be spared from a restructuring process now underway.

Sony Liverpool, Sony London, and Evolution Studios will each be affected by the reorganisation, Sony has confirmed.

Unannounced projects will be “streamlined or cut”, the firm said, though added that Guildford-based Media Molecule will not be affected.

"It has been decided that production on a small number of projects within London Studio, Studio Liverpool, and Evolution Studios will be streamlined or closed due to a portfolio review and project prioritisation,” read a Sony statement issued to Develop.

This afternoon, meetings were held at a number of Sony sites to warn staff of redundancies as the group reorganises its output, a source close to the matter told Develop.

It is not known how many staff will lose their jobs. Sony has declined to comment when asked on this specific matter.

The PlayStation owner said it is cutting projects because “resource should be reallocated to enhance projects closer to completion”.

“The affected first party studios have been, and will continue to be, vital assets within the WWS family, and have a history of producing genre-defining games such as MotorStorm, WipEout, SingStar and EyePet,” he firm added.

“This decision will have no impact on the role that our first party studios will play in the future of all PlayStation platforms."