Bend Studio, the Sony-owned developer behind Days Gone, has reportedly conducted layoffs affecting an unspecified number of employees.
In a short statement shared on social media, the studio acknowledged the move was necessary as it shifts focus to its next project, calling it “a difficult moment for our team.”
“Today, we said goodbye to some incredibly talented teammates as we transition to our next project,” the message read. “We're deeply thankful for their contributions as they've shaped who we are, and their impact will always be part of our story.
“This is a difficult moment for our team, but we hold immense respect for everyone who got us here. As we move forward, we remain committed to building the future of Bend Studio with creativity, passion, and innovation in the titles we craft.”
Bend Studio did not disclose details about its upcoming project or the exact number of affected employees. However, according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, approximately 30% of the studio's workforce — estimated to be around 40 people — have been let go. When asked whether this could signal a potential studio closure, Schreier noted that such a move would be unlikely if management were actively working to sustain the studio.
The layoffs follow closely after Sony reportedly canceled two unannounced live-service titles previously in development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. The Bluepoint title was allegedly a live-service God of War game, while Bend’s project remains undisclosed. At the time, Bend’s community manager emphasized the team still intended "on creating cool sh*t."
Bend Studio's most recent release was Days Gone, which launched for PlayStation 4 in 2019 and later made its way to PC in 2021.
This news adds to the growing list of workforce reductions across the gaming industry. Just days prior, Outriders developer People Can Fly announced similar layoffs tied to the cancellation of two internal projects.
