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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Sony confirmed in June 2025 that Bend Studio reduced its workforce after wrapping development on a live-service concept and deciding not to proceed. The often-cited estimate—about 30% of staff, or roughly 40 people—was attributed to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, not disclosed by Sony or Bend Studio.
What happened at Bend Studio?
Sony told GameSpot on June 10, 2025 that Bend Studio had wrapped development on a live-service concept earlier that year and chose not to move forward with it. Sony said it made strategic changes as the studio shifted to its next project, and confirmed that a workforce reduction had taken place.
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Bend Studio separately said it had said goodbye to teammates while transitioning to its next project. Its public statement, reproduced by Game Informer on June 11, 2025, thanked affected colleagues but did not give a headcount.
How many people were laid off?
The estimate reported in June 2025 was about 30% of Bend Studio’s staff, or roughly 40 people. GameSpot and Game Developer attributed that estimate to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier. Sony’s statement and Bend Studio’s statement confirmed a reduction but did not specify its size. Treat the percentage and headcount as an attributed estimate, not a company-confirmed total.
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- Harsh Open World: Using the power of PlayStation 4 and unreal engine 4, days one offers an incredibly realistic and detailed open world experience. But be careful— day and night cycles, all affect gameplay and enemy behavior
- Brutal Sandbox Combat: Perfect your gameplay with an endless combination of strategy and play in every situation. Craft customized items using pieces and parts found in the field, from brutal melee weapons to traps and more
- Compelling Story: At its core, days gone is about survivors and what makes them human: desperation, loss, madness, betrayal, friendship, brotherhood, regret, love and hope. It’s about how hope never dies
- Play as Deacon St.John, a bounty hunter facing a brutal struggle for survival while searching for a reason to live
Why did Bend Studio make cuts?
Sony linked the reduction to the studio’s transition after it decided not to proceed with the live-service concept. It described the changes as strategic and intended to position the studio for long-term success. The statements do not establish that the canceled concept was the sole cause of every job loss, nor do they explain the internal decision-making in greater detail.
Sony’s broader approach provides background, but not a specific explanation for Bend’s cuts. On February 27, 2024, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst said Sony had evaluated projects at different stages and decided some would not move forward, noting that narrative games and sustained social or online experiences require different resources. That was a portfolio-level statement, not a stated rationale for the 2025 Bend Studio reduction. Sony’s February 2024 update
Rank #2
- Harsh Open World: Using the power of PlayStation 4 and Unreal Engine 4, Days Gone offers an incredibly realistic and detailed open-world experience. But be careful— day and night cycles, all affect gameplay and enemy behavior
- Brutal Sandbox Combat: Perfect your gameplay with an endless combination of strategy and play in every situation. Craft customized items using pieces and parts found in the field, from brutal melee weapons to traps and more
- Compelling Story: At its core, Days Gone is about survivors and what makes them human: desperation, loss, madness, betrayal, friendship, brotherhood, regret, love— and hope. It’s about how hope never dies
- Play as Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter facing a brutal struggle for survival while searching for a reason to live
What happened to the live-service game?
Sony described the canceled work only as a “live-service concept” that Bend had wrapped development on earlier in 2025. The consulted June 2025 reports do not name the project or establish its title, setting, gameplay, launch plans, or a more precise cancellation date. Sony and Bend also did not name the studio’s next project or announce a release window.
How this differs from Sony’s 2024 layoffs
Bend Studio’s 2025 workforce reduction is separate from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s company-wide reduction plan announced on February 27, 2024.
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Rank #3
| Event | What was reported | Scope and source |
|---|---|---|
| Bend Studio reduction | Reduction confirmed; about 30% or roughly 40 people estimated | Studio event reported in June 2025. The estimate was attributed to Jason Schreier; Sony and Bend did not disclose a count. |
| Sony’s 2024 plan | About 900 people, or about 8% of the workforce | Sony Interactive Entertainment’s planned global reduction announced February 27, 2024, subject to local law and consultation. These figures do not describe Bend’s later reduction. Sony’s announcement |
What is Bend Studio working on now?
Sony and Bend Studio said the team was moving to its next project, but the June 2025 coverage did not identify it or give a release date. Bend describes itself as a Sony PlayStation first-party AAA developer based in Oregon. Bend Studio
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- “Graphic black” art style brings Season 4's enhanced visual style to all previous seasons of the acclaimed series.
- Exclusive looks at the making of the game from the developers, VO artists, and other team members that brought Clementine’s story to life.
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Rank #4
- Expansive Open World Action – Exemplifying truly free-form gameplay, Days Gone offers freedom to explore, strategize and play “your way” in the vast high-desert of the Pacific Northwest. The hazardous environments, filled with carved out ridges, mountains, caves, cliffs mines and river basins, deliver a breathtaking backdrop to an equally diverse style of gameplay.
- Emergent Gameplay – Featuring fully explorable environments and dynamic AI enemies, players will rely on their own abilities to strategize, craft weapons and tools, explore the world, and engage in combat. With almost every car, building and environment searchable, Days Gone delivers emergent gameplay possibilities, making a player’s approach to combat and discovery a vital part of the experience.
- Stunning, Dynamic Graphics – Using the power of PlayStation 4 and Unreal Engine 4, Bend Studio has developed a high volume of rendering and gameplay technology to deliver an incredibly realistic open world experience. Realistic weather effects, such as rain, wind, snow and day-night cycles impact the gameplay. The game’s lighting is all real-time and reacts dynamically, the way the human iris does, as players move from one location to the next.
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