A number of Sony EU layoffs have taken place on the same day that the PlayStation 5 release window was announced. A number of US employees were also affected, with layoffs primarily taking place in the marketing and PR departments.
Previously, Sony operated on a regional marketing model with each of its worldwide offices allowed to sign games and promote them in a fashion that's appropriate for that area of the world. Recent changes at the company, however, have seen them shift to a more global mindset, rendering many of these marketing and PR positions redundant and kicking off a round of Sony EU layoffs as Video Games Chronicle reports.
Sony EU Layoffs Put A Dark Cloud on PS5 Announcement
Sources with knowledge of the situation told Video Games Chronicle that American PlayStation directors visited Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe (SIEE) last Tuesday, the same day that the PlayStation 5 release window was announced. The directors told employees that several divisions would be restructured, two of which included marketing and public relations.
Employees who were affected by this restructuring were given notice and a portion of those employees had to re-interview for their jobs. The U.S.-based creative services team also faced some layoffs.
SIEE has been around since the days of the PlayStation One, the first major re-release of the company's inaugural console. They're responsible for brands like Killzone, Wipeout, LittleBigPlanet, and many of the PSVR games that people are enjoying today.
The Sony EU Layoffs are likely a consequence of the company's restructuring plans which were announced in April of last year, ultimately seeing a shift in management where the American portion of the company takes the lead.
What do you think of the Sony EU layoffs? Do you think it's wise for them to aim for a worldwide approach to marketing and PR or should they have continued to focus on individual regions as they've been doing? Let us know in the comments below!
