Sony Cuts Jobs at PlayStation Visual Arts Studio

Sony has reportedly initiated layoffs affecting an unspecified number of employees at its Visual Arts studio in San Diego, as well as at PS Studios Malaysia, according to a recent Kotaku report and statements from former employees on LinkedIn.

As reported by Kotaku, affected staff were notified earlier this week that March 7 would be their final day. Among those laid off were developers who had worked on various projects, including a recently canceled live-service title at Bend Studio. The Visual Arts studio primarily serves as an art and technical support team for PlayStation’s internal studios, having contributed significantly to high-profile releases such as *The Last of Us Part 1* and *Part 2* remasters.

IGN has verified multiple LinkedIn posts from former Visual Arts employees confirming their departures, along with at least one individual from PS Studios Malaysia. One ex-employee cited “multiple project cancellations” as the reason behind the reductions.

This marks the second wave of layoffs at Visual Arts within the past two years, following a prior round in 2023 that also affected an unknown number of workers. At this time, it remains unclear how many staff remain at the studio or what new projects—if any—are currently underway. IGN has contacted PlayStation for official comment but has yet to receive a response.

These developments are part of a broader pattern of layoffs and game cancellations across the gaming industry, a trend that gained significant attention starting in 2023. That year saw more than 10,000 developers lose their jobs, a figure that climbed to over 14,000 in 2024. In 2025, while exact numbers have become harder to track due to reduced transparency from some companies, the trend continues unabated.