PlayStation studio Sucker Punch cuts staff following the release of Ghost of Yōtei

Sucker Punch Productions has cut roughly two dozen staff members, according to internal communications obtained by Aftermath. Outlets report slightly different tallies, with Engadget putting the reduction at 24 employees and Eurogamer citing a former employee who counted 26 affected roles. The Bellevue-based developer, which is owned by Sony and employs around 200 people, carried out the layoffs just weeks after releasing an expansion for Ghost of Yōtei. [1][2]

In a memo distributed to staff, studio leadership pointed to shifting market challenges and the staffing requirements of its next project as the drivers behind the eliminations. Management assured workers that the decision was not made lightly and pledged to outline future plans for the studio in the coming week. [1][2]

The cuts arrive despite strong commercial momentum for Ghost of Yōtei, which moved 3.3 million copies during its first month on the PlayStation 5. The staff reductions reflect a broader wave of contraction across the gaming industry, coming shortly after Electronic Arts shuttered BioWare and amid ongoing workforce reductions across Microsoft's Xbox division. [1][2]