Entwicklungsteam von Days Gone: Bend Studio kürzt Personal während Übergang zu unbekanntem nächstem Projekt

Bend Studio, the developer behind Days Gone and a key part of Sony's first-party lineup, has undergone significant layoffs, with reports indicating that approximately 30% of its workforce — around 40 employees — have been let go. The news comes amid a broader wave of restructuring across the video game industry, and adds to growing concerns about stability at Sony's internal studios.

In a brief public statement, Bend Studio acknowledged the painful transition, saying:

"Today, we said goodbye to some incredibly talented teammates as we transition to our next project. We're deeply thankful for their contributions as they've shaped who we are, and their impact will always be part of our story."

The studio did not disclose details about its upcoming project, nor confirm whether the layoffs were tied to a shift in creative direction, internal restructuring, or the cancellation of previously unannounced live-service games — a move that had already shaken the team earlier in the year.

In early 2024, Sony canceled two unannounced live-service games under development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. The Bluepoint project was reportedly a live-service God of War game, while Bend’s was still unknown. At the time, Bend’s community manager had assured fans the team remained committed to "creating cool stuff," but those assurances now appear to have been short-lived.

Despite the cuts, industry analysts and journalists like Jason Schreier of Bloomberg believe it's "unlikely" that Sony would lay off 40 staff if the studio were not actively trying to preserve it. The scale of the layoffs suggests a strategic pivot rather than outright closure — potentially signaling a shift away from live-service models and toward more traditional, single-player experiences.

Bend Studio’s last major release, Days Gone, launched in 2019 on PlayStation 4 and received mixed reviews, though it had a strong cult following. The game was later ported to PC in 2021 and saw a resurgence in popularity due to a surprise re-release on PlayStation Plus.

This latest round of layoffs echoes a pattern seen across the industry, with People Can Fly (developer of Outriders) also recently announcing mass layoffs after canceling two major projects. These events underscore ongoing pressure on studios to adapt to shifting market demands, declining player retention on live-service titles, and corporate cost-cutting.

As the dust settles, one question remains: What will Bend Studio’s next chapter look like?
While the future is uncertain, the studio’s commitment to "creativity, passion, and innovation" suggests a potential return to core narrative-driven experiences — perhaps even a reimagined return to the world of Days Gone, or a bold new IP from a team still fighting to prove its value.

For now, the message from Bend is clear:

"We remain committed to building the future of Bend Studio."
But whether that future includes the same team — or even the same studio — remains to be seen.