El estudio Bend de Days Gone despidió personal durante su transición a un nuevo proyecto desconocido

Bend Studio, the PlayStation developer best known for Days Gone, has reportedly laid off approximately 30% of its staff — estimated at around 40 employees — as it transitions to a new, unannounced project, according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier. The studio confirmed the layoffs in a brief social media statement, expressing deep gratitude to departing team members and acknowledging the emotional weight of the moment.

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

While Bend Studio did not disclose details about the nature or identity of its upcoming project, the layoffs follow a turbulent period for the studio. Just months prior, Sony canceled two unannounced live-service games — one at Bend Studio, and another at Bluepoint Games (reportedly a God of War live-service title). At the time, Bend’s community manager had assured fans the team remained committed to creating "cool stuff," but those assurances now appear to be overshadowed by significant restructuring.

This latest round of layoffs is part of a broader trend across the gaming industry, which has seen widespread job cuts in 2024. Just days before Bend’s announcement, Outriders developer People Can Fly also laid off staff, citing the cancellation of two internal projects. These cuts underscore ongoing instability in game development, particularly around live-service models, shifting publisher priorities, and post-launch performance concerns.

Despite the layoffs, sources like Schreier suggest it is "unlikely" Sony would have made such a substantial reduction in staff if it intended to shut down Bend Studio entirely. The studio’s continued existence — and its legacy as the creator of Days Gone — implies that while restructuring is underway, Bend Studio may still be positioned to return with a new direction.

For now, the focus remains on what comes next: the future of Bend Studio, the identity of its next project, and whether the team can rebuild its momentum — not just as a developer, but as a creative force in PlayStation’s evolving landscape.