『デイズ・ゴーン』開発元バン・スタジオ、次プロジェクトへ移行へ採用人員削減

Bend Studio, the Sony-affiliated developer best known for Days Gone, has reportedly laid off approximately 30% of its workforce—estimated at around 40 employees—amid a strategic shift toward a new, unannounced project. The news, confirmed by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and echoed in a brief but emotional statement from the studio, marks another significant moment in the ongoing wave of layoffs across the video game industry.

In their public message, Bend Studio acknowledged the emotional toll of the layoffs, expressing deep gratitude to departing team members for their contributions to the studio’s culture and legacy. “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 statement read.

While Bend Studio did not disclose the identity of the new project, the timing of the layoffs raises questions. This comes just months after Sony canceled two unannounced live-service games in development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games—both projects reportedly aimed at expanding major PlayStation franchises. Bluepoint’s rumored live-service God of War game was particularly notable, given the studio’s close ties to the franchise. Bend’s own live-service game remains unnamed, though at the time of the cancellations, the team’s community manager had insisted that the studio still intended to “create cool stuff.”

The departure of roughly 40 staff—likely including long-time developers, designers, and creatives—has led to speculation about the studio’s future. However, Schreier emphasized that such a large-scale reduction is unlikely if Sony intended to shutter the studio entirely. Instead, the cuts appear to reflect a painful but necessary restructuring to reallocate resources toward a new direction.

Bend’s last major release, Days Gone, launched in 2019 to mixed reviews and strong sales, followed by a PC port in 2021. Since then, the studio has remained largely quiet—though whispers of new projects persisted, particularly in the live-service and open-world genres.

This latest round of layoffs follows a broader pattern of industry-wide downsizing. Just days earlier, Outriders developer People Can Fly also announced major layoffs tied to the cancellation of two internal projects. These events underscore the growing pressure on developers to pivot quickly in response to shifting market demands, publisher priorities, and evolving business models—particularly the risks associated with live-service gaming.

As Bend Studio moves forward, the focus will be on how it rebuilds and what new creative vision emerges from the ashes of this transition. For now, the message remains clear: despite the pain of loss, Bend Studio says it remains committed to “building the future” with “creativity, passion, and innovation.”

Whether that future will include another major IP or a return to a more narrative-driven, single-player experience remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the gaming industry continues to evolve—often at great cost.