Wipeout Developer Undergoing Restructuring, Rumoured To Be Facing Heavy Cuts

Wipeout creator SCE Liverpool Studio--formerly Psygnosis--is undergoing restructuring which has seen development on several of its projects halted and--according to rumour--could result in as much as half of its staff being laid off, Develop reports.

"It has been decided that production on a number of projects within Studio Liverpool will cease immediately due to project prioritisation," Sony Computer Entertainment stated on Friday. An anonymous source at Liverpool Studio told Develop that layoffs as a result of the restructuring are "looking heavy" and that "around half us may be gone."

"Our North West Studio Group has been and will continue to be a vital cog in the WWS family, with a history of producing genre defining games such as MotorStorm, Wipeout, Formula 1 and WRC and this decision will have no impact of the role that the North West Studio Group will play in the future of all PlayStation platforms," said Sony.

SCE Liverpool Studio's most recent title was the PlayStation 3 $20 downloadable release Wipeout HD in September 2008, bolstered by an expansion 'Fury' in July 2009.