Layoffs at Sony Santa Monica, new IP reportedly canned

According to reports and tweets from affected staff, it appears Sony may have canceled an unannounced new IP that was due from the God of War team.

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Sony Santa Monica, the studio best known for its work on the God of War series, has laid off an unspecified number of employees. According to reports and tweets from affected staff, it appears Sony may have canceled an unannounced new IP that was due from the developer.

In a statement to IGN, Sony confirmed that "we have completed a reduction in workforce at Santa Monica Studio. This is a result of a cycle of resource re-alignment against priority growth areas within SCE WWS. We do not take these decisions lightly. However, sometimes it is necessary to make changes to better serve the future projects of the studio."

Sources told the site that "one of the projects the studio was working on has been canceled alongside this round of layoffs." Ex-employee Jonathan Hawkins later tweeted (via Joystiq: "Yesterday, I was laid off. It was a good 10-year run and I got to make three 90+ games. I lived the dream and got to accomplish all of my goals. Except one... making something out of nothing and creating a new AAA IP."

It's unclear which Santa Monica game was impacted. Battlestar Galactica writer Michael Angeli was attached to a new non-God of War game, while the team has been ramping up for a new vehicular shooter.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 27, 2014 10:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Layoffs at Sony Santa Monica, new IP reportedly canned.

    According to reports and tweets from affected staff, it appears Sony may have canceled an unannounced new IP that was due from the God of War team.

    • reply
      February 27, 2014 10:31 AM

      In other news, seven new god of war games announced.

      • reply
        February 27, 2014 2:40 PM

        I really hope they didn't cancel a new IP to make another God of War game.... but that's probably what will happen. Not that those games aren't good (most of them) I'm just hoping to see lots of new IP with the new consoles. We need some fresh blood.

    • reply
      February 27, 2014 10:40 AM

      Thats a shame, such an insanely talented studio :/

    • reply
      February 27, 2014 12:22 PM

      LAYOFFS AT TALENTED STUDIO, PLANNED NEW IP CANNED

      what else is new

      • reply
        February 27, 2014 12:27 PM

        to be fair, it was just going to be God Of War.... in spaaaaaaaace.

        • reply
          February 27, 2014 2:48 PM

          God of Peace. Use QTE to say the right things to prevent fights. Supposedly the hugging physics were top notch.

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