Sony has closed Dark Outlaw Games, the studio launched by Call of Duty designer Jason Blundell and revealed to the public only last year. The shutdown comes shortly after Sony confirmed the end of Bluepoint Games, its well known remaster studio.
What was announced
Early reports surfaced on a gaming forum stating that Dark Outlaw was being closed while it was still in the early stages of work on an unannounced project. A well known industry reporter later confirmed the reports on social media. Sources say Sony also laid off an undisclosed number of employees connected to the studio.
Numbers and sources
- One forum report described the number of people let go as small.
- The industry reporter estimated the layoffs at around 50 employees.
- The project at Dark Outlaw was reportedly still in an early development phase and had not been announced.
Sony's explanation
A Sony spokesperson provided a short statement confirming the change. The spokesperson said that the Studio Business Group has made "several strategic adjustments to support long-term sustainability." They added that there were "limited workforce reductions across select teams" and expressed appreciation for the contributions of those affected.
What this means
This is the latest example of Sony reorganizing parts of its studio lineup. For people who follow industry shifts, the closures of two studios in a short period raise questions about how Sony plans to allocate resources and which projects will move forward. For the employees involved, the immediate impact is job loss and uncertainty.
If you were hoping for more details on Dark Outlaw's game plans, there is nothing public yet beyond the reports that development had just begun.
