Sony Online Entertainment has announced layoffs have hit the company today. In a post on the DC Universe Online forums, a statement from an official account announced “a reduction in our workforce at SOE.”
The post goes on to say “As a company, our goal is to focus on our core expertise of MMO games and as part of these efforts, we had to make the difficult decision to eliminate positions to help reduce costs, streamline our employee base and strategically align resources towards our current portfolio of games and upcoming slate of MMOs, including EverQuest Next Landmark and EverQuest Next.”
“We deeply value our employees and are grateful for all they’ve contributed to our company and games. They will be missed by colleagues and friends, and we wish them well in the future.”
Sony Online Entertainment has forwarded a company-wide email to Polygon, in which Sony Online president John Smedley has called the layoffs a “horrible, sickening experience.”
“I know most of the people we’re laying off today,” the email reads, in part. “Some of them have been with us here since the beginning. None of them deserved this. Our goal as a company needs to be to make incredible games and grow again so we can bring our friends back.”