Ghost of Yotei Studio Sucker Punch Cuts Staff [Confirmed]

Sony Interactive Entertainment first-party studio Sucker Punch Productions has laid off more than two dozen staff members as the Bellevue-based developer recalibrates internal headcount and prepares its production pipelines for upcoming project transitions ahead of Ghost of Yotei. According to verified reports from VGC, the developer behind Ghost of Tsushima delivered the restructuring news to employees via an internal meeting, with studio leadership noting they "did not make this decision lightly." The cuts primarily impacted contract personnel, quality assurance testers, and mid-tier design roles rather than core narrative or engineering leads. This reduction follows broader sector contractions explored in [Gaming Industry Turmoil: Paris Games Biz [Update 2026]](/news/paris-games-biz-turmoil-2026), reflecting how prestige console studios must manage ballooning AAA budgets. While Ghost of Yotei remains the studio's marquee single-player showcase for PlayStation 5, the reduction reflects Sony's ongoing operational consolidation across its worldwide studio network. Representatives confirmed that severance packages and transitional support were provided to impacted staff members as the studio narrows its focus onto final polish phases.