Ghost of Yotei Studio Sucker Punch Cuts 26 Devs [Confirmed]

PlayStation first-party studio Sucker Punch Productions has officially laid off 26 developers across its Bellevue, Washington headquarters, confirming the internal headcount reductions occurred after leadership evaluated ongoing economic headwinds and rising development budgets across the global video game industry. According to verified reports from Eurogamer, the reduction impacts approximately ten percent of the studio's workforce, affecting quality assurance, design, and production personnel. Despite the staff downsizing, management affirmed that work on Ghost of Yotei, the highly anticipated follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, continues as scheduled.

The news follows a wave of industry contraction similar to the [Auroch Digital Layoffs: 25% Staff Cut Confirmed [Update 2026]](/news/auroch-digital-layoffs-staff-cuts-2026), reflecting Sony Interactive Entertainment's broader drive toward operational efficiency across its Worldwide Studios group. Sucker Punch, known for celebrated franchises like Sly Cooper and Infamous, stated it is providing severance packages and job placement assistance to affected staff. Industry observers note that while core leadership and combat design squads remain intact, losing 26 veteran creators could create bottlenecks during intensive polishing phases, making studio milestone management critical over the coming quarters.