Bend Studio Hit by Major Layoffs After Sony Cancels Live Service Game

The news that Bend Studio – the team behind cult hit Days Gone – just laid off 40 employees didn’t exactly come out of nowhere, but it still stings. As a lifelong PlayStation fan, these moments cut deep, and each “studio restructuring” feels like a grim reminder of how volatile the industry can be. So, what really happened, and what does it mean for fans holding out hope for Days Gone 2 or Bend’s mysterious new projects?

Bend Studio Layoffs Signal Trouble for Sony’s Live Service Dreams – And Days Gone 2

• 40 Bend Studio staff let go after Sony cancels unannounced live service project
• Despite earlier assurances, layoffs proceeded – skepticism rightfully justified
• Bluepoint Games, also affected by cancellations, reports no layoffs (for now)
• Prospects for Days Gone 2 look even bleaker – focus shifts to survival for the studio itself

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date	TBD (multiple unannounced projects in flux)
Genres	Previously: Action, Open World, Live Service (cancelled)
Platforms	TBD (formerly PlayStation exclusive)

This caught my attention because it shows, yet again, how turbulent the “live service” gold rush has been for big publishers. Sony, in particular, spent the last two years hyping up a new era of ongoing multiplayer games – but now we’re seeing the other shoe drop, with cancelled projects and real human cost. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier on BlueSky, Bend wasn’t spared: 40 people are now out of work, despite previous reassurances that this wouldn’t be necessary when the live service project was axed.

If you’ve been following PlayStation studios’ drama this year, you could see this gloom on the horizon. Sony’s promise of “no layoffs” never sounded very convincing, and the churn in the live service space makes those pledges borderline naïve – or worse, deliberately misleading. Bend Studio, which won its following with the single-player open-world action of Days Gone, has now been forced to cut its team down significantly, stoking real uncertainty about its future output.

Meanwhile, Bluepoint Games (another first-party studio whose own live service project got canned) reportedly hasn’t culled any staff. That’s marginally good news, but frankly, that just underscores how inconsistent Sony’s strategy is these days. Some studios get a lifeline, others don’t – and it’s rarely about the games or the fans, but pure corporate calculus.

For anyone still hoping for a Days Gone 2 miracle? This news pretty much slams the coffin shut on that idea for the foreseeable future. The original game’s cult fanbase has been vocal about wanting a sequel, but with Bend losing manpower and creative momentum, and Sony chasing (then abandoning) multiplayer trends, the project is further out of reach than ever. If anything, Sony’s shifting priorities make even a remaster or spin-off look like wishful thinking right now.

This situation also highlights a pattern we’ve seen repeatedly: studios forced to chase industry trends (like live service) rather than sticking to what they’re best at. It’s a move that often ends in layoffs and disappointment for developers and fans alike. Bend’s talent deserves better than whiplash project mandates, and the PlayStation community keeps losing out on inventive single-player games that made Sony’s portfolio shine in the last generation. It’s the kind of short-sightedness that’s nudged more gamers towards indie developers or even Xbox alternatives.

What This Means for Gamers: Studio Stability, Fewer Risks, and Shrinking Diversity

From a player’s perspective, the layoffs cut deeper than just the loss of talent. It’s a sign that Sony’s creative pipeline is narrowing, less willing to bet big on unique, risky games. More layoffs translate to longer waits between new IPs, more sequels to the “safe” franchises, and even less space for unexpected, breakout hits like Days Gone was in its day. It’s hard not to worry that bold single-player adventures are an endangered species at the top of PlayStation’s strategy board.

For Bend Studio fans, brace yourself for a long hiatus before we even see what comes next out of Oregon. And for everyone keeping an eye on the industry, get ready for even more volatility as “live service” ambitions collide with the tough reality of what players actually want.

TL;DR: Sony’s Strategy Shakeups Leave Bend Studio, and Its Fans, in the Lurch

To sum it all up: Bend Studio, best known for Days Gone, has just lost 40 staff following Sony’s cancellation of its live service project. Despite happy PR talk from above, layoffs are here, prospects for Days Gone 2 are even slimmer, and PlayStation’s recent direction leaves its studios and fanbase caught in an awkward limbo. The real losers? Gamers hoping for more creative, risky games from teams who know what they’re doing.