Ghost of Yotei developer Sucker Punch has reportedly cut 26 jobs, with studio leadership citing market conditions and staffing needs for its next project. The reported cuts come weeks after the PS5 game's Complete Edition added a story expansion and a combat survival mode.
Aftermath reported on October 26 that an ex-Sucker Punch employee put the number of departures at 26. The outlet also reviewed an internal email in which leadership said several positions would be eliminated.
“After carefully observing the challenges in the market and reviewing the team needs for our next project, we've decided to make some staffing reductions,” the email read. “Several positions across Sucker Punch will be eliminated as a result.”
The message does not identify that project or say which departments are affected. It also does not describe any change to Ghost of Yotei's ongoing support or attribute the cuts specifically to its sales. Leadership said it had worked to support departing colleagues and told staff it would share more about the studio's future the following week.
The layoffs follow another round of additions to Yotei. PlayStation's official game page lists Echoes of Sekigahara and Most Wanted as Complete Edition content available through patch 2.0 from October 1. The expansion revisits protagonist Atsu's past in a new area of Ezo, while Most Wanted pits players against enemy waves and bosses. The package also includes Legends, the game's co-op mode.
Sucker Punch is a Sony-owned developer whose earlier work includes Sly Cooper and inFamous. Sony acquired the studio in August 2011, following years of collaboration on PlayStation games.