Bend Studio is facing significant layoffs, with approximately 30% of its workforce, or around 40 employees, being let go. These reductions arrive shortly after the cancellation of the studio’s anticipated live-service game and just two months following the release of Days Gone Remastered for PlayStation 5 on April 25, which included enhancements and a DLC for the existing PC version.

Originally released in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Days Gone achieved commercial success by selling over nine million copies globally. The game features a post-apocalyptic Oregon where the main character, Deacon St. John, embarks on a quest to find his wife following a zombie apocalypse. Despite positive reviews post-remaster, with an average critic score of 81 on OpenCritic, the news of the layoffs has puzzled fans, who are hopeful for Bend Studio’s future projects.

“Sony’s Bend studio, which canceled a live-service game earlier this year, is laying off 30% of staff today (around 40 people), Bloomberg News has learned. The studio has been spinning up a new project following the cancellation.” — Jason Schreier

The gaming community’s reaction to these workforce reductions has been one of confusion and disappointment, particularly among players who have engaged with the Days Gone Remastered release on PS5, hoping for a significant new title from Bend Studio.