Sony's Downsizing: A Timeline

March 31, 2011: Sony closes three of it's five Sony Online Entertainment Studios these are:

SOE: Denver: Auto Assault, Legend of Norrath, Magic the Gathering Tactics

SOE: Seattle: The Agency

SOE: Tucson: The Agency (co-develop)

January 10, 2012: Sony Closes Bigbig Studios

BigBig studios: Pursuit Force, Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice, Motorstorm: Artic Edge, Little Deviants

March 30, 2012: Sony Closes Zipper Interactive

Zipper Interactive: Soccom Series, Mag

August 22, 2012: Sony Closes Sony Liverpool Studios (AKA Psygnosis)

Psygnosis: Colony Wars series, G-police Series, Wipeout Series

anyone noticing a pattern? which studio will be next? place your bets

for comparison, in the same Time Period:

August 2, 2011: Sony aquires Suckper Punch

Sucker Punch: Infamous Series

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

March 31, 2011: Sony closes three of it's five Sony Online Entertainment Studios these are:

SOE: Denver: Auto Assault, Legend of Norrath, Magic the Gathering Tactics

SOE: Seattle: The Agency

SOE: Tucson: The Agency (co-develop)

January 10, 2012: Sony Closes Bigbig Studios

BigBig studios: Pursuit Force, Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice, Motorstorm: Artic Edge, Little Deviants

March 30, 2012: Sony Closes Zipper Interactive

Zipper Interactive: Soccom Series, Mag

August 22, 2012: Sony Closes Sony Liverpool Studios (AKA Psygnosis)

Psygnosis: Colony Wars series, G-police Series, Wipeout Series

anyone noticing a pattern?

rilpas

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

Sony Should be cutting their infected leg (TV Market) rather then closing studios.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

okay, what's microsoft got to do with this? :|

also I think you mean "you are AN idiot"

Trimming the fat. Getting rid of studios that weren't putting out profitable games. No sense in investing into a studio that doesn't make them money.

[QUOTE="Chris_Williams"]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

rilpas

okay, what's microsoft got to do with this? :|

also I think you mean "you are AN idiot"

[QUOTE="rilpas"]

[QUOTE="Chris_Williams"]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

okay, what's microsoft got to do with this? :|

also I think you mean "you are AN idiot"

Oh I see, you're mad but you have no actual argument to make

oh well allow me then:

One word springs to mind... can you guess the word ? :P

One word springs to mind... can you guess the word ? :P

SecretPolice

Trimming the fat. Getting rid of studios that weren't putting out profitable games. No sense in investing into a studio that doesn't make them money.

Wasdie

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Trimming the fat. Getting rid of studios that weren't putting out profitable games. No sense in investing into a studio that doesn't make them money.

Animal-Mother

Wait ... their size is a function of both closures and acquisitions. What about Media Molecule, Sucker Punch and a few others they bought recently?

Wait ... their size is a function of both closures and acquisitions. What about Media Molecule, Sucker Punch and a few others they bought recently?

KiZZo1

[QUOTE="KiZZo1"]

Wait ... their size is a function of both closures and acquisitions. What about Media Molecule, Sucker Punch and a few others they bought recently?

rilpas

[QUOTE="rilpas"][QUOTE="KiZZo1"]

Wait ... their size is a function of both closures and acquisitions. What about Media Molecule, Sucker Punch and a few others they bought recently?

inb4uall

not really, that's when they started downsizing.

Sony closing a studio was virtually unheard of until recently

It all started in 2004 when Halo 2 dropped, since then sony has not won a single holiday in the U.S.A., the XBOX and then the XBOX 360 has beat out the playstation console in sales and software sales EVERYSINGLE holiday since then, 2005 xbox 360 dropped, 2006 Gears of war, 2007 Halo 3, 2008 gears of war 2, 2009 Halo odst, 2010 Halo reach, 2011 gears of war 3 20012 Halo 4 and there is no chance they win this holiday either, so that is so many years of getting curb stomped at retail, soon it will just lead to the ultimate crumble of the once mighty empire known as sony. They have to win a holiday ib the U.S.A. which if they dont next year it will be 10 years in a row of loosing to Microsoft cause there is ZERO chance they win this year

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

[QUOTE="inb4uall"]

[QUOTE="rilpas"] you'll notice I only went as far back as 2011rilpas

not really, that's when they started downsizing.

Sony closing a studio was virtually unheard of until recently

[QUOTE="rilpas"]

[QUOTE="inb4uall"] tricky tricky.

inb4uall

not really, that's when they started downsizing.

Sony closing a studio was virtually unheard of until recently

personally I feel it was good thing for 5/6 studios

bad for Psygnosis, but maybe some good will come of it, hopefully they'll become an indie dev and return to their once great originality

One word springs to mind... can you guess the word ? :P

SecretPolice

[QUOTE="KiZZo1"]

Wait ... their size is a function of both closures and acquisitions. What about Media Molecule, Sucker Punch and a few others they bought recently?

rilpas

i.e. you're cherry picking a time period, which supports your argument? And not even that because Sucker Punch was acquired in 2011. And no mention of size of the studios themselves, even though MM and SP might be worth more than the closed ones. A solid argument you have there ...

[QUOTE="inb4uall"]

[QUOTE="rilpas"]

not really, that's when they started downsizing.

Sony closing a studio was virtually unheard of until recently

rilpas

personally I feel it was good thing for 5/6 studios

bad for Psygnosis, but maybe some good will come of it, hopefully they'll become an indie dev and return to their once great originality

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

Look how mad this dude got when someone talks about Sony closing studios. And cows wonder why they are looked upon as the most annoying, stupid group of fanboys on the internet.

[QUOTE="rilpas"][QUOTE="KiZZo1"]

Wait ... their size is a function of both closures and acquisitions. What about Media Molecule, Sucker Punch and a few others they bought recently?

KiZZo1

i.e. you're cherry picking a time period, which supports your argument? And not even that because Sucker Punch was acquired in 2011. And no mention of size of the studios themselves, even though MM and SP might be worth more than the closed ones. A solid argument you have there ...

actually I didn't know sucker punch was bought in 2011

and I'm not cherry picking, look at Sony's history, Sony closing an internal studio is virtually unheard of until now.

Most of it's former studios there were closed were done so either because the devs left of their own will or they were later relaunched under a different name

I'm sorry if the facts are hurting you, but that's the truth

[QUOTE="Chris_Williams"]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

brennanhuff

Look how mad this dude got when someone talks about Sony closing studios. And cows wonder why they are looked upon as the most annoying, stupid group of fanboys on the internet.

[QUOTE="SecretPolice"]

One word springs to mind... can you guess the word ? :P

rilpas

There's nothing wrong with downsizing. Besides, they probably opened a couple of studios in the past few years too.

There's nothing wrong with downsizing. Besides, they probably opened a couple of studios in the past few years too.

ghidorah45

[QUOTE="ghidorah45"]

There's nothing wrong with downsizing. Besides, they probably opened a couple of studios in the past few years too.

rilpas

[QUOTE="rilpas"][QUOTE="ghidorah45"]

There's nothing wrong with downsizing. Besides, they probably opened a couple of studios in the past few years too.

campzor

EDIT: 2009

It is not just game studios and these are recent also

Sony sells chemical product division to bank

Sony sells LCD stake to Samsung

Sony sells Spiderman merchandising rights

Sony sells 50 year old factory

It is not just game studios and these are recent also

Sony sells chemical product division to bank

Sony sells LCD stake to Samsung

Sony sells Spiderman merchandising rights

Sony sells 50 year old factory

CanYouDiglt

This is nothing but good news and shows Kaz's sheer will and determination. Games are a PILLAR of Sony, his words, not mine and we all know PS4 is a go, lock and loaded. Strap one on guys, going to be pedal to the metal, wild muther fuking thrill ride. It will offer a barn bursting amount of world class, high scroing, meta game spreadsheet making games just like the PS3. Day fuking 1,,,Thank you Kaz. Heil68

cows: everything is fine Sony is doing fine they are doing better now then ever before it dont matter they havent made any money since 2005

The only studio that was worth half a pile of dog doo was Sony Liverpool. I thought WipeoutHD turned a profit?

The loss of the Colony Wars franchise saddens me quite a bit. If there was any game that needed a sequel it was CW. :(

So when MS do it, they're bastards, a disease that wants to consume your family and kill the entire games industry. But when Sony do it, it's (a.) a good thing and (b.) they're just cutting dead wood.

SWs is so cool :cool:

This thread seems relatively calm...given that Sony fanboys tend to go bats**t the instant Microsoft closes a studio...

This thread seems relatively calm...given that Sony fanboys tend to go bats**t the instant Microsoft closes a studio...

The_Game21x

:P lol you know what i'm sayin.

Case in point, take a Rare thread. Rare have been inconsistent and have struggled to make decent games and MS didn't even disband them, they kept them around to do something else. But cows get real worked up in those threads. Sony closes a studio and everyones all understanding.

We all knew this was coming. The death of Playstation. No one wants to believe me. But that's ok. Prophets are rarely appreciated in their time. todd2r_Partdeux

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

Ok, what did pioneer studios actually do? I can't even find them on Wikipedia.

This thread seems relatively calm...given that Sony fanboys tend to go bats**t the instant Microsoft closes a studio...

The_Game21x

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio

YOU

http://www.gamespot.com/news/confirmed-microsoft-closing-ensemble-6197465

ARE

http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3187649/microsoft-vancouver-lays-off-staff-cancels-projects

A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/microsoft-closes-pioneer-studios/

IDIOT

Chris_Williams

And they closed the studio who made the Flight Simulator series. Stupid, stupid Microsoft.