Sucker Punch Productions, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, is undergoing layoffs, with 26 employees reportedly affected. This news comes despite Ghost of Tsushima selling over 5.4 million copies and being named Sony's best-selling game of the past year.
An internal email, verified by Aftermath, cites unspecified "challenges in the market" and an assessment of team needs for its next project as reasons for the staffing reductions. The email, sent to the studio's approximately 229 employees, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and stated that more details about the studio's future would be shared soon.
The decision to lay off staff after shipping such a commercially successful title has led to speculation about the increasing cost of game development and the financial pressures faced by studios. Prior to the Ghost of Tsushima series, Sucker Punch was known for its work on the Infamous and Sly Cooper franchises. The studio was acquired by Sony in August 2011.