The creator of Ghost of Yōtei cut about one-tenth of the staff despite the game's success
In the Sony-owned studio Sucker Punch Productions, known for Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yōtei, a wave of layoffs has occurred. According to media reports, 24 people—approximately one-tenth of the team—lost their jobs. These layoffs happened amid the studio transitioning to its next project.
The layoffs were first reported by Aftermath on October 26, citing a former Sucker Punch employee and an internal management letter. Initially, journalists reported 26 layoffs, but later publications corrected the number to 24 people.
In the letter, the studio's management explained the decision by citing a challenging situation in the gaming market and the shift in the team’s needs while preparing for the next project.
"After analyzing market difficulties and assessing the staffing needs of our next game, we decided to proceed with layoffs," said the management's statement.
Sucker Punch emphasized that the decision was tough and pledged to support the impacted employees. The management also announced that additional information about the studio's future would be shared next week.
It is noteworthy that the layoffs occurred despite the commercial success of Ghost of Yōtei. The game was released on October 2, 2025, and according to Sony's official data, sold over 3.3 million copies in the first month. GamesBeat estimates that sales reached approximately 5.4 million copies in the first year.
Additionally, on October 1, 2026, the studio released Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition, which included the new story expansion Echoes of Sekigahara.
As a reminder, Sucker Punch Productions was founded in 1997. In 2011, the studio was acquired by Sony. Besides Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yōtei, it is also known for the Infamous and Sly Cooper series.