Ugh. More bad game industry news, this time from Sony. Firewalk is shutting down. ☹️
(@jasonschreier broke the story first) https://t.co/GKxilLwbfc
— Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) October 29, 2024
Sony is shutting down its Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios, according to an internal announcement by Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group. The decision comes after evaluating the company’s game portfolio and project statuses to align with both near and long-term business priorities. Hulst stated that the decision was difficult but necessary.
Sony's closure today of two studios — Concord developer Firewalk Studios and mobile game maker Neon Koi — will result in 210 people losing their jobs, a spokesperson tells Bloomberg News. Firewalk had 172 employees, while Neon Koi had 38. https://t.co/ksiVFpfWLs
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) October 29, 2024
“Mobile remains a priority growth area for the studio business, but we need to concentrate on titles that are in line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to reach more players globally,” he explained regarding Neon Koi’s closure. In the case of Firewalk, Hulst mentioned that Sony had explored various options over the past few months but ultimately decided that the best path forward was to permanently sunset the game and close the studio. The exact number of employees affected by the closures is unclear.
sony evaluates studio portfolio alignments
According to LinkedIn, Firewalk employs between 51-200 people, while Neon Koi has 11-50 employees. “I know this is difficult news to hear, particularly with colleagues and friends departing SIE,” Hulst added.
BREAKING: Sony is shutting down Firewalk Studios, the maker of the recent shooter Concord.
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) October 29, 2024
He emphasized that the decisions were made after serious consideration to strengthen the organization.
Firewalk is signing off one last time.
Firewalk began with the idea of bringing the joy of multiplayer to a larger audience. Along the way we assembled an incredible team who were able to:
– Navigate growing a new startup into a team during a global pandemic: Firewalk was…— Firewalk (@FirewalkStudios) October 29, 2024
“We will work to find placement for some of those impacted within our global community of studios where possible,” he said. Despite the closures, Hulst expressed optimism about the future.
“While today is a difficult day, there is much to look forward to in the months ahead from the Studio Business Group and our teams. I remain confident that we are building a resilient and capable organization driven by creating unforgettable entertainment experiences for our players.”
The closures follow the recent shutdown of another project, Concord, as part of an ongoing evaluation of live service games and their viability.
