Some bitter sweet news as PlanetSide will benefit from these changes but appears that it will be out a bit later. And of course a variety of people will no longer be employed at SOE. We wish those people our best wishes during this time.

It appears that The Agency has suffered a cancellation but PlanetSide Next is getting expanded. I've also spoken with John Smedley this morning who informed me that the team will be expanded among other news.

The news of the SOE Layoffs are in fact true per a Sony news release.

Latest Comments

2011-03-31 01:11 PM

Arkanakaz Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures Raymac Originally Posted by True, and we know T-Ray is working on PS:N and his LinkedIn says he is currently working with SOE San Diego even though he used to be with the Seattle office.



Stay classy, San Diego.

2011-03-31 02:04 PM

Hamma Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures I've added a new article with some additional news.



http://www.planetside-universe.com/n...nding-2462.htm



A bit bittersweet, looks like we will be waiting a bit longer for PSN.

2011-03-31 02:07 PM

DviddLeff Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures Cheers Hamma, thanks for the extra info.



He did say a **little** later in the year

2011-03-31 02:42 PM

SgtMAD Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures I feel bad for the ppl being laid off,this is a bad time to find a new job

2011-03-31 03:19 PM

Aractain Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures So like we all expected, PSN around august to november? Im glad that SOE is actually concentrating on trying to make good games for a change (which seems to come at the cost of peoples jobs; it does sucketh).

EQ and PS were their strongest IPs (Planetside is not a very 'good' game... but the IP is far stronger than The Agency which seemed like some kiddie spy game to most people, I think?).



Im actually interested in what they do with EQ3 too which is odd since Guild Wars 2 will (probably) win every MMO crown there is for me.

2011-03-31 03:25 PM

krnasaur Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures Hey, id rather wait alittle longer than forever longer. bittersweet news, PSN is "confirmed" but 200ish people lost their jobs

2011-03-31 04:39 PM

Sifer2 Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures I think they made the right decision. Since I was not very excited for the Agency it didn't seem like something that would be that popular. I think Planetside Next has the potential to be a bigger hit than it would have been.



Of course its unfortunate people got layed off but that's pretty much how the game industry works. Whenever a project is cancelled or finished a lot of people get transferred or let go. They usually don't have much trouble getting hired at another studio I think.



In any case its good news actually for Planetside Next to know its getting more resources. It being delayed until later in the year isn't even a surprise for me. Who really expected it to be surprise launched with no advertising?

2011-03-31 04:57 PM

Miir Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures I would have liked this announcement better if EQ wasn't used in the same sentence as Planetside. They need to focus their resources on the future and not the past.



In a VS kind a way.

2011-03-31 06:19 PM

Peacemaker Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures This is indeed bitter sweet. I'm glad they have told us though. Some info is great.

2011-03-31 07:39 PM

NivexQ Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures Miir Originally Posted by I would have liked this announcement better if EQ wasn't used in the same sentence as Planetside. They need to focus their resources on the future and not the past.



In a VS kind a way.

2011-03-31 07:53 PM

WarChimp130 Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures I don't mind waiting a little longer. Better than them trying to throw something together poorly and rush it out the door. If the wait means we get a better product out the gate I'm all for it. How often does a game release to meet some deadline, doesn't live up to it's billing then looses almost all it's base within a few months? AoC is a stark reminder of why you don't push an unfinished game out.

2011-04-01 03:36 AM

Canaris Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures Always sad to hear about job losses, hope those affected come thru okay.

Glad to hear PS is still on track. As others have said Bittersweet seems to be the best term.

2011-04-01 09:18 AM

Tigersmith Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures Woo Soo excited now everyone I thought it would be time to hang up the planetside next hope. But they scrapped the AGENCY wooz. Cant wait!

2011-04-03 02:22 PM

Straws Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures HtSgtMAD Originally Posted by I feel bad for the ppl being laid off,this is a bad time to find a new job



I'm trying to look at all the bright sides though. This downsizing is hopefully a sign that SOE has identified that it over reached with it's product range and development.



You can almost guarantee that the sites that have been shut down will be sending their staff to the remaining SOE locations and assisting on concentrating on their products a bit more after release.



Always a shame when a game is cancelled, but I never had faith in an MMO that's a new/original IP. It's very dangerous, and I think Blizzard will discover this too if it turns out that Titan isn't based on an existing franchise.



Anyway, The Agency is dead, long live Planetside. Now let's finally get some concentrated awesome out of SOE that truely hasn't been seen for 8 years.

2011-04-11 10:21 AM