Sucker Punch Productions, the Sony-owned studio behind Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei, has reportedly laid off 24 employees. The cuts come as leadership reviews the team’s needs for its next project, following a commercially successful run for Yotei.
In brief:
- Aftermath’s corrected report says 24 employees lost their jobs.
- Leadership cited market challenges and staffing needs for its next project.
- Ghost of Yotei was reportedly Sony’s best-selling PS5 game of 2026 as of June.
Sucker Punch Cites Market Challenges and Next Project Needs
According to Aftermath, a former Sucker Punch employee confirmed the layoffs. The outlet initially reported 26 affected employees before updating that number to 24.
Aftermath also reviewed an internal email in which leadership cited “challenges in the market” and announced “staffing reductions” after assessing requirements for the studio’s next project.
The email ties the decision to planning for future development, though the project itself remains unspecified in the reporting. For fans of the studio waiting to see what Sucker Punch makes next, details about that game are still scarce.
Ghost of Yotei’s Sales Success Comes Alongside Job Cuts
The layoffs follow strong sales for Ghost of Yotei. Sony’s published figures list 3.3 million copies sold by November 2, 2025, just 32 days after its October 2 launch. So, that gave the Ghost of Tsushima follow-up a substantial audience within its first month.
As of June, Yotei was Sony’s best-selling PS5 game of 2026. That ranking reflects the position reported earlier in the year, rather than an updated October sales chart.
The timing makes the news particularly tough for the people who helped deliver the game. Sucker Punch has built one of PlayStation’s most recognizable franchises, and Yotei found a sizable audience. Even with that success, employees are losing their jobs as the studio prepares for its next production.
