[Grisham]

Sony Interactive Entertainment has laid off over 90 workers from its North American business.

That's according to Sony documents seen by Axios, who also spoke to one affected employee, the cuts were focused on the company's sales and marketing departments.

A VGC source independently verified the layoffs, claiming 93 staff had been cut, including virtually the entire retail marketing channel.

Sony didn't respond to request for comment prior to the Axios story's publication, but in its internal messaging to staff, leadership said the cuts were part of a "global transformation" of its sales and business operations.

The platform holder is closing its "merchandiser" team in the US, which includes staff whose jobs involve visiting retailers to brief them on the company's products.

Traditional retail's importance is waning, with digital now accounting for well over half of PlayStation's software sales, and the company has been increasing its focus on direct-to-consumer marketing for several years now.

Its US arm launched PlayStation Direct to sell consoles, games and accessories direct to consumers in September 2019.

"PlayStation Direct has achieved significant revenue in the US market within little more than a year of starting operations," SIE CEO Jim Ryan said in May 2021, when the company also confirmed plans to launch its online store in Europe.

Boosted by its expansion to new countries, Ryan said PlayStation Direct was expected to generate over $600 million during Sony's fiscal year ended in March 2022.

PlayStation Direct launched in Germany and the UK in November 2021.

PlayStation has laid off over 90 North American workers | VGC

Sales and marketing roles cut as company increases focus on direct-to-consumer business…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[Arkam]

Sucks bad for those 93 people, but I can see where Sony is going here. They have sold over 20million PS5's without a single one ever being placed on a (brick and mortar) retail shelf. So I can see why they feel empowered to shift away from retail. Going to guess most of these people were in their Dallas office (which I have always assumed was there due to GameStop HQ being there).

While I like the convenience of online shopping, I am going to miss brick and mortar retailers when they are (mostly) gone.

 

[El Rey]

Yeah RIP to those 93 positions but their positions are simply not necessary anymore.

 

[cryptoadam]

I blame those 93 and solely those 93 for the reason I cannot buy a PS5 in Canada yet. So good riddince to bad rubbish....

Nah fam sucks to lose your job, but thanks to Joe Bizzles roaring economy I am sure they will land on their feet.