Layoffs at Daybreak Game Company

According to a Kotaku report, Daybreak Game Company, the studio we used to call Sony Online Entertainment, has laid off a number of its employees, including EverQuest Next’s director Dave Georgeson. Judging by what a source that asked to remain anonmyous told Kotaku, the management desperately tried to get its employees excited about the company’s new direction, which was a tall order given most employees didn’t know whether they’d be able to stay at the company as it pursued it:

“Most of management keeps trying to get people pumped up about the new direction, but no one knows for sure they’ll be a part of it yet,” said that person, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with press about the layoffs.

According to an official statement from the company, the layoffs are a “strategic decision to rationalize the business”, but the current games won’t be affected:

As part of a strategic decision to rationalize the business, Daybreak Game Company announced today that it will eliminate positions in both its San Diego and Austin studios. This alignment of resources better positions the newly independent studio for future growth opportunities and developments, including delivering on its legacy of making top online games and establishing a solid foundation for future multi-platform success. These reductions will not affect the operation of current games and the company will continue on its mission to partner with its player community to drive the future and push the boundaries of online gaming.

There’s always something slightly unsettling about the language involved in statements about layoffs: all the talk about rationalizing the business makes it easy to forget that people’s livelihoods are being directly affected.