An exposé by Eurogamer has shed light on the deteriorating situation within Firesprite Studio following its acquisition by Sony, as reported by former and current employees.
According to sources close to the matter, Firesprite underwent a stark transformation in its company culture after the acquisition, with many lamenting the loss of the positive atmosphere it once boasted.
The departure of key senior figures, including several of the studio’s founders, over the past year has marked a significant shift in leadership dynamics. Notably, new leaders were appointed from XDev, a support studio under Sony’s umbrella.
Eurogamer’s investigation revealed that two of these incoming XDev leaders were the subject of approximately 13 formal grievances, with allegations ranging from sexual discrimination to ageism. Despite this, a Sony-led investigation purportedly dismissed these complaints as mere misunderstandings.
Some employees reportedly pursued legal avenues in response, with alleged settlements being reached with Sony. The fallout from these internal conflicts also appears to have impacted the studio’s development processes, notably concerning their VR project, Horizon: Call of the Mountain.
Under pressure from both Sony and Guerrilla Games, the original developers of Horizon, Firesprite faced demands to elevate Call of the Mountain into a flagship title for the upcoming PSVR 2 launch. This pressure led to a rapid expansion of the development team, doubling in size within three months.
However, integrating new talent proved to be challenging, and the studio resorted to crunch periods to meet the targeted launch date for the game. Despite these challenges, official communication from the studio downplayed any issues, even as staff departures and redundancies continued.
Looking ahead, employees stressed the need for a reassessment of the studio’s principles and a greater emphasis on listening to staff concerns to address underlying cultural issues. Some advocated for a more independent leadership approach, free from Sony’s influence, fearing that the company’s involvement could potentially lead to a downward spiral for Firesprite.
The recent job cuts at Firesprite, coinciding with broader layoffs affecting around 900 PlayStation employees, further highlight the ongoing turbulence within the studio.
