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SOE Confirms Studio Closures, Death of The AgencyMar 31st, 2011 at 10:19 AM by Togikagi

Sony Online Entertainment has announced massive layoffs, the closure of three studios and the end of The Agency.

UPDATE: SOE has officially announced that "it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios." The company is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can "focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties." Its current portfolio of games will not be affected. Check out the full announcement after the jump.

According to Kotaku, Sony Online Entertainment has closed three studios and will lay off nearly one third of its workforce. While SOE hasn't released an official statement, Kotaku says they confirmed through "a source familiar with the matter" that the closures affect the Seattle, Tucson and Denver offices. In addition, the source stated that numerous employees in the Austin and San Diego offices have also been let go from their positions.

The rumor began spreading last night when Goerge Broussard of Duke Nukem fame tweeted, "Word that Sony Online Entertainment Seattle is having layoffs and that studio closure is possible." He quickly followed that by saying, "To be more clear, the layoffs may be SOE wide and not just limited to Seattle. So, Austin, San Diego, etc..."

Broussard's latest tweet on the matter, which was posted 12 hours ago, said "SOE Seattle and other studios (Denver is rumored) will be closed tomorrow. Good luck to all impacted."

Official announcement from SOE

As part of a strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce, SOE announced today that it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios. As part of this restructuring, SOE is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games. All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern.

This strategic decision will have no impact on SOE’s current portfolio of live games; additionally SOE will transition development efforts for the Denver and Tucson studios’ suite of products to its San Diego headquarters. This strategic alignment of development resources better positions SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages, and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year.

Tags: News, SonyOnlineEntertainment, TheAgency

Comments

If its not April fools

# Apr 01 2011 at 3:49 PM Rating: Default

98 posts

Well if its not an April fools then its the most lousy timing a company of SOe size has ever come up with :( Its like saying Japan was hit and is still paying for their crimes against dolphins :(

Not very clever even if it is the truth
Yes the innocent dolphins were also being murdered

Your all Idiots.....

# Apr 01 2011 at 3:18 PM Rating: Default

__DEL__1591884059276

65 posts

It's Sony's April Fools joke. They do one every year. I can't believe how many gullable people there are.

I exclude gettheredone, monstermmo, and wsmercs from my scorn. To the rest of you /rolls eyes

Your all Idiots.....

# Apr 02 2011 at 5:51 AM Rating: Good

-REDACTED-

Sage

76 posts

Sorry, junior, it was confirmed by Linda Carlson, Senior Global Community Relations Manager on the Station website, which was the official announcement. In the future, you might want to take a step back and look at the whole picture before calling people idiots, they may just have information that you haven't bothered to look for. ( Her post on the station website predates yours by over 24 hours...just a fyi )

Your all Idiots.....

# Apr 01 2011 at 10:16 PM Rating: Excellent

-REDACTED-

Guru

6,786 posts

AbyssalMage wrote:

It's Sony's April Fools joke. They do one every year. I can't believe how many gullable people there are.

I wish you were right. You're not.

...

# Apr 01 2011 at 10:23 AM Rating: Decent

Scholar

42 posts

just to point out on mar 31 this was a RUMOR, it is now official.

man sorry to see people being let go :(

# Apr 01 2011 at 4:44 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1687738630468

196 posts

It a sad day for SOE employees who is being let go I am sorry to see anyone out of work. Thank you fine people who made SOE a great place to play and meet new friends and good luck in finding a new job and i am sorry to see u go take care.
I think EQ is the best game for me out there and hope it stays around until I die as I am a long time fan and player. I use to play board games with family and friends when i was in school was very fun. But when we all got out of high school and got jobs and every one was on difference shifts it was hard to play D&D and risk where u had to go over to each others house and be right there to play. On line is great for me as I can always find someone to play with or solo.
I just want to say that SOE and any company out there people is your greatest asset don't make a mistake like allot of company's do if u laid off 1/3 of your workforce or move the company off shore who in America going to buy your product no one going to be able to afford it if no one is working I have seen to many high paying jobs leave USA.
Company's and our government need to step back and see what profit before the people is doing to America I don't mine company's making a profit but no ceo should make millions and still lay off workers or company's make crazy profit like the oil company do. Take care all LONG LIVE EQ.

man sorry to see people being let go :(

# Apr 04 2011 at 12:52 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1592790128882

5 posts

Just an FYI, while yes in TOTAL Oil Companies make huge profits, you do know that thier most obvious product(fuel) is accually thier LEAST profitable venture and infact Governments make more money per gallon on then oil companies do. It is accually the billions of other things that start as oil that they make nearly all thier money on.

APRIL FOOLS

# Apr 01 2011 at 2:50 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1591993906531

4 posts

c'mon u newbs its APRIL FOOLS DAY!

APRIL FOOLS

# Apr 01 2011 at 8:17 AM Rating: Decent

amastropolo

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Sage

856 posts

Quote:

c'mon u newbs its APRIL FOOLS DAY

This came out yesterday, and it's no joke.

APRIL FOOLS

# Apr 01 2011 at 8:43 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1649636388391

View User Forum

9 posts

"Yesterday" was april 1st in some parts of the world.

APRIL FOOLS

# Apr 01 2011 at 12:32 PM Rating: Decent

amastropolo

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Sage

856 posts

Quote:

"Yesterday" was april 1st in some parts of the world.

That's true. Unfortunately, the western US wasn't one of those places.

CS team

# Mar 31 2011 at 10:13 PM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1591993903254

1 post

FYI - looks like the GM team was hit hard so be nice to the ones that are left

Ouch! when EQ threatened

# Mar 31 2011 at 5:46 PM Rating: Decent

Scholar

107 posts

Ouch! whenever I feel EQ threatened, it's the only game I play online, I need a rez.
Trozkat lvl 68 Wiz on Druzzel Ro

The Agency

# Mar 31 2011 at 5:19 PM Rating: Good

__DEL__1595176718057

Scholar

101 posts

I was excited when I discovered that Sony had procured The Agency from it's previous developer (whatever it was) where it sat going stale. Then, seeing it on FB, I was thinking "Okay, let's see where we go from here."

I was really looking for that kind of MMO, something a bit different. I want Black Ops/CIA kinda stuff...MMO with a bit of FPS mixed in.

So much for that.

As long as the EQ franchise and LoN are not adversely affected, I'll be happy. However, I must admit that Rift is looking more and more inviting...already lost one of the best tanks in my guild to Rift.

Guess we'll have to wait and see how things go.

...

# Mar 31 2011 at 3:06 PM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1592339827386

2 posts

I noticed a few days ago that SOE had removed the links to Legends of Norrath from www.everquest.com and wondered if they were planning on abandoning their collectible games. Even though they said that this won't impact any live games, I wouldn't be surprised to see Vanguard, EQOA, and some of their smaller games get shut down soon.

Hope everyone impacted lands on their feet soon.

...

# Mar 31 2011 at 2:34 PM Rating: Decent

Scholar

42 posts

Has sony gone the way of the Office and we're seeing a horrible Michael Scott style april fools? /wait for pam to cry

Sorry to the 205

# Mar 31 2011 at 1:31 PM Rating: Decent

ShreshaDloran

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Scholar

36 posts

So they want to kill off a promising game (The Agency) in an effort to revive PlanetSide? Yeah, this is not going to end well. Isn't the Denver office where they do/did the Legends of Norrath work? Can one hope they shut that down also?

Sorry to the 205

# Apr 04 2011 at 12:55 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1592790128882

5 posts

Unfortunatly the Denver office duties are being transfered to San Diego, so I doupt that any of the existing card games(LoN included) are going away or being shutdown...kept on lifesupport only? likly, shutdown...not until they game they are linked to is.

Sorry to the 205

# Mar 31 2011 at 3:18 PM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1592339827386

2 posts

I think they are far more people excited about PlanetSide 2 than there were excited for The Agency.

SOE Restructuring Announcement

# Mar 31 2011 at 1:31 PM Rating: Decent

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ZAM Administrator

1,259 posts

SOE Restructuring Announcement
http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/posts/list.m?topic_id=175316

We thank the EQ community for their longstanding dedication and support for this landmark game, and we are listening; EverQuest is not going anywhere. The game will continue to evolve full-force for the foreseeable future, and you can look forward to a Producerâ€™s Letter next week with more information about what lies ahead for the gameâ€™s development in 2011.

____________________________

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so

# Mar 31 2011 at 1:09 PM Rating: Decent

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ZAM Administrator

1,259 posts

so is this EQ next or EQ they will focus on????

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so

# Mar 31 2011 at 1:15 PM Rating: Excellent

__DEL__1682900301016

Guru

295 posts

Larth wrote:

so is this EQ next or EQ they will focus on????

According to the statement, SOE discontinued production of The Agency to focus on EverQuest Next and PlanetSide Next.

good luck

# Mar 31 2011 at 11:54 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1657498618551

16 posts

yes good luck to those who are losing their jobs and welcome to the downfall of EQ ,EQ2 and etc.....

good luck

# Apr 04 2011 at 12:59 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1592790128882

5 posts

How is shutting down the TCG studio, the Agency studio, and whatever Tucson did, and trasfering the duties of Tucson and Denver(TCG) to San Diego, going to effect EQ and EQ2? The only thing that would effect those games would be the profitablity of those games, if they are profitable where they are now, they will get support, if they are losing profitablity then they will attempt to fix it, if they can't then they will lose support to maintain profitablity. None of that has anything to do with shutting down studios that where not making a profit and don't seem likly to.

Sad.

# Mar 31 2011 at 9:39 AM Rating: Decent

__DEL__1592791362537

20 posts

Good luck to those people losing their jobs. So sad when things like this happen.

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