PlanetSide Next Team Expanding - PlanetSide Universe

The news of the SOE Layoffs are in fact true per a Sony news release.

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.

It appears that The Agency has suffered a cancellation but PlanetSide Next is getting expanded. I've also spoken with John Smedley this morning who informed me that the team will be expanded among other news. Top deals of the new sales from Pick n Pay Specials are the holiday gifts.

PlanetSide Next is getting More resources and will be out a little later in the year but we are pulling out all the stops to make it great.

Some bitter sweet news as PlanetSide will benefit from these changes but appears that it will be out a bit later. Check JB Hi Fi Catalogue and Lenovo Catalogue. And of course a variety of people will no longer be employed at SOE. We wish those people our best wishes during this time.

27 comments

2011-03-31 03:03 PM

Source: PC Gamer

Latest Comments

2011-03-31 02:11 PM

Arkanakaz

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Originally Posted by Raymac

True, and we know T-Ray is working on PS:N and his LinkedIn says he is currently working with SOE San Diego even though he used to be with the Seattle office.

Stay classy, San Diego.

Of course things could have changed since this post a month and a half back and the development may be in other SOE studios now; if it is true more are working on it.

2011-03-31 03:04 PM

Hamma

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

I've added a new article with some additional news.

http://www.planetside-universe.com/n...nding-2462.htm

A bit bittersweet, looks like we will be waiting a bit longer for PSN.

2011-03-31 03:07 PM

DviddLeff

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Cheers Hamma, thanks for the extra info.

He did say a **little** later in the year

2011-03-31 03:42 PM

SgtMAD

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

I feel bad for the ppl being laid off,this is a bad time to find a new job

2011-03-31 04:19 PM

Aractain

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

So like we all expected, PSN around august to november? Im glad that SOE is actually concentrating on trying to make good games for a change (which seems to come at the cost of peoples jobs; it does sucketh).
EQ and PS were their strongest IPs (Planetside is not a very 'good' game... but the IP is far stronger than The Agency which seemed like some kiddie spy game to most people, I think?).

Im actually interested in what they do with EQ3 too which is odd since Guild Wars 2 will (probably) win every MMO crown there is for me.

2011-03-31 04:25 PM

krnasaur

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Hey, id rather wait alittle longer than forever longer. bittersweet news, PSN is "confirmed" but 200ish people lost their jobs

2011-03-31 05:39 PM

Sifer2

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

I think they made the right decision. Since I was not very excited for the Agency it didn't seem like something that would be that popular. I think Planetside Next has the potential to be a bigger hit than it would have been.

Of course its unfortunate people got layed off but that's pretty much how the game industry works. Whenever a project is cancelled or finished a lot of people get transferred or let go. They usually don't have much trouble getting hired at another studio I think.

In any case its good news actually for Planetside Next to know its getting more resources. It being delayed until later in the year isn't even a surprise for me. Who really expected it to be surprise launched with no advertising?

2011-03-31 05:57 PM

Miir

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

I would have liked this announcement better if EQ wasn't used in the same sentence as Planetside. They need to focus their resources on the future and not the past.

In a VS kind a way.

2011-03-31 07:19 PM

Peacemaker

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

This is indeed bitter sweet. I'm glad they have told us though. Some info is great.

2011-03-31 08:39 PM

NivexQ

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Originally Posted by Miir

I would have liked this announcement better if EQ wasn't used in the same sentence as Planetside. They need to focus their resources on the future and not the past.

In a VS kind a way.

But Everquest Next IS the future...

2011-03-31 08:53 PM

WarChimp130

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

I don't mind waiting a little longer. Better than them trying to throw something together poorly and rush it out the door. If the wait means we get a better product out the gate I'm all for it. How often does a game release to meet some deadline, doesn't live up to it's billing then looses almost all it's base within a few months? AoC is a stark reminder of why you don't push an unfinished game out.

2011-04-01 04:36 AM

Canaris

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Always sad to hear about job losses, hope those affected come thru okay.
Glad to hear PS is still on track. As others have said Bittersweet seems to be the best term.

2011-04-01 10:18 AM

Tigersmith

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Woo Soo excited now everyone I thought it would be time to hang up the planetside next hope. But they scrapped the AGENCY wooz. Cant wait!

2011-04-03 03:22 PM

Straws

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Originally Posted by HtSgtMAD

I feel bad for the ppl being laid off,this is a bad time to find a new job

Same.

I'm trying to look at all the bright sides though. This downsizing is hopefully a sign that SOE has identified that it over reached with it's product range and development.

You can almost guarantee that the sites that have been shut down will be sending their staff to the remaining SOE locations and assisting on concentrating on their products a bit more after release.

Always a shame when a game is cancelled, but I never had faith in an MMO that's a new/original IP. It's very dangerous, and I think Blizzard will discover this too if it turns out that Titan isn't based on an existing franchise.

Anyway, The Agency is dead, long live Planetside. Now let's finally get some concentrated awesome out of SOE that truely hasn't been seen for 8 years.

2011-04-11 11:21 AM

Plissket

Re: SOE Layoffs and Studio Closures

Originally Posted by NivexQ

But Everquest Next IS the future...

For some people, but to be honest from what I've seen of it is not going to move me from Everquest 2. Graphically EQNext looks too cartoony to me and appears to be much more lightweight then EQ2, and at the EQNext seminar it seems that gameplaywise its not bringing anything really new in.

I'd rather see them put the resources into what they have already with EQ2, rather then reinvent the wheel with EQNext, although I guess (despite the claim EQNext will be PC only) I'm guessing a PS3 launch will be on the cards, since its based on a modified free realms engine.

I'm hoping though that PSNext will be a solid game with truly advanced graphics, looking around the basics of a good FPS are not hard to figure out.

All PSNext has to do is add the massive part to it and I think it'll be awesome.