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Californian developer Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has axed 41 of its employees, representing a workforce cut of 5 per cent.
The SCEA subsidiary cited cost-efficiency as the key reason behind the job losses, though it was not prepared to discuss who had left the studio. SOE is responsible for popular MMOs such as Free Realms and Everquest.
A spokesperson for the developer told IndustryGamers,
"In a move to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs, Sony Online Entertainment has eliminated 5 per cent of its full-time workforce, equalling 41 people.”
Sony announced in December that it was going to cut 16,000 jobs – a figure split evenly between part-time and full-time positions – in a bid to save the company some $1.1 billion per year.
The company has also curbed investment, made drastic changes to its parts supplier portfolio, frozen high-earning wages and adjusted numerous pension, bonus and salary policies.
In May, Sony announced an annual loss of $1.03 billion.
