‘Ghost of Yotei’ Studio Sucker Punch Is Cutting Jobs, and the Timing Raises Eyebrows

When Sucker Punch released ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ in 2020, the Japan-set action game made the studio one of PlayStation’s most prominent names. Its sequel, ‘Ghost of Yotei,’ followed on the PS5, and the studio’s latest release has been far from quiet. The follow-up arrived on October 2, 2025, and has kept the team busy ever since.

Commercially, the game has little to apologize for. ‘Ghost of Yotei’ is apparently one of Sony’s best-selling PS5 releases to date. Reported sales have also topped 5 million copies. Sucker Punch kept the momentum going this month, when ‘Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition’ launched on October 1 with the ‘Echoes of Sekigahara’ story expansion and a new survival mode called ‘Most Wanted.’

That is what makes the latest headline so jarring. IGN’s post on X says that Sucker Punch has laid off staff just a little over a year after the release of its last game. The news landed on October 26 and quickly spread across the games press.

The first report came from Aftermath, which spoke to a former Sucker Punch employee. The outlet initially reported 26 job losses but later corrected the figure to 24 after learning more. Most other outlets still cite the higher number, so the exact count remains murky.

How big a hit that is depends on who you ask. Aftermath describes Sucker Punch as a triple-A studio with a total headcount below 200, which makes 24 departures a significant blow. Other estimates run higher, and one report pegs the staff at roughly 229 people, meaning the cuts amount to more than 11% of the workforce.

The studio’s explanation came through an internal email that Aftermath obtained. The message cited “challenges in the market” and a review of what the team needs for its next project. It also told staff that the decision was not made lightly and that leadership tried to support the affected colleagues through the transition.

In other words, the studio is pointing at the road ahead rather than at the game it just shipped. That framing ties the layoffs to the upcoming project instead of to the performance of ‘Ghost of Yotei.’ Some reports describe it as a restructuring as the studio ramps up production on that next project.

There is still plenty left unsaid. Sony has not been quoted confirming the cuts in any of the initial reports. Nobody has disclosed the full scope of the layoffs, including which teams were affected or how many people remain.

Sucker Punch also lost a major creative voice recently. Co-founder Brian Fleming left the studio at the end of last year. Whether that departure is connected to the new round of cuts is not something any of the reports address.

Predictably, the layoffs have already stirred up online debate. Some commentators have asked whether they say something about the game’s reception, though the same report acknowledges the cuts may simply reflect restructuring as the studio moves into its next project. Sony has not publicly connected the layoffs to disappointing sales or financial losses.

Sucker Punch also isn’t the only studio feeling the squeeze. One report compares its situation to Arkane Lyon, which is seeking a buyer after Xbox’s recent reset. The pattern is familiar by now, with strong sales and critical praise no longer guaranteeing job security.

For fans, the biggest question is what the next Sucker Punch project actually is. The studio has said little, and the layoffs suggest it is preparing for a shift in how the team works. Until Sony or Sucker Punch says more, the picture will stay incomplete.