Sucker Punch Productions, the studio behind Ghost of Yōtei, has laid off 26 employees. This was reported by Aftermath, citing a former company employee and an alleged internal letter from management. The reasons cited for the layoffs include “market challenges” and the team’s needs while working on the next project.
In the letter allegedly sent to staff, Sucker Punch leadership stated that the decision to reduce headcount was made following an assessment of the market situation and an analysis of the studio’s staffing needs.
“We understand that this is difficult to accept, and we want to assure you that the decision did not come easily. We have given this matter careful consideration and tried our best to support the colleagues affected by the changes. […] Let’s not sugarcoat it: this is a tough day. Next week we will share more details about the future.”
Notably, the layoffs took place against the backdrop of Ghost of Yōtei’s commercial success. According to unconfirmed reports, the game has sold 5.4 million copies since its release last year, with revenue reaching $407 million. This virtually matches the performance of Ghost of Tsushima over the same period following its release.