Sony To Close UK Game Studio, Everyone Will Be Laid Off

PlayStation is shuttering one of its UK game studios. The company confirmed to GI.biz that it will close its studio in Manchester, England, which was working on a virtual reality title.

The closure is related to PlayStation's ambitions to "improve efficiency and operational effectiveness." The report says every employee is being laid off, though a specific number was not disclosed.

The Manchester studio was founded in 2015. It was working on an unannounced VR game, and the status of this project is now in question. It's unknown if it is canceled or if development will shift to a different studio.

Whatever the case, this is just the latest UK game studio closure for PlayStation. In recent years, the company shut down Guerrilla Cambridge and Evolution. PlayStation still has two studios in the UK, including Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet, Dreams) and London Studio (Blood & Truth).

2020 is a big year for the PlayStation brand, as Sony is launching the PlayStation 5 this year. Just recently, Sony launched the PS5 website, though it doesn't contain much information.