In a surprising development, Bend Studio, the developer behind Days Gone, has laid off approximately 30% of its workforce, just weeks after launching Days Gone Remastered for PlayStation 5. The news was first reported by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, who confirmed the layoffs affected around 40 employees at the studio.
This decision comes on the heels of the studio’s recent success. Days Gone Remastered, which launched on April 25, has received positive reviews from both fans and critics, currently holding an average score of 81 on OpenCritic. Alongside visual upgrades for PS5, the remaster also included the Broken Road DLC for PC players and a series of post-launch updates that improved performance and fixed persistent bugs—making it the most stable version of the game to date.
A Hit Title Doesn’t Guarantee Studio Stability
Despite selling over nine million copies of the original Days Gone since its 2019 release, Bend Studio’s future appears uncertain. The layoffs reportedly followed the cancellation of a live-service game the studio had been developing. According to Schreier, the team was in the early stages of spinning up a new project when the cuts were announced.
At this time, Sony Interactive Entertainment has not issued an official statement regarding the layoffs or the status of the new project.
Fan Reaction and Industry Impact
The news of the layoffs has sparked frustration among fans, many of whom were excited to see Bend Studio bounce back with Days Gone Remastered. Players praised the improvements, while the PC version maintains a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, showing strong support from the community.
The cuts at Bend Studio reflect a wider trend in the gaming industry. In 2025 alone, several high-profile studios have experienced restructuring and layoffs amid rising development costs and shifting strategies, particularly around live-service models.
What’s Next for Bend Studio?
With its live-service title shelved and a sizable portion of its team gone, the future of Bend Studio is unclear. Insiders have suggested a new single-player IP may be in early development, but concrete details are scarce. Given the studio’s proven ability to deliver immersive storytelling and open-world design, fans are hopeful this isn’t the end of the road.
The Days Gone developer layoffs illustrate the volatility developers face—even after critical and commercial success. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, many are left wondering how studios can thrive under the pressure of ever-increasing expectations and corporate pivots.