PlayStation’s Mobile Division Cuts Around 50 Staff as Mobile Strategy Faces New Challenges

Recently, multiple sources have confirmed that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has carried out personnel adjustments within its Studio Business Group, reducing its workforce by approximately 50 employees. These cuts include multiple roles within the PlayStation Studios Mobile division.

Among those affected, some have claimed on social media that PlayStation Studios Mobile has been completely shut down. Sony has declined to comment on the matter. According to LinkedIn profiles, most senior executives in the mobile division remain in their posts.

The news of the layoffs was first reported by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier via Bluesky. Subsequently, the specialist mobile gaming media outlet Mobilegamer.biz followed up, stating that after reading the LinkedIn profile of an affected employee, they speculated that the mobile arm might have been entirely eliminated. At the time of publication, Sony had not responded to requests for comment.

Official Statement from Sony

In a statement provided to the media, Sony Interactive Entertainment said:

“Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group has made several strategic adjustments to support longterm sustainability. As part of this process, there were limited workforce reductions across select teams. We greatly appreciate the contributions of all those impacted.”

Status of Existing Mobile Game Projects

Although the layoffs have raised widespread concerns about Sony’s mobile gaming business, two titles are known to continue development:

MLB The Show Mobile
Developed independently by Sony’s San Diego Studio, it has entered soft launch on iOS and Android, with downloads available in the Philippines, Colombia, Australia and the Dominican Republic.

Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble
A multiplayer arena shooter developed by French studio Oh BiBi in collaboration with PlayStation and Insomniac. The game quietly entered soft launch in November 2025 and is currently available for download in France, Indonesia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Philippines.

In addition, the future of another highly anticipated title – the mobilefirst MMO Horizon Steel Frontiers, developed in partnership with NCsoft – as well as Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble, may face further uncertainty as a result of these layoffs.

Retrospective of Sony’s Mobile Strategy: From Aggressive Expansion to Repeated Setbacks

Sony’s ambitions in the mobile market were once very clear. In 2022, the company presented what it called an “aggressive growth plan” during an investor presentation, which included a goal of releasing 20% of its firstparty games on mobile by 2025. That same year, Sony aggressively recruited experienced mobile game executives and acquired mobile specialist Savage Game Studios for an undisclosed fee.

However, in November 2023, Savage Game Studios’ leadership departed and the studio was renamed Neon Koi. In October 2024, the studio was shut down before it could ship the “AAA mobile liveservice action game” it had been working on.

In November 2023, Sony formed a strategic partnership with South Korea’s NCsoft, and in November 2025 the two companies announced their first collaborative result – Horizon Steel Frontiers. That same month, Sony appointed Olivier Courtemanche as its new head of mobile. Courtemanche previously held executive positions at EA, Disney, Meta and Zynga. Before his appointment, the role had been shared since June 2023 with Kris Davis, a former business development executive at Kabam.

Future Outlook

Analysts point out that these layoffs may only be the tip of the iceberg regarding the turmoil in Sony’s mobile gaming business. As affected employees may come forward with more inside information, the outlook for the PlayStation Studios Mobile division will face even greater scrutiny.

To date, Sony has not made any public statement regarding the longterm strategy of its mobile division or whether existing projects will be further adjusted.