What if the solution to the massive layoffs in the video game industry was simply to cross the street? At least that's what Chris Deering, the former president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, suggests. In office between 1995 and 2005, this big name in the company therefore experienced the golden age of the PlayStation and the PlayStation 2. And even if that era is long gone, Deering seems convinced that everything is still just as simple today. Interviewed by British journalist Simon Parkin as part of the podcast My Perfect Console, the man did not hesitate to: ironize about the waves of layoffs that continue to hit the industry.
Since the beginning of 2024, more than ten major companies have already carried out major restructuring to the detriment of hundreds of employees. In fact, the world of video games has never been so precarious. However, this does not prevent the former president of PlayStation from seeing the cup as half full. While industry players are struggling to find their place in this increasingly competitive organization, Chris Deering suggests... temporary reorientations.
“Well, you know, that's life“
Last February, PlayStation separated 900 employees, a decision that led to the closure of London Studios. During his discussion with Simon Parkin, the former head of SCEE was not unaware of this context and even considers it justified :
“If consumers don't make money on the previous game, it's going to be hard to justify spending on the next one,” he explains. Such is the harsh law of this industry, and we can't argue with Deering on that. However, his lack of consideration for the employees affected by these layoffs has certainly caused quite a stir.
“I don't think it's fair to say that the resulting layoffs have been motivated by the lure of gain“ he says, before adding that “having skills in the field of video game development is not synonymous with poverty or limitation throughout life.”
According to him, it would be only a simple setback. “It is a constantly effervescent environment. Find a way out, become an Uber driver, find cheap accommodation, and spend a year by the sea.“ This speech proves once again that the industry is suffering from its leaders' disconnect from reality. The video game world is collapsing? “I guess people got some kind of severance while it was going on... Well, you know, that's life.” says Deering, who believes that a check and a walk in the fresh air are enough to bounce back.
We can only hope that the phenomenal success of Astro Bot and its “old-school” recipe will lead to a general awareness within the industry. This era of overproduction and overconsumption of video games cannot continue, both for players and developers.
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