SOE Closes Three Studios, Cancels The Agency
Though the last news we heard about SOE spy MMO The Agency was incredibly optimistic, placing it on track for a late 2011 release, things have apparently not gone quite as smoothly for the title as Sony might have hoped. Today the company announced that they would be closing the doors on three of their US studios, SOE Tucson, SOE Denver and SOE Seattle, costing some 205 developers their jobs in the process.
While the Denver and Tucson studios’ projects will be transferred to the company’s San Diego headquarters, The Agency, SOE Seattle’s baby, was met with outright cancellation.
The company says that the decision was part of a cost-cutting strategy that will allow them to better focus their efforts on new entries in the EverQuest and PlanetSide franchises. You can read the full statement after the jump.
As part of a strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce, SOE announced today that it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios. As part of this restructuring, SOE is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games. All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern.
This strategic decision will have no impact on SOE’s current portfolio of live games; additionally SOE will transition development efforts for the Denver and Tucson studios’ suite of products to its San Diego headquarters. This strategic alignment of development resources better positions SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages, and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year.
Had a feeling The Agency would never come out. Called it a year ago.
Keep those that lost their jobs in your prayers! Sucks to see The Agency go down though, I always thought it looked like a great concept! Maybe it’ll be brought later on…hopefully.
Is it just me or have a lot of games getting announced as dead this week? Shame about The Agency, I was looking forward to that one.
Sad to hear this, I used to be pretty hyped about The Agency, and I hope those let go can find a job quickly.
that is legit disappointing as all hell. I was actually really looking forward to playing that game. It would’ve been nice to have a change of pace for MMOs away from the everquest/wow and cityofheroes/dcuniverse type games.