Layoffs in the video game industry have been extremely high in 2024, with an estimated 11,500 workers laid off from companies like Ubisoft, Bungie, and many others. But now, former Sony executive Chris Deering is coming under fire for claiming that these layoffs are not the result of corporate greed.
Deering, who is the former President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, recently appeared on Simon Parkin’s Eurogamer podcast, My Perfect Console. During his conversation with Parkin, Deering shared his perspective about the massive layoffs that are rocking the industry.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say that the resulting layoffs have been greed,” noted Deering. “If the money isn’t coming in from the consumers on the last game, it’s going to be hard to justify spending the money for the next game.”
There is some truth in Deering’s comments. The recent failure of Sony’s hero shooter Concord means that eight years of development costs are irretrievably lost and the studio behind the game, Firewalk Studios, could potentially face layoffs because of that title’s poor reception. Having made his initial point, Deering proceeded to make additional remarks that may not paint him in the best light.
“I think it’s probably very painful for the managers, but I don’t think that having skill in this area [of game development] is going to be a lifetime of poverty or limitation,” said Deering. “It’s still where the action is, and it’s like the pandemic but now you’re going to have to take a few…figure out how to get through it, drive an Uber or whatever, go off to find a cheap place to live and go to the beach for a year. But keep up with your news and keep up with it, because once you get off the train, it’s much harder.”
Suffice to say, driving an Uber or going “to the beach for a year” aren’t viable options for everyone, especially skilled professionals who have dedicated themselves to this industry. Executives may be able to more easily weather the turbulence in their careers than the rank-and-file workers, but that doesn’t mean they can simply dismiss what everyone else is going through. That’s why Deering is currently being roasted on social media. Warning: There is some very strong language used in the following posts.
I had to shake my head with some of the quotes from Chris Deering in this article. some proper boomer shit this one really made me mad.
“go off to find a cheap place to live”
MOTHERFUCKER THERE ARE NO CHEAP PLACES TO LIVE!!!
like seriously, so out of touch! https://t.co/zQ8LVjxOba— Harún Ali (@RetroAli93) September 10, 2024
22000 game devs have been laid off. Chris Deering’s response: “Go to the beach, drive an Uber.”
With a strong union, we can get what we deserve – work-life balance and job security.
Without it, we’re left with “let them eat cake”
Join our union today: https://t.co/Xm08SjCMBI https://t.co/bg43JbySrs— IWGB Game Workers (@IWGB_GW) September 10, 2024
People say dumb shit when casually talking for an hour that they may usually think a bit harder on, but if this is truly what he thinks – that greed plays no part in layoffs, and those affected should work for Uber – then I think Chris Deering may be part of the problem, y’all. https://t.co/YaCTt5Kljz
— Ryan T. Brown 🎮🩷 (@Toadsanime) September 10, 2024
how about they go to the beach for a year if chris deering pays for it out of pocket? only seems fair imo
— skrunkly (@skrunkled) September 10, 2024
The backlash from this discussion may follow Deering around for a long time. But in the interim, no one knows how many more layoffs will arrive in 2024, or when the industry will reverse that trend.
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