What Hacked Files Tell Us About The Studio Behind Spider-Man 2
Internal documents show how a big PlayStation studio plans its future
kotaku.com
Now, various internal documents released online as part of a malicious ransomware hack suggest just how hard this has been to pull off, with studio leaders juggling teams, timelines, and budgets like Tetris blocks in order to ship games that aren’t just excellent but also profitable. They also hint that possible cutbacks within Sony Worldwide Studios may only be adding to the challenge.
Whatever final decisions Insomniac decided to make about its upcoming projects, some internal documents suggest budget cuts demanded by Sony have complicated matters. Presentations earlier in the year point to a rough projected headcount of 500 moving forward. But a September email from Sony specified a full-time employee max headcount of 470, down from its current estimated 485 employees. PowerPoint slides from a September presentation reference “6 potential areas to reduce headcount,” including a few layoffs, not backfilling certain positions, and placing up to five employees on performance improvement plans which might eventually end in them getting fired.
A more recent presentation in November points to potentially more drastic cuts. “Slimming down Ratchet and cutting new IP will not account for the reductions Sony is looking for,” reads a PowerPoint note attributed to Insomniac head Ted Price. “To remove 50-75 people strategically, our best option is to cut deeply into Wolverine and Spider-Man 3, replacing lower performers with team members from Ratchet and new IP.”
That same presentation argues that releasing a standalone Venom game in 2027 would deliver outsized profits and also create a “bridge” to Spider-Man 3, much like Miles Morales did for Spider-Man 2. It’s unclear if the proposal for that game would have alleviated or reduced the need for cuts. The presentation notes attributed to Price point out that those working on Ratchet and the new IP are veterans of the studio, and cutting them would “lose institutional knowledge and leadership that is key for future titles.” The presentation also notes that cuts to teams would create a flight risk that could lead to additional departures
Business plans change, and Sony would not confirm if the discussed cuts are still on the table or already completed. But a notes file referencing a November 9 PlayStation off-site meeting reiterates the 50-75 number of cuts. The notes suggest the cuts are being asked of other PlayStation studios as well, including the line “there will be one studio closure.” Sony did not respond when asked to clarify.
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