Former Sony Boss Chris Deering Has Everyone Fuming at His Reasoning for Recent Layoffs in the Gaming Industry

Since 2023, the entire video game industry has been in a turbulent state of almost constant budget cuts and workforce reductions, affecting even big names such as Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and many others.

All of this is due to the mixture of unrealistic development cycles and the constant pressure on developers to push the needle on a graph to greater heights. However, one of the former PlayStation bosses believes that the thousands of layoffs aren’t due to corporate greed, which has led to a community outrage.

Ex-PlayStation Boss Tells Laid Off Developers to “Drive an Uber”

While chatting on My Perfect Console Podcast, Chris Deering, who is a former boss of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, shared his views on the recent wave of brutal laid-offs in the gaming industry, which has cast a spell of disaster for thousands of people.

Deering, who played a massive role in the release of the first PlayStation consoles, downplayed the role of corporate greed in the layoffs. He states that if revenue isn’t flowing from consumers on the previous game, it’s hard to justify spending on whatever is developed next.

Ex Sony President Chris Deering on Industry Layoffs

those affected by the recent industry layoffs should “drive an Uber” or “find a cheap place to live and go to the beach for a year.” until employment settles pic.twitter.com/Q1Gzp8o8tX

— HazzadorGamin, Dragon of Dojima (@HazzadorGamin) September 10, 2024

Deering believes that having skills in this particular area is going to lead to a lifetime of poverty or limitations. However, he followed this statement up by giving some controversial advice to those who found themselves laid off.

You’re going to have to figure out how to get through it. Drive an Uber or whatever. Find a cheap place to live and go to the beach for a year.

Deering’s comments on one of the most dreadful situations in the gaming industry have riled up an army of gamers against him. Players are delighted to see that such executives are not part of the current Sony leadership.

Well, Good thing he’s the ex president then.

— LetalisVenator (@LetalisVenator) September 10, 2024

It’s mind-boggling how an ex-Sony boss can go around and say such things, completely disregarding the people who allowed the gaming studios to reach new heights in the first place.

Although I can afford to chill on a beach for a year, that’s incredibly tone deaf and disrespectful to those recently laid off

— Cucci Mane (@MineEgger) September 10, 2024

One gamer believes Deering is completely unhinged, and it’s no surprise that he’s now a former Sony employee and not a current one.

This dude sounds unhinged & the last person you’d want as president of Sony, glad he’s former & not current. Smh.

— Luqman 🇵🇸 (@Luqaido) September 10, 2024

Most of the gamers agree that the ex-Sony boss is entirely out of touch with reality and shouldn’t be anywhere near the industry.

What a piece of shit smh.

— Guey Fénix (@elpinchepipe) September 10, 2024

It’s time for the gaming studios and their top executives to start listening to the gamers and caring for their employees. Otherwise, the future of the AAA industry isn’t looking bright.

…who’s to say this isn’t the “new normal”? Instead of giving lessons, the AAA industry should start listening.

— BROK THE INVESTIGATOR 🐊 Wishlist the DLC! (@COWCATGames) September 10, 2024

Although Deer states that he’s optimistic about the future of video gaming and that the industry is moving in a cycle, it’s hard to feel the same way when so many people are out of work and competing for a small number of jobs.

What’s worse is the fact that his statements prove just how greedy corporations can end up being, proving that they don’t care about their employees or gamers. They’re only in it to maximize revenue before the eventual downfall of their investments.

Sony Suffers from the Layoffs Trend As Well

The comments made by Deering are quite tone-deaf, given the fact that even Sony was struck by layoffs in 2024. Earlier this year, the company decided to lay off 900 PlayStation employees, about 8% of its overall workforce.

The impact sectors included its VR games vision, where it decided to shut down the London Studio and downsize Firesprite, the minds who gave us Horizon Call of the Mountain VR game. The layoffs also impacted staff from Insomniac Games and Naughty Dogs, among other studios.

What’s even worse is that Sony followed these layoffs with another round, which saw 220 people let go by Sony-owned Bungie. It’s unfortunate, but all we can do is wish the best for all these employees who have been laid off and hope that they can find a way to keep going.

With that said, do you believe that layoffs in the gaming industry aren’t due to corporate greed? Let us know in the comments below.