Hermen Hulst
Reporting and statements that mention Hermen Hulst.
Latest coverage
Helldivers 2 and Horizon Forbidden West mysteriously delisted from Steam in the UK, Sony promises to "address the issue" with Valve
Helldivers 2 and Horizon Forbidden West were mysteriously delisted from Steam in the UK, preventing new purchases. Sony Interactive Entertainment acknowledged the issue, stating they are working with Valve to resolve it. This incident has raised suspicions about Sony's future PC publishing strategy.
Bungie is overhauling Marathon from its original extraction shooter vision
Bungie is significantly overhauling its upcoming shooter Marathon, shifting focus from its original extraction shooter vision to include a permanent PvE mode called Symbiosis. This change, along with a move away from strict seasonal schedules, comes amidst ongoing development pressures and recent layoffs at the studio, including some Marathon developers. Parent company Sony remains supportive of the game's future.
Hideo Kojima's Physint now being published by Xbox, as PlayStation severs ties with Kojima Productions and Microsoft steps in to take over
Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint, has shifted publishers from PlayStation to Xbox. PlayStation stated they "stepped away from the project" for undisclosed reasons, while Xbox expressed honor in supporting Kojima Productions. This move comes after Physint was initially announced as a PlayStation exclusive, and Kojima confirmed development is ongoing.
Bungie Had “Five or Six” Projects in the Works Before Sony’s Acquisition – Rumor
A report indicates that Bungie had five or six projects in development before its acquisition by Sony, including Destiny 2 and Marathon. Most of these projects were canceled due to various reasons, leading to significant layoffs at the studio. Bungie is currently focusing on Marathon and has ended support for Destiny 2.
Marathon just lost its game director: Joe Ziegler is Bungie's latest high-profile departure
Marathon game director Joe Ziegler has left Bungie, with Del Chafe III taking over as game director alongside creative director Julia Nardin. Ziegler's departure follows a significant drop in Marathon's player count since its March launch and comes amidst recent layoffs at Bungie. Despite these challenges, Bungie and PlayStation have stated Marathon remains an important part of their portfolio.
Sony leadership says AI tools are "an important foundational technology supporting our strategy"
Sony Interactive Entertainment leadership has declared artificial intelligence a crucial foundational technology for their strategy, emphasizing its role in enhancing game development quality and speed rather than solely for cost efficiency. AI tools are being integrated to streamline repetitive tasks, enable faster iteration, and create richer in-game experiences and content. While acknowledging near-term efficiency gains, Sony is also exploring fundamental AI-first initiatives to maintain a leading position as the technology evolves.
PlayStation Leadership Discusses Potential Price Hikes for PS Plus Subscriptions
Sony Interactive Entertainment executives discussed the potential for price increases on PlayStation Plus subscriptions, citing the service's tiered structure and strong profitability. They also mentioned plans to expand cloud gaming infrastructure, with costs expected to be recovered through PS Plus revenue. Past price hikes have not deterred subscriber growth, with higher tiers showing increased adoption.
Sony says AI is "exciting," great for "synthetic assets," and an "important foundational technology supporting our strategy"
Sony executives have expressed enthusiasm for Artificial Intelligence, viewing it as a foundational technology that will enhance game development efficiency, player experience, and content creation. The company is exploring AI for applications such as improving data analysis for fraud prevention and utilizing synthetic assets as placeholders to speed up development and improve quality.
Instead of putting its games on PC, Sony apparently wants to escape the reputation that "PlayStation equals the living room" by selling monitors and speakers
Sony is reportedly shifting its strategy away from solely focusing on the living room console experience, aiming to reach PC gamers through peripherals like monitors and speakers rather than exclusively through PC game releases. Executives discussed broadening usage scenarios and delivering unique value beyond hardware, while acknowledging potential for expansion beyond consoles, particularly for live service games.
Hearing about the future of PlayStation from its top dogs made me so depressed I had to go lie down
Sony Interactive Entertainment executives discussed PlayStation's future focus on monetizing its existing user base through recurring revenue like PS Plus, rather than solely on increasing Monthly Active Users. They also highlighted Artificial Intelligence as a key foundational technology for improving development efficiency and player experience in the long term, while aiming to deliver unique value for next-generation platforms beyond PC alternatives.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-Service
Despite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
Bungie’s Recent Layoffs Affect 292 Employees in Washington State
Bungie has laid off 292 employees in Washington State, with their last day being July 9. The layoffs impact various departments, including art, engineering, and production, with some Destiny 2 developers affected. The news comes from a report citing a notice to the Washington State Employment Security Department from Sony.
Hundreds affected in Bungie layoffs as “most of the Destiny team” departs
Bungie has undergone significant layoffs, affecting "most of the Destiny team" and some members of the Marathon development team. Studio co-founder Jason Jones was laid off, and studio head Justin Truman is stepping down. Sony confirmed 292 workers are impacted in Washington state, with the total number likely higher due to remote employees and contractors.
Sony cuts 292 jobs at Destiny maker Bungie
Sony Interactive Entertainment is laying off 292 employees at its subsidiary Bungie, impacting most of the Destiny 2 team and some members of the Marathon team. Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst stated the decision was made after reviewing the studio's long-term direction and priorities. This news follows a previous report of planned significant staff cuts and a substantial write-down of Bungie's acquisition value by Sony.
Uppgifter: hälften av Bungies anställda får gå
Bungie is undergoing significant layoffs, reportedly affecting over 400 employees, which is approximately half of its workforce. The cuts include a majority of the Destiny team, some members of the Marathon team, and Sony employees who supported Bungie. Sony is attempting to find new roles for affected staff.
Amid mass layoffs at Bungie, the official White House X account issues sociopathic Destiny 2 meme
The official White House X account posted a Destiny 2-themed meme featuring an AI-generated image of Donald Trump, which has drawn criticism for its insensitivity given Bungie's recent mass layoffs. The meme's release coincided with Bungie announcing significant job cuts affecting many employees, including those on the Destiny 2 team, leading to accusations that the government is mocking developers.
Sony is laying off majority of Destiny 2 team as studio head leaves Bungie
Sony Interactive Entertainment is laying off the majority of the Destiny 2 development team at Bungie, with studio head Justin Truman also departing. This follows previous layoffs and a review of Bungie's long-term strategy and priorities. While support for Marathon will continue, the studio is shifting focus to new projects, though the exact nature of these is unclear.
Bungie Studio Head Is Reportedly Stepping Down
Bungie studio head Justin Truman is reportedly stepping down, less than a year after taking the role. This news follows significant layoffs at the company, impacting the Destiny 2 team and some members of the Marathon and Sony Interactive Entertainment support teams. Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Herman Hulst stated the reduction was necessary to align resources with current priorities.
With Destiny 2 over, Bungie lays off employees 'to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities…
Bungie has announced a significant reduction in force, citing the need to align studio resources with current priorities following the conclusion of Destiny 2's development and the early stages of new projects. Sony's Hermen Hulst confirmed the decision was made after reviewing the studio's long-term direction and resource needs, emphasizing continued support for Marathon and future incubation efforts.
Sony is laying off 'most' of the Destiny team and 'some' Marathon devs
Sony Interactive Entertainment, parent company of Bungie, has announced significant layoffs affecting "most" of the Destiny team and "some" Marathon developers, along with other SIE support roles. CEO Hermen Hulst stated the decision was made after extensive review of the studio's long-term direction and priorities to align resources. This follows Bungie's earlier announcement of ending live development on Destiny 2 due to performance not meeting expectations.
