14 DAY TRIAL // When Sony Online Entertainment was sold to an investment fund and rebranded as Daybreak Game Company, the official line was that nothing was going to chance for fans or for any of the projects that are in development, but it seems that might have been just a convenient line for the company as layoffs are announced and one of the most high-profile developers working on EverQuest is let go.
David Georgeson, the director of development who was directly involved with the creation of the Next project, is confirming on his official Twitter account that he no longer works for the company and that he has allowed other game makers to work on his titles.
Kotaku quotes a source inside the company as saying that after the acquisition by Columbus Nova was completed, a number of staff members were announced that the company needed to become profitable and that could only be achieved by laying off some people.
Daybreak Game Company has not said how many developers have been fired.
An official statement states, "As part of a strategic decision to rationalize the business, Daybreak Game Company announced today that it will eliminate positions in both its San Diego and Austin studios. This alignment of resources better positions the newly independent studio for future growth opportunities and developments, including delivering on its legacy of making top online games and establishing a solid foundation for future multi-platform success."
They once again insist that the operation of current titles, from Planetside 2 to H1Z1, is not affected in any way and that development is still on-going for the two new EverQuest titles.
All SOE MMOs are making the jump to the Xbox One
Daybreak Game Company is also saying that it has plans to launch its MMOs on other platforms, including the Xbox One, although no concrete plans have been announced so far.
The layoffs might mean that the company will use its resources to first move the more popular title, probably Planetside 2.
EverQuest Next was initially set to be launched at some point during this year and it is unclear whether Daybreak wants to first deliver the title on the PC and on the PlayStation 4 or if it will delay it until it can also introduce a Xbox One version.
Yeah, I'm sorry folks but it's true. LM, eqn, eq and eqii are no longer guided by moi. Other dreamers will steer now.
— David Georgeson (@DaveGeorgeson) February 11, 2015
