Just over 10% of Sucker Punch Productions staff have reportedly lost their jobs, despite the strong reception and sales of Ghost of Yōtei.
The studio behind Ghost of Yōtei and Ghost of Tsushima is reducing its workforce. A report from Aftermath says 24 employees have been let go.
Sucker Punch has reportedly had around 200 employees, although another estimate places its headcount closer to 230. Depending on which figure is used, the cuts represent roughly 10–12% of the studio.
Studio leadership told staff that market challenges and the requirements of its next project had been reviewed before the staffing reductions were approved. The email acknowledged that the news would be difficult, said the studio was supporting affected colleagues through the transition and promised further details about its future the following week.
Ghost of Yōtei delivered a strong result
The latest samurai adventure launched last year and was well received by critics and players. It holds an 86 Metascore on Metacritic and featured among the contenders at several 2025 awards events.
At February’s DICE Awards, the game won Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Character and Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition.
The commercial figures were also substantial. Estimates published in October 2026 put sales at 5.4 million copies, with revenue of just over $400 million. Earlier, in June 2026, Alinea Analytics identified Ghost of Yōtei as Sony’s best-selling first- or second-party game of the year to that point. At that stage, it had reportedly sold 1.1 million copies and generated $77.6 million in revenue.
What comes next for Sucker Punch?
Sucker Punch has not confirmed the identity of its next project. Since 2020, the studio’s output has focused on the Ghost games and their multiplayer modes. Earlier in its history, it developed the Sly Cooper and Infamous series.
An expansion for Ghost of Yōtei is the studio’s latest release. The contrast between the game’s reported performance and the job cuts illustrates how development teams can still be reshaped by market conditions and the staffing needs of an upcoming project.
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