Sony Online Entertainment is no more, as they acquired themselves as an independent studio and re-branded as Daybreak Game Company. Unfortunately this upheaval has now led to staffing reductions as they ‘realign assets’.
EverQuest franchise lead Dave Georgeson and EverQuest Next’s lead content designer Steve Danuser have fallen prey to that ‘realignment’. EverQuest Next has been quiet, with Landmark stealing the spotlight.
EverQuest Landmark is a sandbox building spin-off to the fuller MMO the community has been teased and promised down the line. Losing both franchise lead and content designer isn’t a small loss.
Last week we announced that we were acquired and are now operating independently as Daybreak Game Company,” the studio wrote. “To better position our newly independent studio for future growth opportunities and to deliver on our legacy of making top online games, we have had to make some tough choices including realignment of resources.”
“Unfortunately, this realignment means adjusting staffing as well. We announced today that we will eliminate positions in our San Diego and Austin studios.”
Alongside EverQuest is the newly released to Early Access, H1Z1, which underwent some controversy with the community after SOE at the time was accused of ‘going back on their word’ by letting players buy weapons. They allowed players to get immediate refunds if they felt ‘cheated’.
