In the face of constant reports and speculation that Sony is de-emphasizing the Japanese market – even with denials about the same from Sony (including one that came as recently as earlier this week) – news of departures from SIE Japan Studio hasn’t exactly been encouraging for PlayStation fans. Now, another high profile figure from the studio is following suit.
Masaaki Yamagiwa recently took to Twitter to confirm that he will be leaving SIE Japan Studio at the end of this month. He says that he will continue to create games, but as you’d expect, hasn’t yet stated where he will be doing that after leaving PlayStation. Yamagiwa has been involved with several SIE Japan projects in recent years, having serves as producer on the likes of Bloodborne, Deracine, and Tokyo Jungle.
As I mentioned earlier, he’s not the first to leave SIE Japan over the last few weeks. Silent Hill and Gravity Rush creator Keichiiro Toyama, along with Junya Okura and Kazunobu Sato, left Sony to form their own studio (and are currently working on a multiplatform horror game). Not long afterward, Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Demon’s Souls remake producer Teruyuki Toriyama also announced his departure.
2月末でSIE JAPAN Studioを離れることになりました。これまでありがとうございました。次の場所でもゲーム制作を頑張ります。
I’m leaving Sony Interactive Entertainment at the end of this month. I’m going to continue working hard on creating games. Many thanks to everyone! pic.twitter.com/WPpiLpCtoY— 山際眞晃 Masaaki Yamagiwa (@giwamasa) February 25, 2021
