SCEA Consolidating First-Party Quality Assurance

Sony Computer Entertainment America is consolidating its first-party quality assurance operations, resulting in the removal of around 30 full-time job positions, a rep for SCEA confirmed. "We are consolidating our [Foster City-based] first-party QA group to one location in San Diego," said SCEA's Patrick Seybold in a phone call. "Approximately 30 fulltime positions are effectively removed." Seybold said the move was made to reduce costs and streamline the company's organization. His statement confirmed reports that emerged on weblog Kotaku late last week. That report claimed that an additional 100 contract positions were affected by the reorganization. Seybold did not comment on the contract position figures. He added, "We do aim to [additionally] have a contingency workforce down in San Diego, but they are by nature temporary, and depend on season and title release [schedules]. … I wouldn't say it's 'business as usual,' because there's nothing usual about our business."