US union criticizes Sony after shutting down Firewalk and Neon Koi
, by Thibaut
This week the video game industry was once again affected by layoffs and closures. Sony has decided to shut down [Firewalk Studios ("Concord") and Neon Koi]. (https://news.instant-gaming.com/en/articles/9042-sony-closes-firewalk-studios-and-neon-koi-and-totally-buries-concord).
This decision did not go unnoticed and provoked a strong reaction from the CWA, the largest media union in the United States. It was for this reason that through a press release they expressed strog criticisms of the Japanese brand.
"Collective bargaining not only allows workers a seat at the table to bargain for fair compensation, but also a voice on the job to have a say over how workers will be impacted by job cuts,"
"Sony's decision to dissolve studios outside their walled-garden of PlayStation-exclusive content, rather than making games that have to compete in the highly diverse and competitive mobile game market, should be a cautionary warning sign of Sony's interests in furthering their monopoly position in the video game industry,"
"CWA plans to raise the anti-competitive impacts of Sony's increasing monopoly and monopsony power with the appropriate antitrust regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders."
The CWA definitely seems to have its eye on Sony and could take steps to combat the company's current dominant position.
Source: gamedeveloper.com