Mass layoffs introduced by PlayStation final week affected lots of of individuals, together with veteran builders. Among them was Santiago Gutierrez, an skilled artist who has been with Naughty Dog for practically 20 years.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
What occurred?
Gutierrez shared the information on LinkedIn final Friday, writing a prolonged publish detailing his feelings and emotions about dropping his job at Naughty Dog. “When you look [at] your kids, and you feel. ‘Did I fail in something?’”
He famous that the “sudden [and] unexpected termination felt like a cruel twist of fate,” including that “my heart is totally broken. Because I do care where I work. My commitment is for a long run.”
“The sadness in the last two days of my layoff is not just about losing a job, it is more about losing a sense of purpose, a community, a team I love with the bottom of my heart,” Gutierrez wrote. “A routine that had become intertwined with the fabric of daily life. It leaves you with a profound sense of disorientation and a pervasive sadness that lingered long after your internet is cut, because even in this time you are not [allowed] to say a goodbye on person… after 18 years, what damage I could do ?”
Despite the unhappy information, Gutierrez described the termination as a “gateway to a transformative journey, where the richness of experience gained over the years found a new canvas to paint upon.” Right now, he’s searching for a brand new job, the place he’ll be capable of share his expertise, build groups, make video games, and be completely satisfied once more.
PlayStation announced its decision to lay off 900 employees on February 27. It is unclear what number of Naughty Dog devs will lose their jobs, however the studio was certainly one of a number of groups affected by the cuts, along with Insomniac Games, Guerrilla Games, Firesprite, and London Studio. The latter will likely be closed fully.
Who is Santiago Gutierrez?
- Santiago Gutierrez started his sport growth profession within the late 90s, working as an artist at firms like Ubisoft, Climax, and Criterion.
- His early portfolio consists of Pro Rally 2001-2002, Crusty Demons, and Ghost Rider (through MobyGames).
- In 2006, Gutierrez joined Naughty Dog, the place he labored as an setting modeler, artist, and senior setting artist.
- He contributed to the studio’s core franchises, beginning with Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. The final sport he made as a part of Naughty Dog was The Last of Us: Part I, a 2022 remake for PS5.
- Gutierrez additionally labored on the primary The Last of Us, in addition to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
