“It’s not just the loss of a job, it’s more of a loss of purpose.” After 18 years at Naughty Dog, a former member shares what he experienced during the wave of layoffs.

Santiago Gutierrez, a former artist for the company, was one of more than 900 employees laid off by PlayStation in recent days.

Day after day, the lives of hundreds of developers changed radically. Last week, PlayStation joins unstoppable wave of layoffs in the video game industry announces cuts it did without more than 900 jobs. Since then, many professionals have been forced to update their resumes to find a new office, although this process continues. extremely painful for some developers. And this is the case of Santiago Gutierrez, an artist who, after 18 years at Naughty Dogwas achieved by Sony’s decision.

Gutierrez, like many other professionals in the sector, went to LinkedIn announce your intention to look for a new job (via Jason Schreier in X). However, the artist does this with a long message showing the bad situation in the industry: “Almost 18 years ago I began my adventure with Naughty Dog… Until now,” the post begins. “For me, years of my life devoted to the company, the sudden and unexpected end felt like cruel twist of fate. Faces that became familiar during training, eating, walking around the building, parties, conversations, jokes and… long, long hours of working together, suffering, raising the bar in every game we played Despite countless trials and triumphs, it has now fallen apart, leaving behind a void that no goodbye letter could ever fill… Yes, my heart is completely broken. Because it matters to me where I work“.

And we are talking about almost two decades during which, in addition to his work, Gutierrez formed a close connection with Naughty Dog, its projects and the team: “The sadness of the last two days of my dismissal is not only due to the loss of my job. , this is more for lose purpose, community, team which I adore with all my heart… A routine that is intertwined with the routine of everyday life,” the LinkedIn post continues. “It leaves you with a deep sense of disorientation and general sadness that lingers long after your internet is disconnected. turned off, because even in these moments You are not allowed to say goodbye in person… “After 18 years, what harm can it do?”

“I want to share all my experiences, build teams, make games and be happy. Yet again”

Despite all this, Gutierrez realizes that the only way is to continue moving forward: “Closing a professional chapter becomes gateway to unknown possibilities“Dismissal becomes not only the door to new exploration, but also the entrance to a transformative journey where the rich experience accumulated over many years finds a new canvas on which to paint. A closed door does not symbolize the end, but the beginning of an exciting and unpredictable adventure that promises unknown possibilities. So yes, I’m looking for a new job. Want share all your experiences, create teams, make games and be happy. Again“.

While it is true that these words refer to one developer’s experience, we are confident that more than one professional feels the same than Gutierrez. Because a wave of layoffs has led to thousands of people losing their jobs in the video game sector. And, according to industry experts, it is possible that this unpleasant situation will be extended for another two years.

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