Sony Online Entertainment MMO deal sparks Monolith layoffs

Following a deal thatâs seen Monolith Entertainment move The Matrix Online over to Sony Online Entertainment along with the rights it owned to the DC comics universe, 80 jobs have been shed from the US developer and publisher.

A silver lining to a multi-coloured cloud, SOE is to offer jobs to at least 25 of those made redundant because of the move, multiple sources have reported today.

The rights to develop games based on DCâs comics were held with Monolith as the companyâs parent, Warner Bros, owns the property. Warner Bros will now work with SOE to being MMORPGs based on huge array of DC superheroes and villains to market.

Monolith President Samantha Ryan said yesterday that more than 100 staff will remain after the lay-offs, and that the company is getting out of the MMO business for good.

Monolith will now concentrate on the promising PC shooter F.E.A.R. and recently aired Xbox 360 title Condemned: Criminal Origins.

A DC MMORPG will now be developed at SOEâs Austin, Texas studio, the company confirmed today, with the maintenance of The Matrix Online being transferred to Sonyâs Bellevue office.