Dozens let go at Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe on the day of PS5 announcement - report

Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe has reportedly been hit with layoffs this week.

Amid what appears to be a leadership shakeup at Sony, the company's European branch has let go of a dozen people as it restructures several divisions.

According to a VGC report, directors from Sony's American team travelled to London to give notice to a dozen employees in marketing, PR and other sectors. Layoffs also hit the creative services team in the US.

These were all made this week, on the same day as the PS5's recent info blowout. Although those laid off told the site the timing may not have been intentional, the European office reportedly wasn't aware of the Wired articles to begin with.

VGC's sources believe the American branch's influence has grown to the point of calling the shots for the European team, something that didn't happen before Sony consolidated its regional teams under the new Sony Interactive Entertainment banner.

Sony has been laying off staff at its European branches over the past year, according to VGC, so this week's news isn't completely surprising.

Longtime leader Shawn Layden unceremoniously left Sony last week, in what's undoubtedly part of the same shakeup, even if Layden's position was not based in Europe.