Part 4/12:
Contradicting Sony's optimistic statements, numerous reports and insiders paint a picture of rapid decline in Japan. In 2023, Sony closed down its Japan-based studio entirely for the first time in decades, signaling a strategic retreat from the Japanese market. This decision comes amidst a pattern of Japanese developer departures, including notable figures such as Taro Yuki (producer of Demon's Souls and Bloodborne), the creator of Gravity Rush, and the key art director for Demon's Souls—all of whom have left Sony to pursue independent or new ventures.