It seems that the effort to cut costs just continues, and this time around the Sony Empire has trimmed five percent of the staff at Sony Online Entertainment, which means 41 employees are being let go to reduce costs. The company is spinning these cuts as a move to increase operational efficiency.

SOE is the Sony arm that handles the online entertainment business, including the popular EverQuest series as well as Free Realms. SOE recently reported that it has reached over three million registered users, which is quite a big deal for the company.

Sources say that SOE continues to work on both PlayStation 3 and PC-based MMO titles, including the DC Online Universe as well as The Agency, both of which are expected to finally reach release soon. The Free Realms is the company’s first attempt at a micro transaction model which has met with mixed reviews. In addition, the company still is flogging the EverQuest series, which still has an active community base.