- Nearly every major publisher has faced layoffs this year.
- FromSoftware has taken a stance against this practice, stating that the team does not want to create a negative atmosphere for its staff.
- The studio head intends to keep his workers safe from layoffs for the foreseeable future.
The gaming industry has found itself unable to escape the evergrowing threat of layoffs and studio closures. Following layoffs at major publishers like Xbox, EA, PlayStation, and Embracer Group, various teams continue to suffer more than six months into 2024.
Pieces Interactive is the latest team to suffer, having been shut down after Alone in the Dark underperformed. FromSoftware has also joined the discussion, with Hidetaka Miyazaki stating that he won’t let his team be laid off.
Why it matters: Layoffs have made game development a very risky profession for most individuals. It has also stifled creativity for many developers, with even big hits not being enough to guarantee job security.
Much like Larian Studios, FromSoftware seems to have taken a stance against this practice.
Speaking to PCGamer, FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki stated that he would not wish layoffs on his staff in a million years. He then commented that the studio’s parent company, Kadokawa, holds the same view.
The developer also harkened back to a quote from late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Hidetaka Miyazaki believes that developers can’t make the best games possible if they constantly live under the threat of layoffs.
As long as this company is my responsibility, that’s something I would not let happen.
-Hidetaka Miyazaki
It’s important to note that FromSoftware is among the very few studios that have yet to announce layoffs in recent years. Even highly revered teams like CD Projekt RED have let go of some members of their workforce due to restructuring.
It’s great to see the studio head standing up for all his employees. In an era where publishers lay off thousands of workers without a second thought, it’s refreshing to see a few major studios taking a different approach.
Thanks to this approach, FromSoftware has become one of the best modern gaming developers. The team is currently gearing up to launch Shadow of the Erdtree, the massive Elden Ring expansion that arrives in just a few days.
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