Bandai Namco Begins to Cut Its Headcount and Cancels Some Games

As a dedicated gamer and follower of the gaming industry for decades, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness upon hearing about Bandai Namco‘s recent struggles. It seems like every time we turn around, another beloved developer is facing tough times.

Bandai Namco is reducing staff numbers and postponing or cancelling certain games because they’re not selling as well as expected.

Based on a recent report by Bloomberg, it appears that Bandai Namco has been reassigning employees since April 2024. This move is allegedly due to the company’s decision to halt or delay certain projects as a response to insufficient market demand.

Bandai Namco is reported by Bloomberg to have transferred some of its workers to spaces where they are left idle, apparently as a strategy to encourage them to voluntarily depart from the company. According to their sources, this tactic has led to approximately 100 employees quitting since April, with an additional 100 expected to do so in the near future.

Japanese corporations often employ the term “Expulsion rooms,” or “oi dashi beya” in Japanese, to encourage staff to leave on their own terms, due to stringent labor-protection laws. To clarify to Bloomberg, the company stated, “Our game discontinuation decisions stem from thorough evaluations of the circumstances. While some employees might need a brief period before being assigned to a new project, we continue to assign tasks as fresh projects arise.

The text could be rephrased as follows: “It was mentioned that there isn’t a facility akin to an ‘oidashi beya’ within Bandai Namco Studios, where employees are encouraged to resign willingly.

Based on reports from Bloomberg, Bandai Namco has announced the cancellation of their smartphone game, Tales of the Rays, and plans to discontinue Blue Protocol, an expensive online game, in January. Moreover, they have also decided to either halt or postpone development on several games, including titles featuring characters from popular anime series like Naruto and One Piece, as well as a project commissioned by Nintendo Co. (This is according to Bloomberg’s reports.)

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