Nintendo Denies Layoff Rumors

by

Nintendo Denies Layoff Rumors

Key Takeaways

  • Nintendo has denied layoffs at its game-testing subsidiary Mario Club Co., Ltd, debunking rumors from a Japanese publication.
  • Despite rumors, Nintendo is gearing up for an exciting 2025 with a potential Switch 2 reveal and new game launches.

As a long-time Nintendo fan and someone who has witnessed the ups and downs of the gaming industry, I can’t help but feel a mix of relief and excitement upon hearing that the layoff rumors regarding Mario Club Co., Ltd are unfounded. The past few years have seen far too many instances of talented individuals losing their jobs in the name of corporate restructuring or financial instability.

Contrary to rumors, Nintendo has recently refuted claims that they are letting go of staff at their Mario Club Co., Ltd subsidiary. Layoffs have been a growing trend within the gaming industry over the past year, with prominent studios and independent developers reportedly reducing their workforce due to factors such as poor sales, company restructuring, or other circumstances. For instance, Velan Studios, a studio that collaborated with Nintendo on Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, issued layoff notices to nearly one-third of its employees in March after the cancellation of a significant project.

Apart from Nintendo, it wasn’t just one company associated with the gaming industry that announced layoffs this week; reports suggest that Mario Club Co., Ltd. is letting go of approximately 150 employees out of its total workforce of 400. For those not familiar, Mario Club Co., Ltd. is a team that specializes in game testing and debugging. They’ve been part of Nintendo’s projects since the release of Dr. Mario in 1990, contributing to games like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Princess Peach: Showtime, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

It appears the planned layoffs at Mario Club Co., Ltd might have been called off, as suggested by a recent statement from Nintendo. Eurogamer received a clarification from a Nintendo spokesperson stating that reports of layoffs were false. The initial rumor was spread by a Japanese publication, Leakpress, which claimed the layoffs aimed to dismiss employees causing trouble and negatively affecting their colleagues. However, this information has now been debunked by Nintendo.

Nintendo Says Layoff Rumors Aren’t True

The initial rumor sparking controversy suggests that Nintendo may approach potential layoffs differently compared to Bandai Namco, who allegedly forced some Japanese workers into “eviction rooms” with no work assignments. This tactic reportedly aimed to coerce these employees to resign voluntarily instead of being officially terminated. It’s said that around 100 workers have chosen this route.

We have confirmed with Mario Club Co., Ltd. that the rumoured information in the report is untrue.

As a gamer, I’m excited to share some good news from Nintendo. Contrary to rumors, there are no layoffs happening at Mario Club Co., Ltd. at this time, whether directly or indirectly through what they call the “eviction room” method. Nintendo has been thriving, thanks to the success of the Nintendo Switch, and it looks like 2025 is going to be a big year for them!

Read More

2024-10-30 20:44