EA Japan GM criticizes Microsoft's layoffs and cancellations for harmful industry

Last week, Microsoft announced Comprehensive layoffs and restructuringmost of which target the Xbox division of tech giants. Multiple games were cancelled and funded for the project, while thousands of workers were released. The move has caused widespread condemnation and has caused sadness in the industry, including Japan's EA General Manager Shaun Noguchi.

Noguchi wrote in his personal capacity, Posted On X, how disappointed he saw more layoffs and cancellation waves. He wrote (Japanese, translation IGN) About how the trend of Western companies pursuing short-term profits and reducing long-term returns or stable damages the entire gaming industry. “The gaming industry is insisted by every creator and employee member who works hard to develop games locally,” he wrote. “As someone in the same industry, I feel very distressed by this decision.”

He later Reiterate (In English) Microsoft's decision to kill a project that has been working for many years is deeply regrettable. Although the company justifies the fallacy of canceling projects to cut losses and avoiding sunk costs, Noguchi expressed special attention to staff who did not perform publicly on their work. “It's just my personal opinion, but if a game is in development for 7 to 10 years, canceling feels like the worst move. It's a decade of work, probably a quarter of people (SIC) who have lost their entire career (SIC) completely,” he said. “Even if the end product isn't what people initially expected, I think it's still worth shipping. It's better for the team and the players than nothing.”

Japanese comments may be informed culture and Legal system Both emphasize the company’s continuity and implement strong protection for workers. In recent years, it seems that Japanese developers have far fewer than Western developers, and it is not uncommon for Japanese workers to stick with one employer throughout their careers.

Noguchi’s employer is a U.S.-based company that has been a high-profile player in layoffs and canceling games over the past few years. At the end of May, EA canceled Black Panther Games and fired its employees. This comes after EA reportedly canceled Titanfall games and laid off 300 jobs in April.