FromSoftware is one of the few studios you haven’t seen getting layoffs these last few years. According to an interview with President Hidetaka Miyazaki, the team behind popular games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls may not have much to worry about.
During an interview with PC Gamer, Miyazaki said he really doesn’t like the idea of firing many people at once. He feels sure that Kadokawa, the company that owns the one he works for, feels the same way. This promise comes at a time when many people in the video game business are losing their jobs, like at Embracer Group where a lot of employees are being let go.
“… I think the people at Kadokawa, our parent company, understand that I hold this view very strongly. While we can’t say 100%—we can’t say with complete certainty what the future’s going to hold for From and Kadokawa—at least as long as this company is my responsibility, that’s something I would not let happen. So hopefully our players and our fans can take a little bit of assurance from that.”
Hidetaka Miyazaki
Further strengthening this promise is the current growth of FromSoftware. The studio has become much larger since making Elden Ring and can now work on several projects at the same time, as shown by the recent news about Armored Core 6. This path is very different from what other studios are experiencing, as they are having to reduce their staff.
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Miyazaki also mentioned the ideas of the late Satoru Iwata, the former boss of Nintendo. Iwata was famous for taking less money instead of firing people when the company had money problems. Miyazaki agrees with this way of thinking, believing that having a team of workers who feel safe and ready to do their best is important for making good games.
While Miyazaki knows that the future is uncertain, he strongly promises to take care of FromSoftware’s staff. He says he will work hard to avoid firing many people. This public statement is good news for the skilled team at FromSoftware and the fans who are eagerly waiting for the studio’s next games.
