Nintendo cuts staff at test centers ahead of Nintendo Switch 2 release



It has been revealed that Nintendo of America, the American subsidiary of Nintendo, is cutting staff at contractors who help test games and hardware. According to a former contractor employee who was fired from Nintendo, the company's

postponement of the release of Nintendo Switch 2 until 2025 is one reason for the large-scale layoffs.

Big Shakeup At Nintendo Testing Center Ahead Of Switch 2
https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-2-layoffs-testing-zelda-totk-1851369539



Nintendo Is Laying Off An Undisclosed Number Of Contractors - GameSpot
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-is-laying-off-an-undisclosed-number-of-contractors/1100-6522288/

Kotaku, a foreign game media outlet, received information from a former employee of a Nintendo of America contractor that the company's testing center is undergoing layoffs. When Kotaku contacted Nintendo of America about this matter, the company said, ``These changes include ending the assignment of work to some contractors and creating a significant number of new full-time employee positions.'' The company apparently approved the reduction in personnel.

Nintendo of America contractors have long sought to have them hired as full-time workers, rather than as seasonal workers hired only part of the year. Due to this reorganization, some of the contractor's employees have succeeded in obtaining jobs as full-time employees working at Nintendo of America, but others seem to have lost their jobs. Please note that this workforce reduction does not include full-time Nintendo of America employees.



A Nintendo of America spokesperson told Kotaku: 'Nintendo of America has reorganized its product testing department to further integrate global game development efforts. Testing procedures and operations across regions will be better aligned. These changes include ending work assignments to some contractors and creating a significant number of new full-time employee positions. For work that ends, the contractor's agency will receive support from Nintendo of America and will be able to receive severance pay and job change assistance.For contract employees who will be leaving Nintendo of America, We would like to thank you for your significant contribution to our business.'

It's unclear how many employees will be laid off as a result of the layoffs, but according to a contractor employee who provided information to Kotaku, more than 100 contractors will be affected, including full-time employees. It seems that most of the contractors who can become employees are excluded from software testing.

Competitors such as Sony and Microsoft were conducting large-scale layoffs in early 2024, but this will be the first time in 2024 that Nintendo will carry out this type of large-scale layoff.

Microsoft fires 1,900 Activision Blizzard and Xbox employees - GIGAZINE



Sony's game division 'SIE' announces 900 layoffs, disbands VR game development studio and rolls out retirement support package in Japan - GIGAZINE



According to a contractor employee who provided information to Kotaku, there are no new major first-party games at Nintendo of America's test center, and the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to the Nintendo Switch that was expected to arrive in late 2024. It seems that zero employees have ever test-played (tentative name). In addition, there is no prospect that titles such as ``The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,'' which has been praised for its high technical performance and few bugs, will continue to be tested at Nintendo of America's test center. It seems that it was.

in Game, Posted by logu_ii