Scandal at Bandai Namco: 200 employees in “exile rooms”
Japanese video game publisher Bandai Namco has found itself at the center of a scandal over controversial staff reduction practices despite recent industry successes. The company encountered financial difficulties and was forced to review its project portfolio.
Bandai Namco Crisis
Controversial Dismissal Methods
According to Bloomberg, Japanese gaming giant Bandai Namco has resorted to the controversial practice of placing about 200 employees in so-called “exile rooms.” The move is seen as an attempt to encourage workers to voluntarily leave the company.
Official position of the company
Representatives of Bandai Namco denied the use of the "oidashi beya" method, saying that the decisions to stop developing games are accepted after careful analysis. They also noted that some staff may need time to move on to new projects, while denying that there was pressure on staff to voluntarily leave.
Financial difficulties amid successes
Despite the release of such hits as Elden Ring and the recently released Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, Bandai Namco, like many other gaming companies, has faced economic challenges. This controversy underscores the complexity of the gaming industry.
Cancellation and suspension of projects
At the beginning of the year, the company closed the mobile game Tales of the Rays and announced plans to stop supporting the free RPG Blue Protocol. According to Bloomberg's sources, Bandai Namco has also suspended or completely canceled the development of several games, including projects based on the popular anime Naruto and One Piece, as well as a mysterious joint project with Nintendo.
Glossary
- Bandai Namco is a major Japanese publisher and developer of video games
- Elden Ring is a popular role-playing game developed by FromSoftware
- Dragon Ball is a famous manga and anime franchise
- Nintendo - Japanese company, manufacturer of video games and game consoles
- Bloomberg - American company specializing in financial information
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Discussion of the topic – Scandal at Bandai Namco: 200 employees in “exile rooms”
Bloomberg reports Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco's unethical methods of cutting staff by placing 200 employees in "exile rooms" to induce voluntary layoffs.
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Olivia
Wow, looks like Bandai Namco is going through some tough times 😕 I wonder how this will affect the quality of their future games?
Hans
Yes, it's sad to hear about the games being cancelled. But I'm glad they don't pressure employees to quit. This shows that the company cares about people.
Sophie
I agree with Hans. Although the cancellation of Blue Protocol upset me - I was so looking forward to this game! 😢 I hope they find a way to revisit it in the future.
Carlos
I'm wondering what this mysterious project with Nintendo is? 🤔 Maybe it was some kind of cool collaboration? It would be a shame if we never knew what it was.
Viktor
Ha, another company that can't handle management. Games are cancelled, projects are closed - a typical story. Nothing new.
Olivia
Viktor, don't be such a pessimist! 😄 Bandai Namco released Elden Ring - it's a huge success! I am sure they will be able to overcome these difficulties.
Chiara
I hope the cancellation of the Naruto and One Piece games doesn't mean they're abandoning those franchises entirely. I'm a huge anime fan and always look forward to new games based on my favorite series! 🎮❤️
Hans
I agree with Chiara. Maybe they'll just reconsider their approach to these franchises? In any case, I believe that Bandai Namco will find a way out of the situation. They have a lot of experience in the industry.