Nexon America confirmed a “small number” of layoffs, saying that the move is part of a reorganization plan.
The job cuts were reported and confirmed by Game Developer. These layoffs come as a part of the company’s growth strategy plans. A spokesperson says that the company is focused on key franchises like MapleStory, but also new games. “A key element of the initiative is hyperlocalization–a strategy for hiring teams to adapt our games to match the tastes of local players in large markets like Europe and North America,” they said.
The cost of this reorganization is, in part, this undisclosed number of layoffs. This is just the latest cut in what has been a couple of undeniably tough years to be working in games. In many cases, companies state some sort of reorganization as part of the reason they shed staff, and so this is similar to many that we’ve seen so far.
Still, the Nexon spokesperson also, in the same statement, says that they’re hiring on a number of fronts in the Nexon America Los Angeles office. They positions they are hiring for include designers and engineers, and we may hear more from the company on their exact plans in the future. Not that this makes the job losses any easier to bar. For affected employees, Nexon will be providing severance.
Earlier this month, Nexon made a few moves and announced some of these reorganization plans in financial briefs. They also spun off Mintrocket, which developed the hit Dave the Diver, into its own full studio.
“Nexon’s new, IP Growth Initiative is a strategy for creating vertical growth by revitalizing and extending established blockbusters such as Dungeon&Fighter and MapleStory with new content, on new platforms, and in new markets.”
