Sq. Enix is present process mass layoffs immediately, doubtlessly impacting over 100 people, alongside a broader effort to consolidate its publishing group and focus its growth work in Japan.
By way of public posts from former staff in addition to affirmation from inside sources, IGN has realized that staff within the UK and US are being knowledgeable of the layoffs immediately, with an unknown variety of US staff being dismissed by the tip of the week, and a potential 137 jobs in danger within the UK. Underneath UK regulation, Sq. Enix should endure redundancy consultations to see if any jobs can doubtlessly be saved, so the ultimate quantity within the UK might be smaller. It isn’t but clear which groups have been impacted by this, or to what extent.
Internally, a slide presentation now publicly accessible was additionally shared with staff earlier immediately, supplied a progress report on Sq. Enix’s ongoing “reorganization of abroad organizations”, of which this restructuring appears to be a component. Per Sq. Enix, the technique has already concerned “clos[ing] abroad growth studios and shift[ing] towards consolidating growth features in Japan.”
As part of this, Sq. Enix already offered Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montreal, Sq. Enix Montreal, and plenty of related IPs to Embracer Group. It additionally already laid off employees throughout its Western operations in 2024.
That leaves Sq. Enix with the Life Is Unusual, Outriders, and Simply Trigger franchises presently managed by its Western studios, in addition to the publishing of Powerwash Simulator.
Sq. Enix has shared a press release with IGN confirming the layoffs, however didn’t reply to questions concerning the variety of people impacted, what roles, or if any tasks or particular studios have been impacted:
We’re reorganizing our operations in North America and Europe to strengthen our growth construction and to drive a globally built-in advertising and marketing technique.
This was an especially troublesome determination, made following cautious consideration and evaluation by our management, as a way to greatest place the Group’s long-term progress.
We prolong our heartfelt gratitude to the proficient staff members who will probably be departing the corporate for his or her vital contributions to Sq. Enix. Throughout this era of transition, we stay dedicated to treating every particular person with the utmost respect and offering intensive assist all through this course of.”
In the identical presentation shared immediately, Sq. Enix additionally shared that it expects 70% of its QA work to be dealt with by generative AI by the tip of 2027. The corporate has acknowledged prior to now that it intends to be “aggressive in making use of AI” throughout each growth and publishing.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You could find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Obtained a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
