Just as things started to settle, news surfaced that Nintendo would be the latest company in the industry to make layoffs.
As confirmed by a Nintendo Spokesperson via email to Kotaku, Nintendo of America will make a few changes to its testing department. With the launch of the Switch 2 supposedly to be pushed back to 2025 and the short list of titles coming out of Nintendo this year, there just isn’t enough for their current testing department to do.
The statement from Nintendo, as per Kotaku, reads as follows:
Nintendo of America (NOA) has reorganized its Product Testing functions to drive greater global integration in game development efforts. The changes will also better align NOA with interregional testing procedures and operations.
These changes will involve some contractor assignments ending, as well as the creation of a significant number of new full-time employee positions. For all assignments that are ending, the contractors’ agencies, with NOA’s support, will offer severance packages and provide assistance during their transition.
For those contractor associates who will be leaving us, we are tremendously grateful for the important contributions they’ve made to our business, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for their hard work and service to Nintendo.
There has been no official number on how many employees will be affected by the “reorganisation”, but according to four contract employees at Nintendo, some former and some current, this change will impact around 100 contractors.
Those whose contracts are ending will receive severance packages, as per the statement, but those who are being employed full-time are said to be ultimately moving out of the testing department.
Hopefully, this news doesn’t delay things even further for Nintendo and their next handheld console, but only time will tell.