Bandai Namco Cuts Workforce After Cancelling One Piece and Naruto Games

Oct 15, 2024, 01:09 PM

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., a prominent Japanese video game publisher, is reducing its workforce following the cancellation of several game titles due to lackluster demand. The company has reportedly decided to either cancel or pause the development of multiple games, including those featuring characters from popular anime series such as One Piece and Naruto, as well as a project commissioned by Nintendo. The layoffs are being executed through a traditional Japanese approach known as 'oidashi beya' or 'expulsion rooms,' where employees are placed in rooms with no tasks, pressuring them to find employment elsewhere, sources say.