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[Lunatic_Gamer]

In a lengthy post on X (machine translated) Sean Noguchi, the President of EA Japan, shared his thoughts on the situation.

"In recent years, foreign-affiliated companies have become more inclined to seek short-term results from large-scale investments, and there are many cases where they change direction to meet shareholders' expectations before enough time has passed. We believe this incident is a result of such a structure."

The word "restructure" often carries positive connotations such as rebuilding or improving efficiency and tends to be used somewhat vaguely overseas. However, in Japan, "restructure" is very directly perceived as "layoff," and its significant impact is more strongly felt.

Particularly in recent years, foreign companies have increasingly demanded short-term results for large-scale investments, and there are not infrequent cases where a change in direction is made to meet shareholder expectations before sufficient time has been invested. I view this reported incident as something that occurred within such a structure.

The gaming industry is supported by each and every creator and staff member who has diligently worked on development at the forefront. As someone in the same industry, I feel deep pain regarding this decision.

The frustration of something built over a long time not seeing the light of day, and the reality that gamers who were looking forward to it cannot even experience it—both are truly regrettable.

I sincerely hope that everyone affected will be able to shine again in their next field.

EA Japan President Calls Out Microsoft for Chasing Short-Term Results Amid Mass Layoffs

EA Japan President Sean Noguchi calls out Microsoft for prioritizing short-term results amid recent mass layoffs.

mp1st.com

 

[T-0800]

Pay bonus should always be tied to long term success. Anyone can slash and burn for a quick boost.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

You know it's bad when EA can call you out for being greedy

 

[CLW]

When you seed the moral high ground to EA….

 

[drotahorror]

There's an EA Japan?

 

[Ozzie666]

I liken it to sports and General Managers. They make moves to ensure their tenure is a success at the cost of the future or making it more difficult for the next guy. Trade all your first round picks away, sign large contracts. etc.

Just wait until all these poor leaders get their bonuses and raises.

 

[SHAKEZ]

When EA is calling you out, then holy shit... you fucked up.

 

[onQ123]

There's an EA Japan?

 

[Durin]

We really do live in the age where bad people feel comfortable jumping in to virtue signal off the back of other people because they'll get seal-claps for saying the obvious shit in a flowery way.

EA literally has done the same bullshit for far longer, and has a graveyard full of IP I god damn love in their backyard.

 

[Represent.]

It's been quite refreshing seeing the industry call out MS for its shit. Too many times have they just been quiet.

 

[Crayon]

You bling shame on the cran.

 

[Deerock71]

EA has a Japan president?

 

[Jesb]

EA Japan?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

everyone is shitting on MS/Xbox....love to see it.

can't wait to see this again:

 

[Deerock71]

You bling shame on the cran.

I only caught what you were doing by the time I hit cran, then thought to myself you should've said 'bling'...and you DID!

 

[SILKYSMOOTH30FPS]

Have never heard of an EA president in Japan lol. But at the same time, why is EA even talking? They haven't released a single good game in how many years now? I guess the remake of dead space was good, but even then, they were dumb enough to cancel DS2 remake because DS1R didn't make em 10000M.

 

[mayham2199]

Damn everybody coming out against Xbox right now.

 

[PatientGamer]

Xbox taking licks from everyone in the industry lol.

 

[Knucklepux]

It's only a matter of time until Phil is gone.

I really feel that this round of layoffs has shown enough is enough

MS will need a fall guy just like Jim Ryan was for PS

Phil "retirement" soon

Just 6 years too late

 

[yogaflame]

Wow game developers are now speaking out one at a time.

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

There's an EA Japan?

My first thought. Must be easiest and highly paid job ever. CEO there probably on over 200k for doing nothing.

 

[PurePlatinum]

This is much easier to say for Japanese CEOs whose employees cost 1/3 of a comparable American programmer on the west coast.

This begs the question, "Why does every developer need to make $150k and live in California?", which I think is a very good question that will start to be shaken up in an effort to drive costs down.

 

[Ribi]

There's an EA Japan??!?!?

They have a president!?!?!

 

[poppabk]

It's only a matter of time until Phil is gone.

I really feel that this round of layoffs has shown enough is enough

MS will need a fall guy just like Jim Ryan was for PS

Phil "retirement" soon

Just 6 years too late

Nah, MS arent going to get rid of the guy who can broker a $70 billion deal and mercilessly cut 1000's of workers.

 

[Knucklepux]

Nah, MS arent going to get rid of the guy who can broker a $70 billion deal and mercilessly cut 1000's of workers.

They'll just replace him with Sarah Bond. She'll get leniency from the media (being a black woman and all. It's just the truth)

But they'll keep slicing and dicing since it's Nutella who's actually pulling the strings

 

[poppabk]

They'll just replace him with Sarah Bond. She'll get leniency from the media (being a black woman and all. It's just the truth)

But they'll keep slicing and dicing since it's Nutella who's actually pulling the strings

I dont think it is as easy as people think to go to a studio head and tell them that they have to cut 50% of their team and the remaining people will be doing grunt work.

 

[Sooner]

There's an EA Japan?

That was my thought.

 

[Kataploom]

Anyone from EA of all companies? Some people really need to know their place, damn it...

 

[Power Pro]

This is much easier to say for Japanese CEOs whose employees cost 1/3 of a comparable American programmer on the west coast.

This begs the question, "Why does every developer need to make $150k and live in California?", which I think is a very good question that will start to be shaken up in an effort to drive costs down.

I said the same thing in another thread recently, where I saw the Initiative was started near LA of all places. How stupid to start a studio in such an expensive part of the country. I said something along the lines why not start a new studio and say "must be willing to move to arkansas" or some other low cost of living states. A couple people replied saying that's where the talent is, but come on...it's 2025. Game development can be done anywhere. I don't know, just seems to me this idea of talent needing to be in a certain part of the country is very outdated.

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

When EA is calling you out, then holy shit... you fucked up.

Same thing I was thinking. We are now in a world where EA of all people are looking like saints compared to the evil pieces of shit at Microsoft.

 

[powder]

Hell yeah, air their asses out

 

[Knucklepux]

I dont think it is as easy as people think to go to a studio head and tell them that they have to cut 50% of their team and the remaining people will be doing grunt work.

I think the decisions are easy as most higher management/execs are heartless fucks

But I understand that the logistics are more difficult.

That's why they change the messenger and depending on who the messenger is, it affects how the message comes across

 

[Isurus]

Damn everybody coming out against Xbox right now

I think it makes sense for developers to come out with criticism. MS has likely irrevocably damaged the Xbox brand, so much so that the console platform will likely cease to exist. This removes a distribution platform from the market and, ultimately, has strong potential to hurt 3rd party revenue. Not all prior Xbox platform players will continue to use whatever MS turns Xbox into (at this point, it is such a cluster that it's hard to say where it is going) and not all will migrate to other platforms, be it Sony, Nintendo, or Steam. Less distribution opportunities hurst the market in the short-term and puts pressure on revenue at 3rd party firms. You have companies that have likely been in development for games on the Xbox platform for years. Those investments are no longer going to pay off as was once thought.

The level of mismanagement that has occurred and continues to be enabled puzzles me. Forget the memes for a minute. The track record and business results that Phil Spencer and his team have driven seem nothing short of fireable to me. Bottom line results are terrible, with massive amounts of capital being spent to acquire developers without meaningful game production on the backend, revenue continues to be hidden through continuous changes to reporting on results (that seem to be in an effort to spin good news and hide challenges), brand reputation has taken a massive hit, and there seems to be no clear strategy at this point that there is any commitment too. I was with Xbox from the very beginning and was a loyal fan until about two years ago when I switched to PC and never looked back. It's hard to watch the inept leadership make mistake after mistake, while torching beloved franchises. I have zero faith in the platform going forward and expect, at some point, it will go 3rd party with no real platform identity.

 

[Hudo]

Interesting that there's an EA Japan.

I feel that EA Sports should make an Idol game.