Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Nintendo Lays Off 130 In Europe As Industry Prepares For E3
Nintendo has announced layoffs in Europe and plans to close its Großostheim, Germany, office. The company confirmed the cuts, which will see part of its European operations consolidated.
The publisher confirmed the cuts to GamesIndustry, indicating that approximately 130 permanent employees will be cut. The Großostheim operations will be taken over by the Frankfurt, Germany, office. Some of the affected positions will see employees let go in Frankfurt, as well.
"The intended measures will sadly have a direct effect on some of the employees based in the Großostheim and Frankfurt offices in Germany and would lead to the release of approximately 130 permanent employees," Nintendo told GamesIndustry.
Nintendo, which still maintains a strong financial position, has fallen on harder times of late with over $1 billion in net losses for the last three years. Wii U sales remain sluggish, though the impressive release of Mario Kart 8 could turn things around over the long-term.
[Source: GamesIndustry]
Our Take
The timing on this is pretty awful, as it was when THQ did the same thing two years ago. It’s a shame that this has to be done at all, but doing so right before a major industry event stings.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
