Microsoft`s recent extensive layoffs and restructuring efforts, particularly within its Xbox division, resulted in the cancellation of several games, the defunding of projects, and the loss of thousands of jobs. This action sparked widespread condemnation and sadness across the industry, including from Shaun Noguchi, the General Manager of EA Japan.
Writing in a personal capacity on X, Noguchi conveyed his disappointment regarding the latest wave of layoffs and project cancellations. He noted, based on comments originally made in Japanese and translated, that a trend in Western companies focusing on short-term financial gains at the expense of long-term stability is detrimental to the overall game industry. He emphasized the foundational role of creators and staff, stating, “The game industry is held up by every single creator and member of staff who diligently develops games on the ground,” and expressed his personal distress: “As someone in the same industry, I feel deep pain regarding this decision.”
He later reiterated his view in English, describing the cancellation of projects that had been in development for many years as deeply regrettable. Although companies often justify such decisions to mitigate losses and avoid the sunk-cost fallacy, Noguchi specifically highlighted his concern for the affected staff who would have no tangible public outcome for their efforts. He argued, “This is just my personal opinion but if a game was in development for 7~10 years, canceling feels like the worst move. That`s a decade of work, potentially a quarter of someone`s entire career completely lost.” He concluded that even if the final product didn`t meet original expectations, “I think it still deserves to ship. Something is better than nothing for both the team and for the players.”
Noguchi`s perspective may be informed by Japan`s distinct corporate culture and legal framework, which typically emphasize corporate continuity and provide robust protections for employees. Japanese game developers appear to have experienced significantly fewer instances of mass layoffs compared to their Western counterparts in recent years, and it remains relatively common for workers in Japan to spend their entire careers with a single company.
Notably, EA, a U.S.-based corporation and Noguchi`s employer, has itself been a prominent participant in recent industry trends, having conducted staff layoffs and game cancellations over the past few years. For instance, EA canceled its Black Panther game and reduced staff numbers at the end of May, following earlier reports in April of canceling a Titanfall-related project and laying off 300 employees.