[30/04] Square Enix confirm lay-offs at European and UK offices

[Ohri-Jin]

Mon, Apr 29, 2013 | 14:56 BST
[h=1]Square Enix confirm lay-offs at European and UK offices[/h] Square Enix has confirmed it is set to make redundancies to both its European and UK operations.

The company has been teetering on the brink for some time, with bosses blaming US sales figures for a number of titles missing their projected targets across the globe. Although Tomb Raider, Hitman and Sleeping Dogs shifted a significant amount of copies, the numbers failed to meet Square Enix’s lofty expectations.
“We are reviewing our business in Europe to ensure we have the right structure, content and skills for the changing entertainment landscape,” Square Enix told MCV in a recent statement.
“We do expect changes to the UK office, which will affect personnel. We will update you when the time is right, but our priority right now is for the people within the business.”
This news follows the resignation of President Yoichi Wada and job losses in the Los Angeles office.
As ever, we wish everyone involved all the best.


Source - http://www.vg247.com/2013/04/29/square-enix-confirm-lay-offs-at-european-and-uk-offices/

 

[Razberry Knight]

it has to be done....oh well...i cant imagine this getting better.

 

[Steve-O]

yet another bunch of layoffs, sigh got to love the recession right now

 

[Rydrum2112]

"with bosses blaming US sales figures"

Yeah- it is def. the fault the consumers fault...

*Edit: there is something not right about the translation because "variance" isn't the term they are looking for, maybe "difference"?

 

[Shaissa]

I mean I understand the layoffs... economy sucks... it will probably happen more and more. but in all reality Don't blame it on games that sold amazingly that you basically set a way higher standard than you should of.

 

[Linnaete]

I mean I understand the layoffs... economy sucks... it will probably happen more and more. but in all reality Don't blame it on games that sold amazingly that you basically set a way higher standard than you should of.

This. Well, sort of.

It's absolutely ludicrous that titles like Tomb Raider have done that well, but thanks to terrible management, sales expectations were comically inflated for it, and though the only rough (and alleged) figures we know for its development budget was something on the lines of $100 million, it's pretty safe to say that their development budget was also inflated.

It's ridiculous to simply turn round and just blame the consumers for not buying enough copies when the numbers to anyone else should look absolutely stellar. Heck, one wouldn't even think there's a global recession going on when the triple-A gaming industry still seems to be witnessing an ongoing sales renaissance, more or less. At the same time it's depressing to see them turn their guns on their European offices. How long do you think it will be until they turn their guns on some personnel in Square-Enix Japan itself?

 

[Razberry Knight]

btw is square enix the only company complaining about sales?

 

[Tmoo]

btw is square enix the only company complaining about sales?

Activision, EA, and other large publishers also complain about sales regularly. All of them have impossibly high sales expectations because of how much money they've poured into the things hoping to get a profit. It's a fool's business. The AAA market needs to find a way to be sustainable, because this certainly isn't it...

 

[Shaissa]

btw is square enix the only company complaining about sales?

I think we only really hear about SE cause we are a Final Fantasy Forum firstly.
Secondly I think they are probably the biggest RPG company that seems to be losing money at an alarming rate. I would be like... if PC suddenly went was down %50- %80 in the computer market. (a big of an over statement but I think you get the point

Also I did research for this next part

EA Lost $381 million in 2012 with setting setting there hopes on Medal of Honor.

Activision lost money (which they blamed on WoW)

Capcom lost money

So no they aren't they only one that hoped a few video games would sell more than some of the top video games of this generation... they just needed it to to get themselves out of the jam that most of them are in right now.

 

[The Welsh Paddy]

I like how they blame US sales but then take that out on Europe and the UK.