Lean teams and modest exec pay shield Japanese game studios from layoffs
Amir Satvat of ASGC explains that Japanese game studios typically run smaller, leaner teams and avoid the mega live-service projects that driven Western layoffs, while keeping executive pay at a few million rather than tens of millions. He notes staff retention of 97%+ at Nintendo, Konami, and Capcom, and that most industry job cuts in 2026 have been in North America and Europe. The piece suggests this lean, specialist-focused model could offer resilience amid the broader industry downturn, even though layoffs still occur in Japan.