PUBG and Subnautica 2 writer Krafton has launched a voluntary redundancy program simply a few weeks after asserting that it supposed to be an “AI first” firm.
As noticed by information platform Enterprise Korea, the studio is providing resignation assist to workers who resolve to take voluntary redundancy, paying as much as 36 months’ wage relying on period of employment. Even those that have been with Krafton for a yr or much less are being included in this system; they’re being supplied six months’ wage to take redundancy.
Krafton itself says the aim with this program is to assist workers in “proactively designing their development course” and that staffers might be given the selection to “proceed the course of change internally or develop externally”, which seems like a reasonably traditional piece of corporate-ese to me.
In response to Enterprise Korea, Krafton insists that its program shouldn’t be a technique to scale back its workforce, though CFO Bae Dong-geun did affirm this month that hiring has been frozen on the firm, exempting “organizations creating unique mental property and AI-related personnel”.
Information of Krafton’s voluntary redundancy program comes after the corporate posted a income enhance of 21% on a year-on-year foundation this quarter and 31.5% on a quarter-by-quarter foundation. Working revenue has additionally elevated each year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter, and Krafton’s major IP, PUBG, has grown as effectively.
Sadly, studios firing workers regardless of latest successes is not a brand new factor within the gaming trade, and because the widespread push for AI continues, this is not a scenario that is more likely to change considerably anytime quickly.
Krafton’s redundancy program additionally comes after the corporate turned embroiled in a authorized battle with former Subnautica 2 builders following their dismissal from subsidiary Unknown Worlds, a battle that also rages on at time of writing.
No matter your stance on generative AI could also be (and there are a variety of opinions amongst trade our bodies), one factor’s for certain: Krafton goes all-in on the expertise. Keep tuned for extra.
