According to IGN, a large-scale lay-off was launched today by Scwire Ennix, involving the European-American branch, which could affect over 100 employees. This is part of the company’s strategy to integrate distribution systems and focus on indigenous development in Japan.
According to the public postings and internal sources of the former employees of SE, British and United States employees are being offered layoffs. The size of the United States staff reduction is not yet clear, and staff will continue to leave inland this week; the United Kingdom may be at risk for 137 positions. Under English law, SE had to consult on the reduction of staff to retain positions to the extent possible, with the eventual reduction in the number of staff. The specific teams affected and the extent of their reach are not yet clear. An internally circulated public presentation indicated that the reorganization was part of the progress of the Overseas Agencies Reorganization Plan. SE acknowledges in its paper that “the closure of overseas development studios has shifted to the integration of indigenous development functions in Japan”. As part of the strategic adjustments, the company had previously sold the Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal and related IPs to the Embracer Group and, in 2024, had reduced staff to Western operations.
Currently, its Western studio manages only the issuance of the ” Strange Life ” , the ” For Self-Defence ” series, and the ” Pressure Water Gun Simulator ” . In its statement to IGN, SE confirmed the downsizing, but did not respond to the number of people affected, the specific positions and the impact of the project: “We are restructuring our business in Europe and the United States to strengthen the development system and promote an integrated global marketing strategy. This is a difficult decision by management after careful consideration and is intended to provide the best basis for the long-term development of the group. We would like to express our deep appreciation for the great contribution of the outgoing team members. During this transition period, we undertake to treat every employee with the utmost respect and to provide full support throughout the process.”
In the same internal document, the company expects to have 70 per cent of the quality checks processed by Generating AI by the end of 2027. SE previously stated that it would “actively promote AI applications in development and distribution”.
