90 layoffs expected at Namco US

Namco Bandai’s US arm is planning to lay off up to 90 of its staff.

These job losses have been attributed to the company’s recent restructuring in which it combined its online game and mobile businesses to form single division, according to VentureBeat.

The layoffs were confirmed by Namco’s vice president of marketing Carlson Choi, who claimed the employees’ skills did not match the firm’s needs. As a result, a significant amount of the firm’s game development will be moved back to Japan.

We are partnering with external development studios out there because that is where the game business is going, said Choi. Our goal is to move into digital games and broaden to different platforms. The details are being sorted out now.”

The restructuring was first announced back in August. Choi added that Namco Bandai remains focused on making its games more accessible to a wider range of consumers.