Head of EA Japan feels 'deep pain' following mass layoffs at Microsoft

Last week, Microsoft announced that 9000 people would be losing their jobs across the company, with Xbox and its subsequent holdings hit hard. It was a huge shock to the industry, which saw several developers close and many, many games canceled, along with the job cuts. Now, the head of EA Japan Sean Noguchi has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to give his thoughts on the announcement.

The details:

• Sean Noguchi posted a lengthy response on X following the Microsoft announcement, saying he felt 'deep pain' for those affected by the layoffs. "The gaming industry is supported by each and every creator and staff member who has diligently worked on development at the forefront. As someone in the same industry, I feel deep pain regarding this decision."
• In a statement around the term 'restructuring', Noguchi seemed to take a direct aim at the American way of working. "The word 'restructure' often carries positive connotations such as rebuilding or improving efficiency and tends to be used somewhat vaguely overseas. However, in Japan, 'restructure' is very directly perceived as "layoff," and its significant impact is more strongly felt. Particularly in recent years, foreign companies have increasingly demanded short-term results for large-scale investments, and there are not infrequent cases where a change in direction is made to meet shareholder expectations before sufficient time has been invested. I view this reported incident as something that occurred within such a structure."
• The fallout following Microsoft's announcement continues as more and more people within the industry continue to speak out.

Other gaming news:

• Xbox announces layoffs, ZeniMax and King among affected studios
• Rare has reportedly cancelled Everwilds amid Xbox layoffs