Nexon has been hit by layoffs

Key conclusions

According to the report, Nexon America is laying off employees to create a “Western Development Group” in line with the new strategy.
The company aims to hyper-localize games for specific markets such as North America and Europe.
Nexon is looking to diversify its gaming portfolio.

Nexonowner of such games Diver Dave and The first descendantis reportedly set to cut jobs in its US office. Nexon is an originally South Korean developer-publisher headquartered in Japan that started back in 1994.

Over the past few years, a series of layoffs in the gaming industry has affected many people's livelihoods. Even market leaders like PlayStation haven't escaped the ongoing wave of layoffs. From small developers like Surgent Studios to big-name stakeholders like Insomniac Games, gaming companies of all kinds have borne the brunt of tough economic conditions and restructuring needs. One of the Nexon offices seems to be the latest victim of this violent wave.

Nexon America has laid off an undisclosed number of employees, according to a report from the game developer. The layoffs happened thanks to The first descendant the creator's decision to begin a reorganization plan to help establish a “Western Development Team” under the leadership of company veteran Hanbyol Oh in Los Angeles, USA. Although the exact number of those affected is unknown, a spokesperson confirmed that the job cuts will only affect a “small number” of employees. Those leaving the organization were offered severance pay, while Nexon America began hiring for new positions, including engineering and design, as part of the next phase of its plans, according to a statement shared with the source.

Nexon is laying off staff at its US office as part of a new strategy

According to the source, Nexon aims to prioritize hyper-localization to better cater to players in key markets such as North America and Europe. The move is part of CEO Junhoon Lee's long-term IP growth strategy, which places importance on both new and existing franchises such as the influential MapleStory series. Speaking at a recent event, they shared their vision for the future of the Nexon, which apparently aims to inspire “snowball growth.”

From Diver Dave in 2023 to The first descendant in 2024, Nexon has made important additions to diversify its gaming portfolio in recent years. Earlier this year, Nexon made another major business decision, fully acquiring a subsidiary studio and Diver Dave developer Mintrocket is all about speeding up the development process. The latest call to restructure Nexon America and create a local group for core markets appears to be another way to shake things up to align with the CEO's long-term strategy.