We've all heard plenty of stories about poor working conditions for those in the video game industry - perhaps most recently with Team17 - so it's lovely to see companies taking positive actions to improve the lives of the people who create the games we love.
Bandai Namco has moved to increase the base salary of its Japanese staff as part of a wider initiative to 'Connect with Fans'. The publisher has stated that it will boost the monthly earnings for its employees by ¥50,000 ($435), bringing their base monthly salary up from ¥232,000 ($2000) to ¥290,000 ($2500).
The publisher is hoping that the change will "improve workability by stabilising employee income". This will supposedly help foster "active participation" from its staff to drive the 'Connect with Fans' vision; we suspect this is a fancy way of saying they want to keep staff attrition down.
In addition, Bandai Namco is also introducing a new 'Activity Based Working' scheme, which allows employees to choose the time and place of where they'd like to work. Such a move is in keeping with other major publishers, who have introduced permanent work-from-home programmes in the wake of Covid-19.
Both schemes are due to go live for employees in April 2022.
[source bandainamcoent.co.jp, via gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 15
Sounds like a win, to me. Although, I will say that it probably should be more.
In the struggle between workers and owners, I will almost exclusively side with workers. This is no different.
Japanese developer's base salary was $28,000? In Japan - one of the most expensive places to live on the planet.
So instead of working for a slave's wage you now work as a slave who can afford one more rice bun this year.
/confetti
It's somewhat comforting to know green game developers are treated like garbage the world over. How anyone works in the game industry as a non-suit is beyond me.
That's still not very good.
I feel like the salary should at least be double of that. Isn't game development really hard work?
Their monthly is over double my monthly!
Raises, not abuse, that’s how to treat your employees. Very good.
@NinChocolate Indeed. Good work, BN
That actually seems kinda low considering cost of living in Japan. Plus inflation. Game devs are basically running on sheer motivation, they’d earn double that in any other software field.
Pay RAISE! 😝
They deserve it though.. awesome for them
That's just base salary so most people will earn more but it's quite comparable to London where most people's salary is about 2.5 times the rent. Although that will obviously depend on where in Tokyo you live but I think the average for a one bed is around 110-120k
@nessisonett: Inflation is very low in Japan
People going on about it being low. Meanwhile I haven't had a pay rise at all in years and live in the most expensive country in Europe. Atm I would be grateful for any rise.
is Bandai Namco base salary for his/her developers, the same for all japanese developers? did Nintendo pay this salary for his/her developers?
Those are poverty wages. Bandai Namco can afford to pay its employees more than this. Do not let them attempt to twist this into positive PR.
And shame on you, Nintendolife, for making this sound like some great event. :/
Used the money they saved on their logo.
Where's that money coming from though ? Are they going to raise the prices of their games or what ?
Removed - inappropriate language; user is banned
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