Sean Noguchi harshly criticizes the closure of studies like The Initiative and the cancellation of games.
More stories in the category News
- All Destiny 2 expansions free for a limited time: how the open access works
- If you like different horror games, mark July 11 in red
- Want more PlayStation games on Xbox? Buy Helldivers 2 and tell Sony
| Don't miss anything and follow us on Google News! |
The latest wave of layoffs at Xbox has sparked a chain reaction within the industry, and not just among fans or former employees. In Japan, one of the toughest markets for Microsoft, Sean Noguchi, president of EA Japan, has spoken out to express his deep discontent with what happened.
Through an open letter published on social media, the Japanese executive has described the situation caused by Microsoft’s decisions as “extremely sad” and affecting studios like The Initiative and several games that will no longer see the light of day. Far from softening his tone, Noguchi laments both the form and substance of this reorganization.
“The industry needs time, not short-term financial decisions”
“In Japan, the term ‘restructuring’ often has a positive connotation. In other parts of the world, it’s used as a euphemism for mass layoffs,” Noguchi reflects. “It would be better to call it by its name.”
According to the EA executive, these types of decisions are an impulsive response to economic pressures, rather than a well-thought-out plan with a long-term vision: “Many companies that have invested a lot are looking for immediate benefits to satisfy shareholders, without considering the human or creative impact.”
Noguchi says he feels hurt “as a member of this industry” and expresses his full support for the affected developers, highlighting the value of the work they did: “It saddens me to know that so many efforts have been for nothing, and I also think about the fans who were eagerly waiting for those games“.
With a message of hope, the head of EA Japan concludes his letter by wishing that all those affected “can soon find new projects to shine in”. Meanwhile, Microsoft has not made any new statements about the situation since last Wednesday.
— Sean Noguchi (@SeptillionGames) July 4, 2025
Founder and editor of SoloXboxOne and Generación Xbox. He is also one of the owners of the GX Group, Samsung Universe and the Reflotes forum. Adrian has reviewed over 200 games on the web and has an average score of 85 according to Opencritic. Among his expertise as a writer and analyst, he has interviewed Microsoft personalities and participated in private gaming events.
Related Post
