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RUMOR - Level-5 saw mass exodus of employees, leading to project delays
- Thread starter Sagadego17
- Start date
Real source is this article from a japanese website: https://news.nifty.com/article/domestic/society/12184-44804/
I used to think it was just the western branch in bad shape, but it seems like things aren't easy at their home base either. Wonder what caused so many employees to leave.
OP
OP
I keep forgetting the western branch even exists
they need to hit hard with Inazuma Eleven and Yokai Watch 4 or else 2019 will not be a happy year for them
Maybe they're being snapped up by the premier RPG developer in Japan, Cygames.
That's really sad. Even though I'm not in the target market for most of their games they always make me feel like a kid again when I play them. They have a really good Saturday morning cartoon vibe no one else seems to capture.
Don't know why developers might have left, if the rumor is true. But Level5 attempted a 180° turn towards Smartphone games not too long ago. The majority on what they worked on was Smartphone games bound, most of which didn't succeed or suffered major delays. Maybe some developers might not have been too happy where Level5 was heading towards.
It's funny, I was thinking the same thing. I've seen multiple developers mention that Cygames gave them a tour of the offices and got them to join.
OP
OP
Probably because they keep trying to chase their next Yokai Watch-level success and it's not been working out for them. I legit wouldn't be surprised if they're not around in the next couple of years.
Yep, same guys that did dark cloud and worked on DQ8 with square enix.
ok yea Dark Cloud 2 was awesome and one of the best console RPGs of that generation!
I can see Nintendo stepping in to prop them up, if need be. particularly for the japanese market.
I won't be shocked if they acquire them, they can at least let L5 help GF when it comes to presentation and performamce department
that's a lot of waste to acquire. Nintendo would be better off writing them checks for shit and letting them handle multimedia. think Intelligent Systems, or HAL and Warpstar, or The Pokemon Company
Monolith is crazy efficient but they have multiple projects and they're most likely helping with the next LoZ game. L5 have always been great when it comes to presentation
Damn. They have been trying their hardest with Yokai Watch and Inazuma Eleven, probably wasn't enough. After the DS Years where they were on a high thanks to Layton, it always felt like they just couldn't get there again. Hopefully the talent lands back on their feet if true, Capcom and Nintendo would be great fits.
Yeah, they're gonna grab a lot of talent in the years to come. If their announced projects are successful then whew, should be a very bright future for them.
I dunno, we had an entitled thread the other day where its OP went pretty hard on Level 5 missing deadlines and delaying projects.
I think this doesn't seem like shocking news for people who have been following the company, it seems, hence why there might be some weight to this.
I wonder where this article got its information from. It doesn't share a lot of information about the employee exodus, yet Level-5 is a private company, so this kind of information is hard to get. The article doesn't say they have spoken to former employees or deduced a research on this topic.
Of course they're having a lot of troubles in finding success on mobile and the company didn't have to transition to HD development until now, but those aren't necessarily reasons why staff would leave en masse. (It should also be noted that Ni no Kuni II, which arguably is one of their first HD projects, is the one with the least public delays.)
Of course, a lot of staff leaving on top of that is causing a lot of trouble for a company in a time like this, but I don't understand why that's happening, unless something else is going on inside the company, such as a change in philosophy or project management/leadership.
Of course they're having a lot of troubles in finding success on mobile and the company didn't have to transition to HD development until now, but those aren't necessarily reasons why staff would leave en masse. (It should also be noted that Ni no Kuni II, which arguably is one of their first HD projects, is the one with the least public delays.)
Of course, a lot of staff leaving on top of that is causing a lot of trouble for a company in a time like this, but I don't understand why that's happening, unless something else is going on inside the company, such as a change in philosophy or project management/leadership.
Tensei gave some calls and everyone joined him.
Rogue Galaxy, yeah.
They also did DQ9 with SE.
Ushiro might function as a standalone project like they used to have (it did get some books though)
can't let Microsoft have all the fun
Quote from the other Inazuma Eleven thread:
This seems to highlight a number of issues going on at Level 5 recently.
This seems to highlight a number of issues going on at Level 5 recently.
yeah, my guess is they're going elsewhere (better conditions/salaries?)...