In an effort to increase work efficiency and cut down on costs, Nintendo has motioned for and acted on shutting down their European offices located in Großostheim, Bavaria, Germany. In cohesion with the closing, they have also terminated work relations with a bevy of Nintendo of Europe employees.
130 employees were shown the door as noted by Nintendo when they released a statement today concerning the matter. They also said that Großostheim wasn’t the only office shut down in Germany as their establishment in Frankfurt–one of the largest cities in Germany–has also been targeted for consolidation. This move is largely due to their lacking sales for their Wii U console and some of it’s games.
“These intended measures have not been made lightly and have only been arrived at after thorough analysis and careful consideration,” Nintendo said. “Nintendo of Europe is committed to a fair consultation process with the local Works Council in Germany with the objective of providing clarity and support for all affected employees as soon as possible.”
Nintendo has had it rough these past few months, and with Satoru Iwata–the brains behind putting Nintendo back on it’s tracks–out of action at E3, this bit of news makes it look like the company is undergoing a truly trying phase. One can only expect that the shutdown and layoffs for these European offices will either help Nintendo reconsider their financial and business priorities or mark the beginning of the end.
