Nintendo of America restructuring testing center, could impact over 100 contractors

According to a Kotaku report, Nintendo of America is restructuring its testing center. Some new full-time employee positions will be created, but a number of contractors are being let go – including testers with over ten years of experience.

The gaming industry as a whole has seen a high number of layoffs over the past couple of years, and it seems Nintendo isn’t immune to that either. Current and former contractors say Nintendo’s restructuring will result in “a massive downsizing”.

Nintendo said the following in a statement today:

Nintendo of America (NOA) has reorganized its Product Testing functions to drive greater global integration in game development efforts. The changes will also better align NOA with interregional testing procedures and operations.

These changes will involve some contractor assignments ending, as well as the creation of a significant number of new full-time employee positions. For all assignments that are ending, the contractors’ agencies, with NOA’s support, will offer severance packages and provide assistance during their transition.

For those contractor associates who will be leaving us, we are tremendously grateful for the important contributions they’ve made to our business, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for their hard work and service to Nintendo.

There are a few questions about what’s taking place with the restructuring. For one thing, Nintendo didn’t confirm how many people are being let go, but Kotaku’s sources indicate that over 100 contractors could be impacted. Additionally, many of the ones that are going full-time will no longer be involved with software testing.

Three contractors also said that there’s been a recent “lull” in Nintendo of America’s testing department. Apparently, there aren’t any major first-party games in the testing playtime, and the people Kotaku caught up with are not aware of anyone having hands-on time with new Nintendo hardware. These sources also don’t know how Nintendo of America could continue to test big games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.