A report from Bloomberg that cites sources said to have knowledge of the situation, Bandai Namco has cancelled multiple projects, and the developers who were meant to be working on those now cancelled projects are being given nothing to do, as a way to pressure them towards resigning voluntarily, so Bandai won’t have to pay out severance.
The report claims that 200 workers have been given this treatment, and have even been sent to separate rooms, which has already caused about 100 resignations.
It’s a strategy called ‘oidashi bey,’ known in Japanese culture as a way to try and make people quit. A statement from a Bandai Namco representative denies the allegations.
“Our decisions to discontinue games are based on comprehensive assessments of the situation,” the statement begins.
“Some employees may need to wait a certain amount of time before they are assigned their next project, but we do move forward with assignments as new projects emerge. There is no organization like an ‘oidashi beya’ at Bandai Namco Studios designed to pressure people to leave voluntarily.”
The projects cancelled are also said to have been some big franchises attached to them, such as One Piece and Naruto.