- A 38-year Zelda veteran says Nintendo’s secret to success is not laying off devs.
- He says they have hired new staff over the years, creating a good mix.
- New talent brings in fresh ideas, and veterans can provide a very solid base.
There is hardly any month in the gaming industry when there are no layoffs. Amid increased operational costs, this has become an unfortunate trend, and there have already been more layoffs this year than in all of 2025.
However, one major gaming company has avoided over the past so many years and that is Nintendo. A Legend of Zelda veteran says that Nintendo not laying off employees is the key to the brand’s success over the years.
Why it matters: The brand has a history of retaining its employees and not conducting any major layoffs, highlighted by a prominent example of its ex-CEO, who ultimately took a pay cut instead of forcing employees to leave.
38-year Nintendo veteran Eiji Aonuma, who recently worked on Ocarina of Time Remake, talked to GameSpot and revealed the reason why Nintendo has been able to be this consistent despite the industry struggling.
We have that base that we can build from and bring up new staff within it. And this is something that I think Nintendo has done for a very long time.
He thinks that not laying off employees and keeping their older, experienced staff is the secret to success. Over time, they have hired new developers, which creates an ideal mix of experienced and fresh talent.
Games can feel a bit repetitive if they are built by the same people for many years, and that’s where the fresh talent comes in. The veterans can be the solid base, and the new devs can introduce brand new ideas.
What are your thoughts on the Zelda veteran saying Nintendo not laying off employees is the secret to its success? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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