Krafton Offers Voluntary Resignations Following Massive AI First Pivot

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·

Krafton Offers Voluntary Resignations Following Massive AI First Pivot

Following its pivot to an AI first business model, PUBG publisher Krafton is offering voluntary resignations to employees while freezing general hiring and prioritizing automated workflows.

Major publisher Krafton is following up on its recent transition into an AI first company by introducing a voluntary resignation scheme for employees. As originally reported by Eurogamer, the publisher behind PUBG and the upcoming life sim inZOI insists the program is not a traditional layoff plan for workforce reduction. Instead, company representatives describe the move as a way to support staff in proactively designing their growth direction amid the era of automation, even while executive leadership points to a company wide need for increased individual productivity.

The shift comes on the heels of record breaking financial performance for the publisher alongside massive investments exceeding 100 billion won in both the Indian market and artificial intelligence sectors. During a recent earnings call, CFO Bae Dong-geun clarified that hiring is currently frozen for most departments outside of original intellectual property development and AI roles. CEO Kim Chang-han previously stated that the company is moving toward an AI centered management system where automated agents handle routine tasks while human staff focus on creative problem solving.

This push toward automated development is part of a broader industry trend across Asian markets. Reports indicate that over half of Japanese game developers are currently utilizing AI tools, while companies like Square Enix are pushing to automate significant portions of quality assurance work. As publishers lean harder into generative tools and agentic workflows, the player community is watching closely to see how these sweeping corporate changes impact the human talent behind our favorite games and virtual economies.

Tags: Krafton, Industry News, AI, Game Development, inZOI

Original article: Eurogamer