Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of Elden Ring and so many other FromSoftware games, believes he is in a privileged position when it comes to the gaming industry. Working in gaming right now is a harrowing experience, with many worried they may be let go. Major gaming companies are laying off employees regularly, and the trend does not appear to be getting any better. Amid this storm, the FromSoftware boss is aware but not overly worried about the situation.
The Elden Ring Director Says FromSoftware has a Strong Foundation of Dedicated Staff
Mr. Miyazaki was recently interviewed by IGN after the release of their latest trailer for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The trailer is a beautiful glimpse at what the expansion will bring to Elden Ring, and the interview focused largely on the different aspects of the DLC.
Toward the end of the interview, Miyazaki was asked about the current state of the gaming industry and how he sees it affecting FromSoftware in the future. Miyazaki was surprisingly optimistic when it came to his answer. He did not address the topic on the industry level, as he believed that it was too large a scope to make predictions on, but he did share why he thinks FromSoftware is in a good position.
Just speaking on behalf of FromSoftware, I think we are very blessed in the way that we have a lot of keen up-and-coming developers who’ve grown and have developed within the studio and they’ve reached these director positions where they’re able to direct projects such as the recent Armored Core VI.
He went on to say that he sees a future where FromSoftware games are directed by several other people within the team, not just himself. Diversifying leadership is a great way to build a solid team that can handle a variety of tasks simultaneously. It appears Miyazaki is focusing on supporting and uplifting budding talent to ensure the future of FromSoftware.
Miyazaki Wants to Elevate Internal Talent
In an age where gaming companies are quick to hit the layoff button, it’s refreshing to see a leader who understands that the company is nothing without its employees. His commitment to building up internal talent to leadership positions is in stark contrast to the over 10,000 game workers who lost their jobs in 2023.
It may seem like it was released just yesterday, but Sony has also announced the PlayStation 5 is now in the latter stage of its lifecycle. This means we will probably be getting some news of the next generation of consoles in the coming few years.
This is going to be a double-edged sword, as gaming companies will no doubt want to capitalize on a new platform, but they will also need to adapt and pivot their growth strategies. All in all, it’s looking like a dicey situation in the gaming industry.
Do you feel companies should focus on retaining employees rather than firing them? Let us know in the comments below.
