At long last, some positive news in the gaming industry! I was starting to get depressed with the plethora of layoffs.
The Konami Group has announced salary increases for its Japanese employees, scheduled for March 2025.
Full-time employees will receive a ¥5,000 ($33) monthly increase to their base salary. New graduates will also see a rise from ¥295,000 ($1,945) to ¥300,000 ($1,978) per month. Unfortunately, the raise won’t be universal across all company groups and positions.
Konami attributes this decision to a desire to “stabilize employee income and create a rewarding work environment.” This marks the third consecutive fiscal year that the company has increased base salaries.
Fans of classic Konami franchises like Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill will hopefully see this translate to better working conditions for development teams, and maybe even a long-awaited revival for some beloved series.
Closing
I for once, always prioritize secondary aspects when evaluating pros and cons for buying games. The developer and the company are evaluated first, the gameplay usually takes a step back.
Supporting studios like those behind Elex, Baldur’s Gate, and Metro (the list is huge), feels like a responsible choice.
Thankfully, my trust in them has always paid off with fantastic gameplay too, and I am starting to trust Konami!
