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New Delhi: Krafton, the South Korean producer of PUBG, has introduced a voluntary resignation programme as part of a huge shift to becoming an AI-first company. It follows the announcement by Krafton of its long-term AI plans and record levels of third-quarter earnings last week, indicating that the decision is not financially motivated. Although its performance is strong, the company seems to be concerned with creating a workforce that is orientated in the future in which it would be working on automation and a highly detailed infrastructure of AI.
Workers in South Korea who are opting in are receiving high exit packages, which are uncharacteristic. Employees of the company who worked not over a year can get an approximation of six months of salary, and those who worked over 11 years can get severance up to three years of salary. According to Krafton, the programme is voluntary, not some shroud of a layoff, but the time and the extent of the benefits are indicative of an in-depth internal change.
In October, Krafton announced an AI-focused roadmap, which would see massive investments to incorporate AI in development, operations and future game design. In this change, the firm has stalled most of its hiring, with few exceptions in new intellectual property and AI-related positions. Such a two-sided strategy (restrained employment and a voluntary exit path) denotes that they consciously are trying to change the teams, but it is not by forced layoff.
The overall gaming industry is split over the adoption of AI. Other studios view it as a means of streamlining production and taking the burden of work off. It concerns others that it will jeopardise creative jobs and workflows. The move by Krafton positions it as one of the firms that have made a huge bet with regard to automation.
One just cannot determine how the changes will affect future projects, but the message is clear: Krafton is ready to enter the world where AI will be core to decision-making, production, and innovation in the company.
