In an official announcement today, Konami revealed that it is raising employee base salaries again in March 2025, as well as the starting salary for new graduates.
The base salary for employees will increase by 5,000 JPY per month, which is about $33 USD. The overall increase amounts to 60,000 JPY more per year.
Further, Konami will increase the current starting salary from 295,000 JPY to 300,000 JPY for most companies and positions.
Konami previously raised salaries for fiscal years ending in March 2023 and 2024. The base salary increase will affect “Japan domestic group companies’ regular employees.”
Konami’s salary increases may not sound so impressive at first glance. But any increase is a far cry from the mass layoffs that continue to rattle the industry.
Just weeks ago, SEGA employees faced a new wave of layoffs that affected a variety of studios. Jurgen Post from Sega Europe told IGN that the company needed to “streamline, focus on what we are good at, and position ourselves as best we can for the road ahead.”
In February, French Ubisoft workers even decided to go on strike in order to earn better salaries.
Fortunately, Konami isn’t the only studio to raise salaries in a troubled industry. Just last month, Capcom announced it would also raise starting salaries, beginning in fiscal year 2025. Hopefully, such salary increases will support new creatives that need work.
Konami’s decision implies that its signature games and series are likely on track.
Namely, fans are most looking forward to the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater doesn’t have a release date yet, but fans expect it this year.
For more of the latest gaming industry news, you can read about some new leaked clips showing off prototype gameplay from old Assassin’s Creed games.
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