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[LectureMaster]

Amidst mass industry layoffs, Konami is raising salaries for the fourth year in a row - “Human resources are the source of our competitiveness” - AUTOMATON WEST

Staring March 2026, Konami's full-time employees will receive a base salary increase for the fourth consecutive fiscal year.

automaton-media.com

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Staring March 2026, Konami's full-time employees will receive a base salary increase for the fourth consecutive fiscal year.

Konami Group announced on February 12 that it will be raising base salaries for its full-time employees in Japan starting March 2026. This marks the company’s fourth consecutive year of salary increases (Related Article).

According to the announcement, Konami employees will receive an additional 5,000 yen a month, or 60,000 yen a year from the next fiscal term. The aim is to “stabilize employees’ income and create a rewarding work environment for them,” according to the company. Apart from base salary and yearly bonuses, Konami also provides employees with incentives based on contributions.
In addition, Konami has also announced that starting salaries for new hires (freshly graduated employees without experience) will be raised from 300,000 yen to 300,500 yen.
Konami has seen record breaking profits in the current fiscal year thanks to the success of titles like Silent Hill 2, and in the new announcement, the company emphasized that human resources are the driving force behind their competitiveness in the industry. As such, the company plans to keep investing in people, which it sees as crucial for achieving sustainable growth.

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[LectureMaster]

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

and in America, it's demise.

 

[touchfuzzy]

Konami is the wildest comeback story of the last few years, most people had them completely written off as a serious game publisher even just a few years ago. Now they're dropping multiple bangers each year and getting lots of positive news.

 

[Lunarorbit]

Investing in those wellness gyms paid off.

 

[Kacho]

 

[FF:Enhanced_Reality]

They said having complained about Kojimas budgets going up haha

I'm just playing, that's great for their employees and I dig it.

 

[nial]

I hate when people correlate Konami Group to gaming only.

 

[Complistic]

5000 yen is only $33 a month, not to be a wet blanket or anything.

 

[LectureMaster]

Eating good:

Looking for job:

 

[Kacho]

Konami has seen record breaking profits in the current fiscal year thanks to the success of titles like Silent Hill 2

My Konami purchases have skyrocketed in recent years. All they needed to do was release games. Castlevania Collections, Contra Collection, Silent Hill 2. This year I plan to purchase both Suikoden and MGS3. Will likely double dip when needed. Keep 'em coming, Konami-san.

 

[LectureMaster]

My Konami purchases have skyrocketed in recent years. All they needed to do was release games. Castlevania Collections, Contra Collection, Silent Hill 2. This year I plan to purchase both Suikoden and MGS3. Will likely double dip when needed. Keep 'em coming, Konami-san.

The number of legacy IPs they own is just insane. I think their current strategy is sustainable - working with competent studios to revitalize them and making bank.

 

[Badlucktroll]

 

[Kacho]

The number of legacy IPs they own is just insane. I think their current strategy is sustainable - working with competent studios to revitalize them and making bank.

100%. Need me a Gradius collection and there's still plenty of Castlevania left for 1 or 2 more collections.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Eating good:

Looking for job:

I bet those 4 hot chicks aren't down to clown though, they'd probably just want to have sex and stuff.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Eating good:

Healthy group of snake eaters, I must say.

 

[LectureMaster]

Healthy group of snake eaters, I must say.

LMAO, you are too good, my man.

 

[adamsapple]

5000 yen is only $33 a month, not to be a wet blanket or anything.

I don't know how the local economy there is but on paper it doesn't sound like anything at all. $30 increase in a paycheck would be equal to, or less than, one dinner for 2 people in the US at a low/mid class place like Chilly's.

 

[viveks86]

Konami rising?

 

[Complistic]

I don't know how the local economy there is but on paper it doesn't sound like anything at all. $30 increase in a paycheck would be equal to, or less than, one dinner for 2 people in the US at a low/mid class place like Chilly's.

Yeah, I don't think this increase even keeps up with inflation? This is a bit of a nothingburger. Though anythings better that nothing or layoffs I suppose.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I don't know how the local economy there is but on paper it doesn't sound like anything at all. $30 increase in a paycheck would be equal to, or less than, one dinner for 2 people in the US at a low/mid class place like Chilly's.

or a month for game pass (after the next price increase).

 

[hemo memo]

That's actually pretty good.

 

[Kacho]

Konami rising?

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Wait until Konami Osaka gets going

Konami opens new studio to "continue sustainable growth in the next 50 years"

Konami has celebrated its 50th anniversary by buying a couple more buildings in Japan

www.gamesradar.com

 

[Arachnid]

Send a good chunk of that money over to Bloober please

I need more Silent Hill in my veins

 

[Guardian Monkey]

That's actually pretty good.

That’s pretty good? $400 a year raise is pretty good?!?

 

[Mr Moose]

I don't know how the local economy there is but on paper it doesn't sound like anything at all. $30 increase in a paycheck would be equal to, or less than, one dinner for 2 people in the US at a low/mid class place like Chilly's.

You can go out and get a nice meal for 1000 yen in Japan.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Looking for job:

Who’s this and why do they look so smug?

 

[LectureMaster]

Who’s this and why do they look so smug?

Well, I better hand it over to the expert: DonkeyPunchJr

It's a former Concord employee that insisted colleagues to call her "professor". There were many reports back when Concord flopped about the studio and her toxic working environment.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Well, I better hand it over to the expert: DonkeyPunchJr

The Professor! They was a truly misunderstood genius. I hope they has another chance to work on a $400 million project someday.

 

[LectureMaster]

I don't know how the local economy there is but on paper it doesn't sound like anything at all. $30 increase in a paycheck would be equal to, or less than, one dinner for 2 people in the US at a low/mid class place like Chilly's.

 

[Katatonic]

Nice. Now get G.Rev, Siter Skain and Shitagake Games on your payroll to make up for funding pos Cygni.

 

[The Fartist]

Eating good:

My Snake went from Solid to Liquid, thanks, Konami.

 

[Puscifer]

They said having complained about Kojimas budgets going up haha

I'm just playing, that's great for their employees and I dig it.

That's because he was in the board of directors and was basically funneling money into MGS 5. FFS they had to step in and pull him off of it even after selling the first 2 hours of the game for 30 dollars.

 

[adamsapple]

My man LectureMaster

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Amidst mass industry layoffs, Konami is raising salaries for the fourth year in a row - “Human resources are the source of our competitiveness” - AUTOMATON WEST

Staring March 2026, Konami's full-time employees will receive a base salary increase for the fourth consecutive fiscal year.

automaton-media.com

---

Staring March 2026, Konami's full-time employees will receive a base salary increase for the fourth consecutive fiscal year.


Konami Group announced on February 12 that it will be raising base salaries for its full-time employees in Japan starting March 2026. This marks the company’s fourth consecutive year of salary increases (Related Article).

According to the announcement, Konami employees will receive an additional 5,000 yen a month, or 60,000 yen a year from the next fiscal term. The aim is to “stabilize employees’ income and create a rewarding work environment for them,” according to the company. Apart from base salary and yearly bonuses, Konami also provides employees with incentives based on contributions.
In addition, Konami has also announced that starting salaries for new hires (freshly graduated employees without experience) will be raised from 300,000 yen to 300,500 yen.
Konami has seen record breaking profits in the current fiscal year thanks to the success of titles like Silent Hill 2, and in the new announcement, the company emphasized that human resources are the driving force behind their competitiveness in the industry. As such, the company plans to keep investing in people, which it sees as crucial for achieving sustainable growth.

---

1 US dollar = about 150 Yen.

60,000 Yen per year bump = +$400 US

New grad salaries increasing 300,000 Yen = +$2,000 US. While improving it an extra 500 Yen is adding $3 US.

Doesnt sound like much of a boost to me. I'm hoping these boosts are on top of annual boosts people typically get. Most people's salaries probably go up 2-3% anyway. So I'm assuming these Konami boosts are on top of it(?)

 

[LectureMaster]

1 US dollar = about 150 Yen.

60,000 Yen per year bump = +$400 US

New grad salaries increasing 300,000 Yen = +$2,000 US. While improving it an extra 500 Yen is adding $3 US.

Doesnt sound like much of a boost to me. I'm hoping these boosts are on top of annual boosts people typically get. Most people's salaries probably go up 2-3% anyway. So I'm assuming these Konami boosts are on top of it(?)

I believe is the baseline. What matters is the context that the western studios are facing waves and waves of layoffs while Konami employees secure their jobs and get a salary bump.

 

[hemo memo]

That’s pretty good? $400 a year raise is pretty good?!?

I meant, in general, for publishers, not that specific amount. Other people in the industry are being laid off.

 

[viveks86]

This is so funny that I can't even see it!

 

[StereoVsn]

You can go out and get a nice meal for 1000 yen in Japan.

I mean maybe a Ramen or Soba shop (and not a nice one) or an ok-ish family restaurant lunch? You can’t get a “nice” meal.

And yeah, it’s not even a “mid” raise. Still better vs layoffs of course.

Edit: To be fair, talking about major cities, countryside is probably different.

 

[StereoVsn]

wrong button hit.

 

[Pasta la Vista]

Those are all plates with leftovers from like 20 years ago.

 

[Boss Mog]

That's the sad state of the industry today: we're more excited for some Japanese remasters than new Western AAA games.

 

[Roman Empire]

Investing in those wellness gyms paid off.

And pachinko