Zelda lead says Nintendo doesn’t do layoffs as there’s “a real benefit” to keeping staff long-term

Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma says Nintendo benefits from retaining experienced staff, who provide continuity and help teams decide how to develop new ideas. He argues that this approach can support the quality and consistency of long-running series, while avoiding the disruption associated with large-scale layoffs.

Aonuma, a Nintendo veteran of 38 years, says long-serving developers can pass on knowledge about studio practices and explain why particular approaches are used. He also stresses the need to bring in new staff and give them time to understand the work, describing the goal as a balance between experience and fresh perspectives. The Zelda team changes over time, but a core group carries knowledge from one project to the next.