Nintendo closes European HQ

Nintendo has announced that it is closing its European HQ in Großostheim, Germany, laying off 130 employees in the process. The firm’s offices in Frankfurt will be the new home of for the European HQ operations. It is understood Nintendo are also looking at “outsourcing and reorganising some functions” within Europe.

“These intended measures have not been made lightly and have only been arrived at after thorough analysis and careful consideration,” the company said in a statement.

“The intended measures will sadly have a direct effect on some of the employees based in the Großostheim and Frankfurt offices in Germany and would lead to the release of approximately 130 permanent employees.”

Nintendo is going to seek consultation before the closure and lay-offs are finalised and is hoping that in the long term the measures will “better enable the European business to adapt to the rapidly changing business environment.”

Last month, May, Nintendo’s published accounts showed a net annual loss of £135 million while predicting a somewhat measly 3.6 million annual sales for its flagship WiiU console for 2014/15 financial year.

Full Statement from Nintendo Europe

Nintendo of Europe has entered into a consultation process on a number of changes it is intending to make to its European business which, in the long term, will better enable the European business to adapt to the rapidly changing business environment.

The measures include the consolidation of the current European headquarters in Großostheim (Germany) to Frankfurt (Germany), the closure of the warehouse and office in Großostheim, as well as outsourcing and reorganising some functions.

These intended measures have not been made lightly and have only been arrived at after thorough analysis and careful consideration. The intended measures will sadly have a direct effect on some of the employees based in the Großostheim and Frankfurt offices in Germany and would lead to the release of approximately 130 permanent employees.

Nintendo of Europe is committed to a fair consultation process with the local Works Council in Germany with the objective of providing clarity and support for all affected employees as soon as possible.