Yesterday, news emerged about job reductions at Warner Bros. Montréal, adding to the troubling trend of negative announcements within the gaming industry in recent times. However, today brings a refreshing change with encouraging news from the Japanese publisher Atlus, well-known for its franchises like Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and Metaphor ReFantazio.

Atlus has issued a press release outlining its commitment to enhancing creativity and productivity among its workforce. The developer has experienced considerable success recently, and following in the footsteps of industry leaders such as Sega and Capcom, they are now directing more financial resources towards the employees who contribute substantially to their achievements.

The current economic climate worldwide is facing challenges, with Japan grappling with rising living costs and shortages of essential resources. This context helps explain the salary increases being implemented by successful gaming companies. Surprisingly, many Asian developers are focusing on staff retention and recognizing the importance of experienced employees in expediting new game projects, leading to a quicker release schedule for some franchises compared to the slower pace typically seen in Western AAA game development.

The “base salary increase” initiative will raise the starting salary for new graduates from 300,000 yen to 330,000 yen. Additionally, full-time and contract employees will see an average annual income increase of 15%. Furthermore, the number of fixed overtime hours will be reduced from 30 to 20, marking a significant change.

Atlus stated, “We will continue to support our employees in maintaining stable lives and create an environment where they can work with greater peace of mind.” These adjustments are set to take effect next month, in April 2026.