Nintendo of America Restructures Product Testing Division: Contractors Cut, Full-Time Roles Expanded

Nintendo of America Restructures Product Testing Division: Contractors Cut, Full-Time Roles Expanded In the midst of a challenging year for the video game industry, Nintendo of America (NOA) has implemented a significant reorganization of its product testing division—a move that marks another major shift in the employment landscape after similar restructures at Xbox and PlayStation.

According to investigative reporting by Kotaku’s Ethan Gach, NOA has substantially reduced its workforce of contractors who have long been tasked with testing Nintendo Switch games and hardware, while at the same time, it has created a significant number of new full-time employment opportunities. A Nintendo spokesperson confirmed these developments, stating that some contractor assignments are ending, but that the company is also introducing a substantial number of new full-time positions.

The company emphasized its appreciation for the contributions of affected contractors and explained that support would be provided alongside contractor agencies, including severance packages and assistance during transitional periods.

In the official statement, Nintendo explained, “Nintendo of America has reorganized its Product Testing functions to enable greater global integration in game development efforts and align more closely with interregional testing standards and operations.” Multiple sources cited by Kotaku, including four current and former Nintendo staff members, indicate that over 100 contractors may be affected by this restructuring.

Of those let go, most appear to be transitioning out of software testing roles rather than being converted into full-time positions within that department.

Industry reporter Ethan Gach further asserted via social media that roughly 120 contractor positions have been eliminated.

Nintendo, however, is framing this internal message as an effort to better synchronize testing operations across its international offices, distancing the reorganization from any perception of cost-cutting measures. Importantly, there are no indications that regular full-time employees at Nintendo of America will be impacted by these changes.

The same Kotaku report notes that there has recently been an apparent lull within the company's testing department, with no major first-party titles currently undergoing active software testing for the Nintendo Switch or the eShop pipeline. This strategic realignment of NOA’s product testing comes during a period of intense restructuring across the wider gaming industry.

In recent months, both Xbox and PlayStation have announced mass layoffs and internal reorganizations, trends that have also touched numerous other publishers, developers, and independent studios.

Nintendo’s move follows suit, although it includes an increased focus on converting contractor positions to permanent roles, signaling an attempt to bolster its in-house quality assurance capabilities focused on global collaboration. As Nintendo of America continues to adapt its workflows and staffing strategies, the company remains committed to supporting past and present contributors to its critically acclaimed stable of Nintendo Switch titles and hardware products.

Industry observers will be watching closely to see how these organizational shifts influence the efficiency and quality of Nintendo’s future game development, testing procedures, and eventual releases.

Nintendo PlayStation Nintendo of America Xbox America NOA Ethan Gach Kotaku