PUBG Dev Krafton Launches Voluntary Resignation Program Amid AI‑First Transition

Krafton, the publisher behind titles like PUBG, Subnautica 2, and inZOI, has announced a companywide voluntary resignation program, marking the first time in its history that such a measure has been introduced.

The program officially began on November 12 and is open to all employees in Korea, regardless of rank or years of service.

Krafton games | Image Credit: X via Gaming Amigos

According to reports, the initiative offers generous severance packages ranging from six months to as much as 36 months of salary, depending on an employee’s grade and years of service. Krafton emphasized that "this is not a workforce reduction plan" but rather a system designed to guarantee “voluntary choice.”

A company spokesperson said, "Amid the era-defining shift to artificial intelligence (AI), the intent is to support members in proactively designing their own growth paths inside and outside the company and taking on new challenges."

Just weeks earlier, Krafton declared its intention to become an “AI‑first” organization, pledging an investment of 100 billion won (around $70 million USD) into AI infrastructure, including a GPU cluster to power agentic AI systems. The company has also paused hiring in areas unrelated to AI, with recruitment now focused primarily on original IP development and deep learning specialists. As CFO Bae Dong‑geun noted during the Q3 earnings call, the aim is not to cut costs but to raise productivity across the board by integrating AI into decision‑making and workflows.

Interestingly, this restructuring follows Krafton’s strongest financial performance to date. In the third quarter of 2025, the publisher reported its highest‑ever results, with cumulative operating profit for the first three quarters surpassing 1 trillion won for the first time since its founding.