Entertainment company Konami will increase base pay for all of its employees, and significantly increase the salary of entry-level roles, as it continues to grow and invest in its staff. Notably, this is the fifth consecutive year that Konami has raised its compensation, in a stated effort to secure ‘diverse and talented human resources’ and create an environment where ‘every employee can feel comfortable and feel satisfied in their work’.
Per the company announcement, the aim is to create a forward-looking culture, with sustainable growth that allows employees to maximise their abilities, while working hard to create a new generation of video games. It is also hoped it will allow Konami to be more competitive in the job market, attracting more talent.
Konami increases employee salaries – quick links
How much are salaries increasing?
New recruits will have their base salary raised by ¥70,000, compared to the same salary in 2023. These salaries will now start at ¥310,000 per month (equivalent to AU$2,834 per month), which represents a rise of 29% over the last three years.
In addition, all staff will get a bump in pay, of ¥5,000 per month (or AU$46).
‘Since our founding in 1969, Konami Group has engaged in creating new forms of fun by globally providing innovative products and services that capture the era’s crest of the wave,’ the press release said.
‘The source of our competitiveness in creating these products and services lies in our human resources itself, and we intend to continue to generate innovation driven by our diverse human resources. By consistently investing in human capital, including the raise of base salary this time, we will aim to improve employee engagement and continue to create better products and services.’
The modest increase reflects steady growth at Konami, which has spent the last few years in revival mode.
Konami’s recent revival
Around 2015, the company underwent a significant shift. It cancelled one of its biggest games, Silent Hill, consolidated many of its production teams, and separated from Kojima Productions. It also reduced its games output, amid rumours it was leaning away from AAA development.
While there was a period of dormancy, when Konami’s biggest franchises were largely left aside, there has been a concerted push to reclaim them in recent years, with Silent Hill at the forefront.
Beginning with the Silent Hill 2 remake in 2024, Konami embarked on a major refresh of the franchise, partnering with an array of global development teams for new adventures. Following this well-received remake, we also got Silent Hill f, an equally well-received game, developed by NeoBards Entertainment.
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Silent Hill: Townfall, a new game set to launch in 2026, aims to extend that legacy.
Elsewhere, Konami has also initiated a revival of the classic Metal Gear Solid games, with the ultra-successful remake Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and new classic game collections.
It has also partnered with Evil Empire and Motion Twin to revive Castlevania, with other plans for this particular franchise in the works. A major new Castlevania sequel, Belmont’s Curse, was announced during a recent PlayStation State of Play showcase, and is expected to be a return to the franchise’s 1980s roots.
Konami’s push to increase salaries for its employees appears to be a result of this continued growth and success, as the company looks to a stronger future, where its developers can create new games with some added security and compensation.
Also on ScreenHub: Konami confirms major plans for the long-running Castlevania franchise
Konami announced a major new Castlevania sequel, Belmont’s Curse, during a recent PlayStation State of Play showcase. It was confirmed to be a return to the franchise’s 1980s roots, complete with a focus on a new Belmont hero, wielding a whip and other weapons to take on the forces of evil.
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