Krafton launches voluntary resignation program for employees as it shifts to an AI-first strateg

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Krafton, the company best known for PUBG , is making another big move — and it comes just weeks after declaring that its future lies in artificial intelligence. As per South Korean company has launched a voluntary resignation program, giving employees the option to leave with sizable severance benefits as the company shifts its focus toward becoming what it calls an “AI-first” organisation.

The timing has caught a lot of attention. In October, Krafton outlined a sweeping vision built around AI, promising massive investments and a long-term plan to build advanced AI infrastructure across the company. This announcement came just before the company reported record financial results for the third quarter. So on the surface, Krafton isn’t cutting costs because it’s struggling — its earnings are strong, and demand for its games remains high.

The resignation program, however, suggests the company is preparing for a different kind of transformation. Employees in South Korea who choose to opt in will receive generous severance packages. Those who have worked at the company for a year or less can get around six months’ salary, while long-timers — people with more than 11 years at Krafton — can walk away with the equivalent of up to three years of pay. That’s unusually large for the gaming industry, and clearly intended to soften the impact of a major internal shift.

Krafton insists this is not a covert layoff. A spokesperson has said the program is meant to give employees the space to decide whether they want to stay with the company as it takes a dramatically different direction. But the broader context makes the move hard to ignore. Krafton has put a freeze on hiring for most roles, except for teams working on new intellectual property and anything related to AI. With fewer new hires and a voluntary exit path for existing staff, the company is essentially reshaping its workforce from within.

The gaming industry as a whole has been wrestling with AI — some studios see it as a tool that could speed up production and reduce crunch, while others worry it will replace jobs or dilute creativity. Krafton’s decision puts it firmly in the camp of companies betting heavily on automation and AI-driven development.

For now, it’s too early to say how this will affect upcoming games or existing teams. But one thing is clear: Krafton is preparing for a future where AI sits at the centre of everything it does, and this voluntary resignation program is one of the first major steps in that direction.