Developers at Khazan studio, known for creating Action RPGs, confront the ultimate adversary – capitalism – in a strike action, protesting what they deem as unfair bonus distribution in favor of executives over the game creators.
In the heart of South Korea's gaming industry, a full-week strike at Neople, a studio under Nexon, has intensified, marking a first in the country's gaming history (Chosun Biz, ThisIsGame). The union at Neople, responsible for the development of popular titles like Dungeon Fighter Online and The First Berserker: Khazan, is voicing concerns over unfair and opaque employee bonus distributions.
The main grievances centre on a significant cut to development incentives despite strong financial performance, excessive executive bonuses, and a lack of transparency in bonus calculations. This has led to an escalation into a full-scale, indefinite strike with no fixed end date, starting July 31, 2025 (Chosun Biz, ThisIsGame).
Key concerns include the cutting of bonuses for the Dungeon Fighter Mobile development team by about 30%, despite the game recording its highest sales ever last year. Employees with similar performance evaluations reportedly received very different bonuses with no clear reasons, raising suspicions of favouritism and industrial politics influencing payouts (Neople union).
Three executives at Neople received an aggregate of approximately 27.5 billion won (~$20 million USD), which is about 10 times the bonuses paid the previous year. This stark disparity has severely damaged employee motivation (Neople union).
The union demands that about 4% (around 39.3 billion won) of the previous year's operating profit (982.4 billion won) be distributed as a profit-sharing system to employees, and that such a system be formally established (Neople union).
The strike has disrupted work and caused event cancellations, including a cancelled event for the Dungeon & Fighter 20th anniversary. Users have expressed frustration, although public opinion has largely favoured management due to longstanding user dissatisfaction with game balance and content updates (Chosun Biz, ThisIsGame).
Negotiations to resolve the dispute have commenced from August 1, 2025, with Neople expressing a willingness to settle. The company has proposed bonus payouts totaling about $44 million USD for the Dungeon Fighter Mobile team, including averages of double annual salaries for about 400 developers. However, the union insists on binding profit-sharing reforms and full bonus transparency before concessions (ThisIsGame).
Dungeon Fighter Online, developed by Neople, boasts 5,557 user reviews on Steam, with 61% of them being positive (Steam). The First Berserker: Khazan, a Soulslike RPG, introduced a new audience to the shared world of Dungeon & Fighter, and is a strategic first step in a multi-year plan for Nexon to take the series beyond its Asia foothold.
Despite the ongoing strike, Neople remains committed to delivering quality gaming experiences to its players. The company has even announced additional performance-based bonuses for the Dungeon Fighter Mobile team, which could be several times the average developer's annual salary.
Union representatives continue to call for greater transparency, consistency, and a more general profit-sharing plan distributing a percentage of last year's record profits to all employees. As the negotiations continue, the gaming community eagerly awaits a resolution that ensures fair treatment for employees and continued growth for the beloved Dungeon & Fighter series.
- The union at Neople, a studio under Nexon, is voicing concerns over unfair and opaque employee bonus distributions, particularly in the case of the Dungeon Fighter Mobile development team.
- The union demands that about 4% of the previous year's operating profit be distributed as a profit-sharing system to employees, and that such a system be formally established.
- Negotiations to resolve the dispute have commenced, with the company proposing bonus payouts for the Dungeon Fighter Mobile team, including averages of double annual salaries for about 400 developers.
- Union representatives continue to call for greater transparency, consistency, and a more general profit-sharing plan distributing a percentage of last year's record profits to all employees.
- Despite the ongoing strike, Neople remains committed to delivering quality gaming experiences, announcing additional performance-based bonuses for the Dungeon Fighter Mobile team.
