The labor dispute at Neople, a Nexon-owned game studio behind the billion-dollar Dungeon Fighter franchise, has escalated into an indefinite strike. Employees claim that their performance bonuses have been unfairly reduced, even as executive payouts soared.

Strike Intensifies Amid Bonus Controversy

As reported by local media, the Neople union expanded its strike on July 31 from three days a week to five, with no set end date. The goal is to push management into providing a transparent explanation of how performance bonuses are calculated.

Despite Dungeon Fighter Online generating over $22 billion in lifetime revenue, employees say their compensation does not reflect the game’s massive financial success. Workers allege that bonuses are distributed inconsistently, with some staff receiving far less than others despite identical performance evaluations. This has led to suspicions that personal relationships with managers may influence payouts.

The union also accuses Neople of cutting a bonus for the Dungeon Fighter Mobile team by 30%, while granting three executives a combined $20 million in bonuses last year—ten times higher than the year before. Union representatives state this decision “severely damaged the motivation of development team members and Neople employees.”

Company Response and Negotiations

On the same day the union announced its expanded strike, Neople pledged to distribute around $44 million in bonuses to the Dungeon Fighter Mobile team. This means roughly 400 developers will receive bonuses averaging twice their annual salaries, with top performers getting triple. This comes in addition to a $70 million payout earlier in the year, bringing the total to over five times the team’s yearly pay.

Negotiations between Neople and union representatives began on August 1. While the company says it wants to resolve the conflict and maintain smooth game operations, the union insists there will be “no concessions” regarding the demand to directly share operating profits with employees.