Japanese social gaming giant GREE has proposed to closure of its UK office as the company is forced to scale back its operations in the west following recent rapid expansion.

The plans – revealed via GREE's UK business development director Lynn Daniel – will see the firm look to re-focus its western operations away from Europe, with its US base instead leading the charge.

Western realignment

"Due to the challenging economic climate and on-going changes within the interactive industry, GREE has proposed to close its UK office," detailed Daniel.

"This decision is being considered in order to focus on developing content from the United States of America for the Western market.

"This realignment of the business is a necessity to ensure that GREE can continue to invest and enhance its business offering moving forward. The management team are confident that the proposed restructure of the business will benefit the company due to the changing nature of the digital industry over the coming years."

Despite this shift in its western strategy, GREE's hand in the US market hasn't got off scot-free in recent months.

Back in December, the company laid off at least 25 staff members from its San Francisco office, with the company now acknowledging it may have grown too fast.

Optimising operations

"GREE has seen significant growth since it was founded in December 2004, but during 2013 the GREE board have found it necessary to re-assess and streamline the global business with a view to consolidating certain functions," added Daniel.

There's been no word on just how many people will lose their jobs should the UK office close, though the news comes less than 2 months after GREE made a similar announcement about its office in China.

Back in May, GREE revealed 120 people would lose their jobs in Beijing as a result of review designed to "optimise our global game development operations through a process of selection and concentration."

[source: TechCrunch]