Before Quantic Dream celebrates its 25th anniversary next month, the developer has shared an update on its studio culture, including “the process of reassessing practices to ensure the culture of our studio remains supportive, safe and respectful of everyone. ”
Some actions the developer is taking to further push its commitment to “nurturing a respectful, welcoming and supportive studio” include teaming up with organizations and bringing on representatives with a focus on LGBTQIA+.
The full list of facts and actions coming to the Quantic Dream studios are listed below.
- Partnering with an LGBTQIA+ organization to advise on authentic representation of LGBTQIA+ characters, stories, and themes in Quantic Dream games. Training sessions and brainstorms have already begun.
- Bringing on LGBTQIA+ representatives to ensure that diverse voices and authentic representation are present at all levels in the studio.
- Hiring a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) leader to the team, with a specific budget dedicated to DEI initiatives.
- Creating and maintaining an equitable workforce. More than 50% of managers at Quantic Dream are women, including production directors, department leads, project managers, and more.
- Signing the Diversity Charter promoted by French organizations SNJV and SELL, the governmental agencies DGE and CNC.
- Allows any employee to report workplace issues anonymously through non-executive staff. Anonymous surveys are also conducted the developer’s team on a regular basis by independent third-party companies specialized in human resources.
The move comes after the toxic workplace allegations came to light against the game studio in 2018 by French publications Le Monde, Mediapart, and Canard PC. The allegations include studio founder, David Cage and executive producer, Guillaume de Fondaumière being accused of tolerating racist and sexist behaviour in Quantic Dream’s workplace. The accusation went to court in two libel cases with a former employee winning one of them, as for the other against two of the previously mentioned publications, it wasn’t smoothly won as Quantic Dream didn’t exactly disprove the misconduct allegations as executives stomped their feet, cried, and asked if they could lie in the court of law, according to Kotaku.
In the fallout, the developer has been struggling with hiring issues for Star Wars Eclipse possibly due to the allegations. It has reportedly delayed the game until 2027 or 2028, according to reporter and leaker, Tom Henderson. Recently, Quantic Dream has been rumoured to be 100 percent acquired by Chinese internet technology company, NetEase, which previously acquired No More Heroes developer, Grasshopper Manufacture. If true, NetEase is reportedly looking to help the studio “bring Star Wars Eclipse to life.”
