Quantic Dream: allegations of unhealthy studio culture are a "smear"
Says it has been subjected to "unfounded attacks".
Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human developer Quantic Dream has released a new statement in response to allegations which appeared in several French publications last month that spoke of an unhealthy studio culture.
The statement, which appeared on Twitter earlier today, was posted in French with no official English translation. However, a translation later appeared on gaming message board Resetera, which Eurogamer has since corroborated.
Quantic Dreams claims that it "has been the subject of a veritable smear campaign by a few media outlets, based on slanderous remarks whose reliability and origin of the sources raise questions".
The studio once again refuted the allegations made against it, stating that it hoped "these unfounded attacks and the propagation of completely erroneous information from it will cease in order to protect our employees".
It also notes that "two employees who entered the [French] Industrial Court in 2017 were dismissed of all their claims by judgement on 19th January 2018, and that a third judgement in this case is in dispute".
The statement ends by noting legal action is being taken to "defend the reputation of our studio and to save the jobs" of a studio "in the forefront of its field". "We are confident in justice and hope that it can be decided quickly, in a calm and peaceful atmosphere."
The full, translated statement reads as follows:
The original allegations, which appeared in French publications Le Monde, Mediapart, and Canard PC, accused Quantic Dream leaders David Cage and Guillaume de Fondaumière of inappropriate behaviour, overworking staff and colluding in - or at least turning a blind eye to - a schoolboy culture involving sexist and racist jokes.
Shortly after the reports surfaced, Quantic Dream released its first official response on Twitter, stating "We categorically deny all of these allegations", and insisting: "We value every single person who works at Quantic Dream. It is of utmost important to us that we maintain a safe environment that allows us all to channel our shared passion for making video games."
David Cage, for his part, responded directly to Le Monde's allegations, and was quoted within the publication's initial story. "You want to talk about homophobia?" he said. "I work with Ellen Page, who fights for LGBT rights. You want to talk about racism? I work with Jesse Williams, who fights for civil rights in the USA... Judge me by my work."