Scavengers Studio today announced that it has indefinitely suspended co-founder and creative director Simon Darveau in the wake of a GamesIndustry.biz report in which current and former employees alleged a variety of abuses, including groping and screaming at employees.
In a note posted on the studio s website, co-founder and CEO Amélie Lamarche said, Following the toxic workplace allegations brought forward in the media, Scavengers Studio wishes to apologize for the harm caused. Allegations such as these are serious, and we are committed to doing better for our employees, our fans and our partners.
Lamarche said Darveau is indefinitely suspended from all responsibilities within the company and from the Board of Directors.
In Rebekah Valentine s report, nine current and former employees of the Montreal-based game development studio described a toxic work environment fostered by studio creative director Simon Darveau and enabled by CEO Amelie Lamarche. (Lamarche was Darveau s romantic partner when the pair founded the studio.)
The pattern described by employees goes as follows: Simon Davreau and other high-level male employees allegedly regularly engaged in demeaning behavior, particularly towards the women on the team.
This behavior ranged from sexist remarks or down physical groping. On one occasion, a developer reportedly said it wasn t realistic that
Season s protagonist (a woman named Abby) shouldn t be able to play the guitar because the guitar was too complicated for a woman.
Published 26 Jan, 2021
Update: Scavengers Studio have since responded to the allegations, apologising for the harm caused and committing to doing better for their staff. Read their full statement below. Original post from 26/01/2021.
Last year, the makers of the Darwin Project, Scavengers Studio, announced Season, a lovely-looking bicycle adventure about a traveller recording the last moments of different cultures before they’re washed away. It looks like a beautiful and relaxing experience, but a new report paints a dark picture about what s allegedly been going on during its development. Multiple employees have accused the studio s creative director of sexual and verbal harassment, and described the studio as a hostile and toxic work environment.
Concerns new project Season affected by co-founder s influence. Updated on 28 January 2021
UPDATE 28/1/21: Scavengers Studio has now suspended co-founder Simon Darveau and announced it will be audited by an external firm in response to these allegations. More on that in our latest coverage here.
ORIGINAL STORY 27/1/21: Scavengers Studio, developer of defunct battle royale Darwin Project and promising PlayStation 5 game Season, has responded to a report detailing alleged sexual harassment at the studio.
The claims centre on co-founder and former CEO Simon Darveau, whose behaviour is alleged to have created a sexist boys club work environment, as detailed in a GamesIndustry.biz report.
At The Game Awards 2020, Darwin Project developer Scavengers Studio revealed a beautiful, compelling, and very different new title: Season. A young woman leaves her secluded community to explore the world for the first time, documenting her experiences on a cross-country bike ride, and slowly uncovering the mystery of a recurring cataclysm that has halted the world s ability to progress.
Following the announcement, Season was lauded on social media following for its beauty, its premise, and its promise of a diverse and interesting cast of characters. But according to a number of current and former employees of Scavengers Studio, the game s cozy pitch is dramatically at odds with the work environment of the studio behind it.