Last year’s ambitious multiplayer sci-fi adventure from Ubisoft, Beyond Good and Evil 2And get over it Duke Nukem foreverquestionable record For the longest development time of any video game. Last week, employees at Ubisoft Montpellier were informed that their managing director was no longer with the company. Kotaku to learn. It comes as the studio faces a labor investigation by local government authorities over an unprecedented number of developers suffering from burnout and going on sick leave.
Ubisoft Montpellier It has been worked on BG&E2 In some form or form for over a decade now. The follow-up to the original 2003 hit starring photojournalist Jade has turned out to be one of the most beleaguered productions at Ubisoft and in the gaming industry in general. Now, with the game not even technically in pre-production, it’s facing a personnel change between its core team and an investigation by search du Travel in Montpellier, France, according to three sources familiar with the development, who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak about it.
“The health and wellness of our teams is an ongoing priority,” said a Ubisoft spokesperson. Kotaku in a letter. Considering the length of the development cycle with Beyond Good and Evil 2The development team in Montpellier is undergoing a third-party well-being assessment for preventative measures and to assess where additional support may be needed.”
The studio told staff last week that managing director Guillaume Carmona, who had previously been absent since the start of the year, would not be returning and had left the company. No reason is given for legal secrecy. Carmona, a nearly two-decade veteran at Ubisoft who got his start in marketing, left his Paris office in 2019 to become president of a studio known for its creativity. Rayman. Carmona declined to comment when asked why he was not at Ubisoft.
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His departure comes after a year that saw dozens of Montpellier-based developers go on extended leave due to stress or illness, including several potential clients, according to three sources familiar with the studio’s operations. Some returned, while others left the studio altogether, which eventually led to a visit to the French Labor Inspectorate last December. Kotaku understands that an external entity has now been commissioned to interview staff in Montpellier and provide a full report on the health and well-being of the teams. A representative of the Labor Inspectorate declined to comment, citing confidentiality.
It also coincided with BG&E2The most recent shift in direction, which among other changes resulted in senior creative director Jean-Marc Geoffroy being removed from the project. Kotaku He understands that he has been replaced by Emile Morel, previously the game’s assistant director. Meanwhile, Charles Gudron became the new game director following the departure of Benjamin Dumaz. Guillaume Brunier remains the game’s executive producer, though some wonder if he will eventually be replaced as well.
It was last shown at E3 2017And BG&E2 It is presented as an open world adventure where players seamlessly transition from space to the city streets, where they can then gather information for their next adventure. The game will feature customizable ships and online multiplayer. It seemed incredibly ambitious at the time, and the project has been hampered by a number of technical, design, and organizational challenges in the years since. It was Michel Ancel, the original game director It is reported to be toxic to work with while he is often absent from productions. He ended up resigning in 2020 amid A.J An even greater expense with workplace abuse at Ubisoft.
Two and a half years later, sources say Kotaku that BG&E2 He still struggles to paint a creative vision that is fun and achievable.
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