Quantic Dream Found Innocent of Abusing Employees

Three goddamn years ago, Quantic Dream found itself accused of having a toxic, sexist workplace environment by a handful of ex-employees, who claimed that the folks behind Detroit: Become Human and Beyond: Two Souls would do thing like make sexual advances on women at parties, ask their colored co-workers if they were related to criminals, and the creation of photoshopped images that were sexist and racist as well. This was believable, as David Cage was always something of a creep, a bunch of other studios were getting accused at the time, and Quantic Dream tried to sue a news outlet for reporting on the incident — not exactly the actions of an innocent company.

And yet, after a three-year court case, it seems the law is on Quantic Dream’s side, as the charges have been dismissed. And to celebrate, the studio put out a press release, which stated the following:
 

Three judgments handed down by the Paris Labor Court on January 19, 2018 (2 judgments) and No-vember 21, 2019 initially confirmed, indisputably, that no “toxic“ atmosphere prevailed in the company, that no discrimination of any kind had taken place, and that the management had immediately taken the necessary measures, on the very day it became aware of certain problematic photomontages.

Two rulings by the Paris Court of Appeal on September 22, 2020 and April 7, 2021 have again highlighted all these points. The latest ruling on April 7 dismissed all the employee’s claims, ordering them to pay substantial damages to Quantic Dream. Finally, this last judgment does not find any safety defect on the part of Quantic Dream.

Two previous judgments handed down on January 19, 2018 by the Paris Labor Court also pointed to an opportunistic “windfall effect“ of ex-employees who tried to “monetize“ an incident to obtain financial compensation. All of them were perfectly satisfied with the atmosphere in the company, as the judgment of April 7, 2021 recalls, based on the plaintiff’s own writings…

...Quantic Dream reaffirms once again the values that the studio has always defended in its games and within the company, which are values of humanism, inclusiveness, and the right for individuals to express themselves uniquely. We will continue to defend them with the same passion and determination as always. Quantic Dream remains firmly committed to continuing to work with its employees to create a serene work environment conducive to the profes-sional and personal development and fulfillment of everyone.

So their arguing — perhaps not unfairly — that the employees were simply trying to drag their former employer through the mud for a quick paycheck. Which is sad, if true, because it discredits the efforts of employees who actually want to reform or punish actual abusive studios out there. Plus, it’s just… kind of a dick move overall, y’know?

Either way, it’s good that Quantic Dream, a presumably good studio, can continue to go and make crappy games.