Former Aeon Must Die! developers claim their dispute was not settled, while publisher Focus Home Interactive say third party audits found nothing.
As previously reported, the reveal trailer for Aeon Must Die! was re-revealed. This seemed to be a new upload of the trailer, as the prior one had been unlisted. This was most likely due to being swamped with dislikes, born of the allegations against how the developers were treated.
The former developers, later forming Mishura Games, took to Twitter to express they were just as surprised at the re-reveal as others. “No legal matters pertaining to the situation were solved and even more arose in the aftermath.”
The alleged issues include the IP dispute, the game having no trademark, that the publisher not conducting an investigation, works done for the trailer and most animations in the game not being paid. “Multiple legal attempts at REAL compromise have yielded nothing for the last year. We are open to comment in DM to trusted media outlets.”
Speaking to VGC, publisher Focus Home Interactive stated they had conducted the legal and social audit (the latter as per the clause in the employee contract on their resignation on June 22nd) via two independent law firms; unable to confirm the allegations against management.
“In addition,” Focus Home state, “the Estonian branch of the International Association of Video Game Developers (IGDA) conducted an independent investigation on the basis of all available information, which also did not confirm the charges against management of Limestone, and calls into question their basis.”
Focus Home do admit that they and Limestone “decided to extend development time to give teams the time and means to release a quality game in good conditions for the employees” and an additional budget; hence the delayed 2021 release date with its first re-reveal. However, Focus Home deny they had replaced the developers.
“While our teams have more than 20 years of experience in production follow-up, we at Focus, do not replace the creative teams. We have an advisory and support role and share our knowledge to put creatives and developers in the best conditions to provide the most qualitative experience for players.”
Aeon Must Die! launches 2021 for Windows PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
While announced in August 2020 that the game would launch in 2021, at almost the same time former employees of developer Limestone Games accused CEO Yaroslav Lyssenko of stealing the IP and driving them out with “endless crunch, harassment, abuse, corruption, and manipulation.”
His alleged goal was to drive out the employees, finish the game cheaply, and then pursue new goals (such as a VR simulation project) without approval of the CCO or creative team. Staff resigned en-masse, and a letter was sent to the publisher (unnamed in the accusations) demanding an audit.
This confidential letter allegedly ended up in the hands of Limestone Games’ CTO. The CTO allegedly stated the team no longer needed to work until the end of their contract, and pointed to inconsistencies in the letter as proof the complaints were invalid. They allegedly claimed the publisher gave them the letter, and had been told by the CTO that all allegations were lies and should be ignored.
This was then allegedly followed by emails asking the employees to return to work, and then (after legal advise not to return to work) “threatening” calls and messages from Lyssenko inquiring to their whereabouts.
These allegations continue several times over; personal phone calls and Lyssenko’s family demanding employees return and sign backdated contracts, and other letters to the publisher ending up in the management of Limestone Games’ hands.
Employees were ultimately fired for breaching their contract for the letter sent to the publisher in confidence; despite approval from their attorney removing any NDA-breaking information.
The attorney later allegedly discovered the IP had been “covertly taken” from the founder and was now owned by Lyssenko. This also meant alleged unpaid overtime and other promises by Lyssenko were now “legally nonexistent.”
Despite all the information being sent to the publisher’s legal team, their Head of Legal allegedly stated they had no issues, and the trailer’s release would go ahead as planned.
