Insomniac Games says it promotes diversity, although the developer’s accusations indicate that predators were protected.
The accusations against screenwriter Chris Avellone for sexual harassment have only been the beginning. For a few days now, other members of the industry and the specialized press have brought to light the dirty rags that are kept in the darkest drawers. In addition to the complaints against former bosses of the American media IGN, Sol Brennan, former developer of Insomniac Games (Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ratchet and Clank), has reported on Twitter his bad experiences in the study. According to this testimony, he left the company for “how they treated women.”
“I’m worried that this will end my career, but it’s something that has eaten away at me every day for a year,” begins Brennan, a technical artist who has worked on games like The Order 1886 or Marvel’s Spider-Man himself. “Last year, I was so depressed that for the first time in my life I began to contemplate suicide. I left Insonmiac Games because of the way they treated women. ”
I worry this will kill my career – but this has been eating at me every single day for a year now.
Last year I was so depressed – for the first time in my life I started to contemplate suicide.
I left Insomniac Games because of how they treat women.
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– Sol Brennan #BLM (@wuffles) June 23, 2020
Various sexual predators, according to Brennan
The developer wanted to make it clear that there are many wonderful people working at Insomniac Games. However, at the same time, he assures that there is “a culture that hides the bad” and that goes to the top of the study hierarchy. “I have a double-digit list of women who were harmed by the company’s actions, some so many that they declined to tell me about it.” Brennan maintains that the company has defended and protected sexual predators. “I know that in my time there were at least 3 sexual predators that were protected. One left on his own initiative (as far as I know), another was fired (despite being given a warning earlier) when he became too dangerous and was sexually assaulting people. “Another is still there”, despite the “mountain of evidence” against him.
The creative refers to a specific case, that of a person who believed that he was her friend and with whom she had had a good relationship for years. “He said he would fuck me and give me what my current boyfriend (with whom I was happy and content) could not.” The alleged predator told him explicit things, although he cannot remember all the words. “I have blurred them in my memory.” Later, he discovered that he had abused many women and had been fired from Insomniac.
He told me how he would fuck me, and how he give me what my current boyfriend (who I was happy and content with and he knew this) couldn’t. I have labored the point. Over and over. Explicitly. I can’t remember most of the words. I blurred it out in my memory.
– Sol Brennan #BLM (@wuffles) June 23, 2020
Insomniac’s response
Before these accusations, Insomniac Games has issued a statement on social networks. “We are aware of the tweets made today by a former employee and we have taken numerous steps to address [el problema]. For legal privacy reasons, we will not respond to individual complaints about former employees, “they say in the first tweet. And they continue: “We have a family work environment that has actively promoted diversity, inclusion, representation and equality throughout our existence. We will continue to do so every day. ”
Insomniac Games is currently working on Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, both designed exclusively for the PlayStation 5.
We are a workplace family that has actively promoted diversity, inclusion, representation and equality for our entire existence. We will continue to do so every single day. (2/2)
– Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) June 23, 2020
Source | Sol Brennan / Insomniac Games