The study will launch an external audit and its CEO will leave her position temporarily while the investigations continue.
Simon Darveau, co-founder and creative director of Scavengers Studio, has been fired from his post following allegations of harassment that have been made public through a GamesIndustry.biz article. In a statement posted on the studio’s website, which presented its new video game at The Game Awards 2020, the developer’s co-founder and CEO, Amélie Lamarche, announced the indefinite suspension of Darveau.
“After the accusations of a toxic work environment that have appeared in the media, Scavengers Studio wants to apologize for the damage caused. Accusations like this are serious and we are committed to doing better with our employees, our fans and our partners. ” Lamarche claims that Darveau is “indefinitely suspended from his responsibilities within the company, as well as on the board of directors.”
Amélie Lamarche will also temporarily step aside from her duties as CEO, at least while the external auditor analyzes the culture and practices of the company. In fact, the directive was also listed as one of those implicated in the original article, as she was Darveau’s romantic partner in the past. You are accused of conflict of interest and of protecting you. The results of the audit will be made available to all study employees. They will also be presented to the board of directors for them to study new actions.
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.https: //t.co/2NOMO6qGXQ
– Scavengers Studio (@ScavStudio) January 27, 2021
Toxic work environment
In the GamesIdustry.biz article, which has had the participation of 9 developers of the study (some still work in the company), the work environment is described as toxic, especially in regards to women. Based on these testimonies, a “boy’s club” culture was created that was allowed by both co-founders, although Darveau was the one allegedly leading these practices. They say that women were routinely degraded by male employees (including Darveau) or infantilized and treated as if they didn’t know what they were talking about. This was supposed to happen in casual conversations, public team meetings, and in Slack (job tool).
Several of these sources claim that many women were victims of sexist comments and inappropriate behavior orchestrated by Darveau and other employees. They state that comments were made about their physical appearance and their ways of dressing, while one of them explains that another employee continually asked her if she was attracted to him and if she wanted to marry him.
Continual degradations against women
During one of the meetings about Season, the new Scavengers Studio video game, a woman in the group presented an idea related to one of the main characters. He raised the possibility that Abby might be able to play guitar. However, another meeting attendee pointed out in front of the whole group that it was “not realistic”, because this instrument was too complicated for a woman, so she had to play the ukulele instead.
Being a relatively small study (30 or 40 people), it was Lamarche herself who was in charge of dealing with conflicts. However, his alleged sentimental condition prevented the resolution of them from being fair, according to these sources.
Simon Darveau.
Another incident took place in the middle of 2018. One of the employees suddenly stopped going to work and was later announced her departure. As they point out, Darveau had an affair with the employee and Lamarche found out. The Scavengers co-founder allegedly compared himself to a dog unable to control his instincts. This behavior also appeared during parties, where alcohol always ran in abundance. At an event that took place in 2019, Darveau allegedly got drunk and touched several female employees, according to numerous sources. A worker who witnessed says she was “in predator mode.”
After this event, the study leaders took action and hired a private investigator. Subsequently, alcohol was banned at parties and it was decided that Darveau would not drink at all. Somehow, sources say, the co-founder excused his behavior on the effects of the drink. Darveau was already a bastard before he drank. It felt like it was an excuse. ” Despite being replaced in the CEO role by Lamarche, the employees were aware that they could say nothing against the founders. “Otherwise you were screwed,” asserts another person who was present at the same meeting where they were told they could express their concerns.
After this, Darveau seemed at least embarrassed by what had happened. The situation improved for a time, but the sexist behaviors remained unchanged. Beyond the attacks on female workers, sources note that Darveau thought all employees were disposable, expendable. The commandos, as he called them, were a group, usually programmers, who enjoyed his favor and who escaped these attacks.
Scavengers Studio is currently working on Season, a narrative game developed for PlayStation 5 and PC in which Darveau was also involved, despite opposition from other team members.
