Reportedly Sexist, Toxic Work Environment Revealed at Scavengers Studio

Scavengers Studio, the developer behind The Darwin Project and the recently revealed Season, is reportedly replete with sexism and toxicity enabled from the highest ranking employees at the company, per a Monday report by GamesIndustry.Biz.

Several current and former employees described studio co-founder and creative director Simon Darveau as the source of many of the problems. Darveau reportedly fostered an environment in which women were disrespected, dismissed and undermined. At a company party in January 2019, Darveau inappropriately touched several female employees, per GamesIndustry.Biz' sources. Two alleged victims of the groping are said to have left the studio soon after.

Employees targeted by this inappropriate conduct had no recourse. Scavengers employs between 30 and 40 people, and has no dedicated human resources department. Instead, CEO Amélie Lamarche mediated conflicts despite being in a romantic relationship with Darveau for much of the studio's history.

Darveau is also described as playing favorites with developers. Most of the studio's employees suffered through irregular performance reviews and promotions and raises perpetually just out of reach. Darveau would reportedly scream at and degrade employees with whom he disagreed. Meanwhile, a select group of employees, referred to as Darveau's "commandos," could do no wrong in his eyes.

Although Season was already mid-development in 2020, with Kevin Sullivan serving as creative director, Darveau joined the team in a role whose purpose remains unclear even to employees still working at Scavengers.

Darveau's disorganized leadership style and habit of ignoring those with whom he disagrees has taken a toll on Season's development, according to developers working on the project. After signing a partnership with Sony, Darveau reportedly used it as leverage to force the team into creating a larger world and adding quests and objective markers — all features the team either hadn't planned or had already scrapped.

Scavengers said it had taken several actions to improve work conditions at the studio, but GamesIndustry.Biz' sources say many have been unclear or ineffective. They also said Lamarche shared significant culpability for the studio's toxic environment. Although she and Darveau are no longer in a relationship, they remain co-owners of the studio, and she reportedly continues to protect him.

Season, which has been praised for its lush visuals, inclusive themes and relaxed atmosphere now appear in ironic contrast to the reported turmoil at Scavengers. The game is set for release later this year on PC and PlayStation 5.