![]() Holt has been accused of "fast-tracking" his friends and partners from outside studios as a way to help solidify his role within Microsoft's ambitious play for a larger Xbox studio-network narrative. While Undead Labs sold itself as a studio in transition, welcoming of diversity, equity and inclusion, it may have done so as mostly a facade to keep head of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer appeased during acquisition negotiations.ĭespite a change at the head of the studio with co-founder Jeff Strain leaving in 2019 and head of development Philip Holt getting promoted, the fissures within the company seemed to only deepen as Holt began favoring nepotism over the needs of the studio. One former developer recalled men asking women to take notes during meetings, ignoring their expertise, and even making sexist remarks like, “You don’t look as pretty as normal today,” and “I’m surprised a girl like you has this job.” On top of all the managerial mishaps, additional friction arose from discriminatory practices against women, non-binary and "other marginalized employees." State of Decay 2 video game on Xbox One and Windows 10 ![]() Gach lays forth a story of a studio dragged into success by Microsoft's acquisition and as such, drowning from lack of direction, sabotage, poor leadership and excessive turnover. ![]() As one former developer put it, “We were afraid they would come in and change our culture but our collapse came from within, and we could have used help.” Now they worry the $2 trillion company’s incredibly “hands-off” approach allowed dysfunction to fester, leaving some of the studio’s more vulnerable employees to fend for themselves. Most considered the last few years since the acquisition a period of crisis, and are worried management hasn’t learned the right lessons.Īt first, some employees were worried the Microsoft acquisition would change the indie studio for the worse. A few said it still has room to improve but has overall been a very good place to work. Many felt very positive about certain aspects of the studio. Kotaku interviewed 12 current and former employees for this article, all of whom requested anonymity because they feared sharing their concerns publicly would doom their careers in the video game industry. In a lengthy expose by Kotaku writer Ethan Gach, Undead Labs transition from small-time studio to Microsoft backed game developer is put under the microscope to reveal a studio plagued with the same industry issues of misogyny, mismanagement and burnout as any other. Kotaku is reporting that Microsoft's Undead Lab Studios, the brainchild behind State of Decay and platform exclusive sequel State of Decay 2, is also facing allegations of "sexism, bullying and burnout." As stockholders and Activision Blizzard executives await the fallout from several pending lawsuits of discrimination and sexual harassment ahead of a $68B buyout, another Microsoft owned studio may be about to wade through similar waters.
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