Just CausedeveloperAvalanche Studiosreleased a formal statement apologizing to staff for the hiring of a specific high-level employee. This statement comes after over a year of internal controversy regarding the unnamed individual’s history of sexual harassment andAvalanche Studios’ unwillingness to address the concern for its staff.
The Stockholm-based Avalanche Studios Group was founded by former EA and Paradox Interactive employees in 2013. It is best known for theJust Causeseries and 2015’sMad Maxvideo game and co-developedRage 2alongside id Software. It also shouldn’t be confused with the similarly named Avalanche Software, the Utah-based developer working onthe upcomingHogwarts Legacy.
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Avalanche Studios Groupdid not directly address the controversy in the statement on the company’s website. However, management acknowledged that the company has not always lived up to its aspirations to create a more welcoming and inclusive workplace. The statement also thanked the efforts of employees who fought hard to see their concerns addressed and make Avalanche a better workplace. The developer also affirmed its commitment to creating a better work environment for all employees.
While theJust CauseandMad Maxdeveloperdidn’t address the controversial staff member in its official statement, IGN spoke to multiple people involved with the situation. IGN did not reveal the identity of their sources or the name of the employee this controversy was centered around. However, the publication confirms that the high-level employee was accused of engaging in workplace harassment against female employees at his previous company. IGN also noted that while it has chosen not to name the employee in question, the accusations are a matter of public record.
Notably, IGN’s sources revealed that this hiring was only the beginning of the controversy and not its full extent. ManyAvalanche Studios staffersexpressed concerns about the hiring, especially considering that the company was placing him in a project leadership role. However, Avalanche’s Human Resources downplayed and failed to address these issues adequately. HR initially told sources that the new hire was a contractor and that staff would only have to work under him remotely.
However, Avalanche broke this promise when he began working at the office in 2022. This included holding one-on-one meetings with female employees. The individual in question was subsequently promoted, further fanning the flames of employee frustration. He ultimately departed the company at some point in the middle of 2022. However, the damage was already done, and many staffers were outraged by HR and management’s lack of transparency and disregard for their concerns.
