. I don't know what's the best solution here, I'm not an specialist in company management and working rights,
This I pretty much figured out ;), there are shades of gray in the treatment of these matters. Bigass fines are pretty common (not necessarily given back to the victims in France, but to the state), then if victims want a part in it, they can constitute the equivalent of a class action in NA. Combining both works pretty well, and even if game gets released and people keep their jobs, that's gonna seriously hurt themm. Labor inspection and tribunal will always try to keep businesses running. The other way is to actually not buying the game, in which case you punish both Sony and QD, without hurting workers too much.
And so we shouldn't do nothing? You said it: these miss steps happen in other studios. And this is a huge problem we all must fight for. We cannot sit down on our sofas and do nothing because this happens everywhere and so it's normal. Better force the closure of an studio than having an studio full of toxic people.
Nobody said we should do nothing. But second step to solve a problem is to understand where it comes from. Applying a ground zero and potentially destructive policy never helps. Counter reactions are strong, and collaterals are huge, and it clearly marginalize the victims we want to help in the first place. History is full of examples. Means to hurt wrongdoing people exist, social media instant justice is not one of them in my opinion.
Of course Sony has a lot to do with other 3rd parties, because this time Sony is founding this game, Sony is giving money to the studio, and the ones who get all the benefits are Cage and other directives. Right now Sony knows what is going on here, and if they still continue giving money to this guy, then they become conplicits. They become part of the problem as well.
Here's my guess: For sony that's only a PR issue that will settle down by itself (QD and french legislation will handle it, whatever the outcome). There is that. AND in a contract such as they have I strongly doubt they can end it upon this without paying substantial damages to QD, especially this close to release.
Let's say game is completed at 90% now, and problems happened at 80% of development time, should QD give the money back? And if that's the case and game still gets released, will sony also cut the incomes they were supposed to have? And if sony gets money out of it, should they refuse it?
I'm just throwing very initial basic question on responsibility share, and it's already a mess.
It's a shame to throw to the trash all the work invested for this game in the latest years. But right now the best thing they can do it to give full priority to their own principles and values, and stop colaborating on this. What's more important for you? The rights and working condicitions of people? Or money?
Single gradients judgment of values is not something I abide to. Let me give you other gradients: Working principles VS ease to find another job if I get fired as an individual who did nothing. Evolution of VideoGame medium VS health and safety during cruch periods.
How do you place these gradients on top of the one you gave me? I can at least see half a dozen gradients for decision making in this case.
And this is not the end of the world. Why not just helping the affected ones open a new studio and continuing the job, or developing another similar game that could be considered an spiritual successor? There's a new game here made by people who all work in a studio which has a great atmosphere. And Sony doesn't have to feel the weight of having founded a game where the working conditions were below human dignity.
Again, not that simple, spiritual successor will never gather as much audience, good luck finding a project lead with a similar vision that can delivery the same work again, from scratch (because even if sony owns the IP, the assets are QD property, Im not sure but it's very likely)... and again, game releases early this year.
