As a seasoned gaming journalist with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of ambitious projects that, well, didn’t exactly go as planned. The ongoing saga of Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) and their flagship title, Star Citizen, is no exception.
The tumultuous 12-year journey of Star Citizen’s development is not hidden from view. A brief exploration on YouTube or Google will uncover a multitude of challenges that the project has faced since its launch in 2012. Ranging from broken pledges to missing features, supporters have either chosen to disembark or decide to hold on tight, with no definite end point yet in view. Tensions are running high, and for many involved in creating the game, this sense of frustration is shared.
Starting on October 1st, all team members at Cloud Imperium Games responsible for Citizencon tasks received a new directive from Global Head of Production Erin Roberts. This directive required them to work each day, including weekends, until October 19th. In essence, this meant a stretch of 19 consecutive working days with an expected minimum of 8 hours per day. To compensate for the weekend hours worked, Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) was offered, in addition to providing breakfast and lunch during these workdays.
The original directive was swiftly modified following concerns from staff regarding its legality. Instead, CIG decided to grant employees Sundays off if they work a minimum of 56 hours from Monday to Saturday – a decision that would still violate UK law unless CIG’s employment contracts include an opt-out agreement for the 48-hour weekly limit. Additionally, TopMob requested feedback on our initial report about the directive, which may have led Erin Roberts to send an email granting employees October 21st as a free company holiday. Some employees speculate that this gesture might not have occurred if the news of the directive wasn’t about to be disclosed publicly.
Many team members view it as a temporary solution masking a deeper problem, arguing that the company requires a comprehensive transformation to stay afloat. Some employees believe that CIG has reached a critical juncture where mismanagement and excessive spending have put its survival on an inevitable collision course with disaster. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had conversations with more than a dozen former and current staff members about CIG’s current predicament, offering a glimpse into the inner workings of the company and potential future developments.
Bleak Financials & Spending
By 2022, the company’s financial reports show that it has invested approximately $637 million in development. This averages to over $106 million annually from 2020 to 2022. If the company maintains its yearly spending at around $100 million, it’s clear that the $790 million raised up to this point is nearly or has probably been exhausted. This concern about potential financial depletion is shared by both current and former employees of the company, who claim to have felt the impact of what appears to be a decrease in funds over the past year.
In the first part of this year, approximately 100-150 staff members were discreetly let go by CIG at its offices in Austin and LA. The company had intended for this downsizing to remain unnoticed as those who were dismissed were instructed to sign confidentiality agreements, thereby restricting them from publicly announcing their departure on social platforms. According to ex-employees, individuals who declined to sign these agreements were informed they would not receive any form of compensation during their transition.
It’s clear that news about job cuts at CIG became public due to individuals who chose not to comply with Non-Disclosure Agreements or opted to share information with media outlets. Eventually, the pressure from these disclosures compelled CIG to address the matter, leading them to release a statement confirming that “a limited number of positions were terminated” and that they intended to centralize as much development work as possible.
The existing workforce is experiencing economic strain too, as salary hikes have been put on hold, and opportunities for advancement seem limited due to financial constraints. Moreover, many employees have expressed concern about managing their finances because of rising living costs. Some are even considering leaving the company, causing them to ponder about their long-term career prospects in this field.
One employee humorously pointed out, ‘At least we’ve got those baristas making our coffee,'” referring to the extravagant coffee station occupying a significant space on the ninth floor of their new Manchester structure.
Based on reports from those who think backers’ funds could be used more wisely, the coffee bar is simply one instance where CIG has questionable spending habits. It’s not uncommon for them to splurge tens of thousands of pounds on custom furniture and oversized decorations, according to these sources. Management justifies this spending by claiming it’s “expanding the boundaries of game development.” The still-under-construction Manchester office, on one floor, features custom wall paneling, doors, and desks designed to make employees feel like they’re in the Star Citizen universe. One employee described the office as resembling “a space-themed Willy Wonka factory,” emphasizing that it prioritizes aesthetics over practicality.
Development Issues
Management frequently employs the term ‘Expanding the limits in game creation’ to describe CIG’s unique approach to game development. This encompasses justifying virtually every stage in the development pipeline, including their teaching methods for working with Star Engine, a significantly customized version of CryEngine that has led to numerous postponements and delays. The staff often refers to the engine as ‘Frankenstein’s monster’, a hodgepodge of components that can be challenging to work with even under ideal circumstances, let alone when daily adjustments, additions, or removals are made.
As a passionate follower, I can’t help but express my concerns about the creative process at Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), a place I admire deeply. From both current and past team members, it’s clear that one of the main challenges lies in the hands-on approach of Chris Roberts, the head honcho at CIG. He’s renowned for his meticulousness within and beyond the Star Citizen community. However, his daily game-defining changes can sometimes lead to weeks of unexpected hurdles.
The team emphasizes that it’s not only the main aspects of the game that require meticulous attention, but even the smallest details as well. They explained that decisions that should be quick creative choices can sometimes consume hours, or even days, due to his excessive focus on detail. As one former employee put it, “I’ve actually spent 30 minutes in meetings discussing the precise placement of objects that players probably won’t interact with at all.” They concluded by saying, “There seems to be a lack of priority given to completing the game itself.
As a team member, I’ve noticed that sometimes we go over the most fundamental aspects multiple times with Roberts, only for them to be discarded or revised during the seventh revision. The persistent alterations in project direction are especially challenging due to unrealistic deadlines set, as reported by many of us. These deadlines often expect months’ worth of work to be completed within weeks, or even days, increasing the likelihood that our hard work might still end up being discarded.
Cult-Like Culture
Over time, recurrent creative overhauls, excessive control, underperforming software, and inconsistent development methodologies have caused several seasoned developers to depart from CIG. Some individuals I’ve conversed with have expressed a preference for a more conventional approach to game development. The exodus of experienced personnel at CIG has without doubt influenced its work culture, with insiders describing the studio as having one of the most intense cult-like atmospheres in the entire gaming industry.
The outcome is a consequence of actions taken by CIG, leading to the replacement of seasoned employees with less expensive and newer developers. However, due to a lack of experienced staff, these new hires may struggle to learn effectively from their more experienced counterparts. Additionally, it’s been reported that some individuals were brought on board merely because they were enthusiasts of the game.
One current employee stated, ‘The environment is not conducive for good work; there’s no room for opposition.’ A previous worker added, ‘They are recreating errors that other companies made two decades ago, which negatively impacts the functionality of their innovative projects.’
Due to various factors, many seasoned team members tend to depart within a year, resulting in a studio where a significant number of employees are working on Star Citizen as their debut shipped project.
The Future
It’s uncertain how Creative Intelligence Group (CIG) will move forward with its game development given the apparent decrease in funds, yet the team is proactively looking for new sources of financing and innovative concepts to extend their creative process.
Previously this year, Microsoft was provided with a preview of Squadron 42, a standalone campaign from Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) that is part of Star Citizen. This campaign is composed of approximately 20 distinct chapters or levels, each varying in length. The goal for Squadron 42 seems to be expediting its release, with the company’s leaders hoping the revenue generated will support the continued development of Star Citizen and expand Squadron 42 into a multi-game series. The storyline for Squadron 42 is intended to unfold across multiple episodes as it progresses. As for when Squadron 42 will be released, I wouldn’t dare speculate, but it’s known that the game has recently entered its “feature complete” phase, despite earlier claims.
It’s no shock to those in-the-know about Star Citizen’s development that alternative funding strategies, such as offering additional ships at increased prices, might arise. An unexpected twist could be a third game in production, based on a medieval fantasy setting. Insiders hinted that the specifics are scant, but this move aims to diversify Cloud Imperium Games’ offerings beyond a single genre. However, whether Star Citizen supporters are prepared to finance a fantasy title is a topic for future discussion, as is the development timeline for such a game.
Absolutely, enthusiasts can anticipate witnessing a significant amount of Star Citizen moving forward. However, the last twelve years have reminded us all that plans aren’t always cast in concrete.
Feel free to reach out to me confidentially and anonymously, whether you’re currently employed or formerly worked at Cloud Imperium Games, via this protected email address: [email protected], as I delve deeper into examining the company’s problems.
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2024-10-17 23:48