A few developers behind the making of Metroid Dread are putting to LinkedIn their qualms for not making it into the game’s credits.
Metro Dread recently released to the public, with both commercial and critical success. Which, thus, reflects the fans’ anticipation and reception to an otherwise long-dormant franchise. Behind every successful game, however, are the developers who painstakingly create the world from the tiniest to the biggest of details. Although, some, as it appears, do not get the credit for their hard work.
The industry is no stranger when it comes to companies choosing to forego the crediting of their staff for a fruitful project. Big game development studios, like Rockstar Games, being the most common and biggest culprit. The aforementioned company being most notorious following Red Dead Redemption 2’s commercial launch where “over a thousand” were allegedly uncredited.
No credit
But it seems that event still remains an issue to this day. One that sees a similar circumstance happening within the very studio that brought Metroid Dread into being, according to Vandal.
Bringing his complaint to social media platform, LinkedIn, 3D artist Roberto Mejias made a post. Initially, he began his post in a positive note by congratulating the people behind the game. “I would like to sincerely congratulate the Metroid Dread team for putting out such an outstanding game,” said Mejias.
The statement was followed with another warm statement towards the team, highlighting the level of talent emanating in it. Describing it as being “through the roof”.
However, the supposed congratulatory post turned sour following the artist’s dismay for not being a part of the game’s credits.
“I know this first hand because, despite not being included on the game’s credits, I was part of that team for eight months.”
He backed up the claim by citing the “few assets and environments” he worked on in the company. Then, eventually coming up with a question pointing directly at MercurySteam:
“Why do I not appear on the game’s credits? Is it some kind of mistake?”
Not a single case
Mejias is not alone with the issue, though. Metroid Dread’s 3D cinematic animator Tania Peñaranda and an anonymous third employee claim the exact same issue.
The reason
In its defense, however, MercurySteam raises a company policy that seem to be at the root of the crediting issue. The studio claims that it takes a presence equivalent to 25 percent of the game’s development for credit to kick in. Although it also highlights an exception to the rule, citing exceptional contribution as a merit.
Image used courtesy of Nintendo/YouTube Screenshot