Deck Nine, the developer of Life is Strange, has recently been hit with serious allegations that its office culture has been questioned as "toxic" and involves issues such as abuse at the top, hate speech and employee bullying. A detailed report from IGN sheds light on the allegations, highlighting the problems caused by management's inaction, in stark contrast to the inclusive values that the game conveys.
The report also mentions that sexual harassment, bullying and transphobia within the studio have gone unaddressed for a long time. Last year, an employee added inappropriate content to the game, and despite complaints, management was slow to respond. Eventually, the studio promised to take steps, including hiring a law firm to investigate and enforce anti-hate speech policies, but it is known that these measures have not yet been implemented.
Meanwhile, Square Enix, the publisher of Life is Strange, has also been criticized for misconduct. According to the report, contacts at Square Enix's London branch put pressure on Deck Nine employees and banned discussion of the protagonist's sexuality before the game's release, trying to avoid the game being seen as a "gay game".