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00:00:00 – 00:20:25
The video provides insights into the challenges faced by the game development company Volition, particularly in relation to the Saints Row franchise. Issues discussed include the disappointing response to the Saints Row reboot, internal conflicts within the team, struggles with management, and the impact of external events on game development. The narrative also touches on the aftermath of game failures, cost-cutting measures, and the influence of identitarian progressivism in the gaming industry. Overall, the video paints a grim picture of Volition's struggles, including layoffs and potential changes in ownership, while also shedding light on broader industry challenges such as poor leadership and the risk of studio collapse.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, it is discussed how the developer of Saints Row, Volition, was shut down by their parent company, Embracer Group. The video mentions the disappointing response to the reboot of Saints Row in 2022, highlighting issues such as woke AI, poor writing, censorship, and technical problems. Embracer admitted that the reboot did not meet expectations, leading to Volition being reassigned to Gearbox. The segment also covers the cost of the reboot, the merging of Volition into Gearbox, and the significant layoffs that followed due to a major investor pulling out of the company.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on issues surrounding the game development company volition and their game Saints Row. The speaker discusses the backlash from fans over changes in the reboot and the company’s response on social media. There is mention of controversies involving the Discord and Reddit moderators, as well as a former employee’s perspective shared during an interview. The employee expresses concerns about toxic fan interactions and the company’s direction.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the internal reactions and challenges faced by developers at Volition, focusing on the Saints Row franchise. There were differing mindsets within the team regarding the direction of the games, with some hesitant about portraying gang culture and explicit content. This led to pivots in the franchise, with Saints Row 4 being a departure from the previous themes. The speaker also mentions the development issues and lack of clarity surrounding the game Agents of Mayhem, which faced criticism and confusion both internally and externally. The process of creating the game was tumultuous, involving multiple pivots, ultimately resulting in rushed development despite years of work.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses their experience working on the Saints Remake. They mentioned the struggles with management, a cringe-worthy initial story idea, and the need to hire back a writer from Saints R 2 and 3 to fix the storyline. The game faced challenges with pivoting gameplay to match the fluctuating story and becoming more ‘woke’ due to external events. The speaker criticized the game design, pointing out issues such as a bland open world map and lack of incentives for loyal employees. Despite strong initial sales, the game’s popularity sharply declined post-launch, leading to panic among the team. Changes in direction, including switching to the Unreal Engine and potential collaboration with Gearbox, marked a tumultuous period for the project.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, it’s discussed how an investor pulling out affected the company, leading to cost-cutting measures, like at Volition. Several issues arose during the development of Saints Row 5 due to conflicting visions within the team, particularly regarding the game’s tone and direction. The speaker blames poor management as the primary reason for the turmoil at Volition, where producers dictated solutions without creative input from designers, resulting in discontent among team members.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the impact of micromanagement and woke elements on the development of the game Saints Row reboot. They mention how micromanagement hindered the game’s quality and led to rushed decisions. The speaker also talks about the internal issues within the company, including leadership struggles and a focus on cost-saving measures affecting talent retention. They highlight the departure of team members, dissatisfaction with pay, and the dynamics between volition and gearbox under the embracer deal. The speaker concludes by expressing that despite the challenges, they enjoyed working with the team and the daily tasks.
00:18:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the aftermath of a game bombing and the impact on various game studios. Mentioned are Agents of Mayhem, Saints Row 5, Embracer, and Volition. There is speculation about the fate of Volition and the Saints Row IP, with a prediction that it may be given to an Eastern European developer. The video also touches on recent developments at Embracer Group, including layoffs at idos Montreal. The speaker reflects on the state of the gaming industry, suggesting that some studios may be facing collapse due to issues like lack of vision, poor leadership, and the influence of identitarian progressivism. The segment ends with a bleak outlook for certain game companies.