Trouble in the House of Samus
MercurySteam is a name many gamers associate with quality. The Spanish studio is responsible for critically acclaimed titles like ‘Metroid Dread’, ‘Castlevania: Lords of Shadow’, and ‘Metroid: Samus Returns’. But behind the scenes of these celebrated games, a disturbing picture is emerging. According to a bombshell report from the Spanish publication 3DJuegos, current and former employees have come forward to describe a studio in crisis, plagued by grueling work hours, confusing policies, and a pervasive culture of fear.
What started as an attempt to ramp up production following a poorly performing game has spiraled into a situation that employees say is tearing the studio apart from the inside. The allegations paint a stark contrast to the polished, expertly crafted games the studio is known for.
The 10-Hour Day and the ‘Verbal Only’ Policy
The problems reportedly began in earnest in January 2025. The company introduced a new work schedule called DIJ (*Distribucion Irregular de la Jornada*), which added an extra hour to each workday, pushing the workweek to 45 hours. The reason given was simple: “production needs.” However, things escalated from there. According to the report, some departments were pushed even further, into ten-hour workdays.
What made the situation chaotic was how these policies were implemented. Employees allege that the move to ten-hour days was never put in writing. Instead, managers were instructed to communicate the requirement verbally. This led to mass confusion, a total lack of transparency, and no clear system for extra pay or logging overtime. The policy was also applied unevenly, with some departments not having to work the extra hours at all, which only fueled resentment and damaged morale.
‘Mandatory Voluntary’ Overtime
The confusion came to a head in a company-wide meeting where HR tried to explain the situation. According to employees, the company initially framed all extra hours as “completely mandatory,” using exaggerated language to create a sense of crisis. However, after being challenged by employees who had looked into labor laws, HR eventually admitted the ten-hour days were not strictly mandatory.
Instead, they were described as necessary to meet “production needs.” This created a culture of what some call “mandatory voluntary” overtime, where employees felt their jobs would be at risk if they didn’t work the extra hours, even if they weren’t officially required to. It was a surefire way to erode trust and instill fear.
Layoffs and Lockdowns
The situation took another dark turn in August. Following the disappointing sales of their previous title, ‘Blades of Fire’, MercurySteam conducted a round of layoffs. The company cited the game’s poor performance and a lack of work as the reason. This struck many as deeply ironic, as some departments were still being pushed to crunch with extra hours while their colleagues were being let go. Employees described being rushed to pack their belongings and told not to say goodbye.
In the aftermath of the layoffs, the atmosphere at the studio reportedly became even more oppressive. The company cracked down on internal communications, deleting all non-work-related chat channels and warning staff of “random audits.” Physical partitions and turnstiles were installed in the office, making it harder for staff to interact. What was once a creative and collaborative space began to feel tense and silent. One employee joked that an eight-hour day is now referred to as a “rest week.”
FAQs
1. What is MercurySteam?
MercurySteam is a Spanish video game development studio best known for developing the ‘Castlevania: Lords of Shadow’ series and the critically acclaimed ‘Metroid Dread’.
2. What are the main allegations against the studio?
Employees allege that the company has fostered a toxic work environment with poorly communicated and inconsistently applied policies for mandatory overtime (up to 10-hour workdays), all while creating a culture of fear and control.
3. What is the DIJ system?
DIJ (*Distribucion Irregular de la Jornada*) is a new work schedule introduced in January 2025 that increased the standard workday by one hour, pushing the workweek to 45 hours for “production needs.”
4. Why are the overtime policies so confusing?
According to the report, the policies for the extra hours beyond the DIJ system were communicated verbally and not documented. This led to a lack of transparency regarding pay and whether the hours were truly mandatory.
5. Were there layoffs at MercurySteam?
Yes, in August, the company laid off an unconfirmed number of employees, citing the poor sales of their game ‘Blades of Fire’ and a lack of work, even as other teams were still crunching.
6. How did the work environment change after the layoffs?
Employees report that the company increased its control over the workplace by deleting non-work-related chats, warning of “random audits,” and installing physical barriers like turnstiles, which created a tense and isolating atmosphere.
Conclusion
The situation at MercurySteam is a troubling look into the pressures of the modern games industry. It’s a story of how a studio, even one with a history of massive success, can quickly find itself in turmoil. The allegations of mismanagement, poor communication, and a culture of fear are a stark reminder that the quality of a game does not always reflect the well-being of the people who make it. For a studio celebrated for its creativity and polish, the greatest monster they have to face may just be the one they are creating within their own walls.