MercurySteam, the development studio behind Metroid Dread, is currently under some hot water, as former staff members have come forward claiming they weren’t credited for their work on the recently released and critically acclaimed action-adventure title for Nintendo Switch.
3D artist Roberto Mejías took to LinkedIn to express confusion and disappointment that he was not listed in the credits for Metroid Dread, despite assets he worked on during his time at the studio still being featured in the final product. “I would like to sincerely congratulate the Metroid Dread team for putting out such an outstanding game. I’m not surprised of the quality of the game though, since the amount of talent on that team was through the roof,” wrote Mejías. “I know this first hand because, despite not being included on the game’s credits, I was part of that team for for eight months. While playing the game, I’ve recognized quite a few assets and environments I worked on… so my work is there. Then, I would like to ask MercurySteam: Why do I not appear on the game’s credits? Is it some kind of mistake?”
Another former MercurySteam staff member also claims to be uncredited, whom of which said they worked on Metroid Dread for eleven months. Although wishing to remain anonymous, they left the following statement; “Not accrediting the work of the team that puts all the love in the project, and the effort, is a very ugly practice.”
This report comes courtesy of Spanish news publication Vandal, who reached out to MercurySteam for comment. Below you can find the disappointing response from a representative of the company;
“The policy of the studio requires that anyone must work on the project [for] at least 25% of the total development of the game to appear in the final credits. Sometimes exceptions are made when making exceptional contributions.”
– MercurySteam PR
Since work on Metroid Dread likely began shortly after Metroid: Samus Returns was released in 2017, the game was in active development for about four years. This unfortunately means only those that worked on the project for at least twelve months would reach the 25% threshold required by the studio for their name to be included in the credits.
Wow, that’s very disapointing indeed. Everyone who contributed to this masterpiece deserves to be credited for it.
I’d hoped MercurySteam was better than this.
Anyone who’s had any sort of involvement in the production of this great game should be credited.
Even if they joined the team at a later stage and contributed less than other team members, just a quick ‘ thanks to the following , names etc, would do.
Update incoming
I really doubt companies are headhunting in credit rolls. I’m sure they still get to put on their resume they worked on the game.
Unless they were laid off, maybe they should have stuck with the project until the end if they want credit for it’s completion?
I think I can agree with you on this as long as the people who make the game are told up front how the credits screen is handled. “Will I be in the credits for this game I’m working on” likely isn’t a question many people think about first when they join a project. Knowing how the system works when you join would be pretty nice
Everyone who work on any game has the right to be credited in the game’s credit. Yeah, this could be some kind of a mistake perhaps. But, I do agree on the last part that people who developed the game or the company the longest would be credit. Not sure if this makes sense or not. I’m still a little confuse on what the new intern said.
That’s bs. Everyone who worked on the game deserves the right to be listed in the game’s credits.
I’m gonna be honest. This sounds super normal to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if every game and movie company has a similar policy. But maybe 25% is abnormal.
I hope this doesn’t cause them to not make another one. The sooner they get started the closer the gap in years. It’s better they get to work now before they scatter to the 4 winds. Then they’ll have to hire or search for developers when the developers are already still their in R&D which causes even more a delay. I’m not trying to wait another 2 decades for another Metroid because the developers dont do nothing once a game releases.
And I hope they started early development on Metroid Prime 5. At least get started in the script. Hell in a few years Metroid Prime 3 will be 20 years old. Just shows they dont do deadly sh** after a game is finished.
We already know it’ll be 10 to 12 years for Luigi’s Mansion 4 since they didn’t work on Luigi’s Mansion 3 immediately aftet Dark Moon was finished. For some dumb reason Nintendo thinks waiting 7 years to make a sequel is a good strategy.
And dont get me started on Pikmin 4. I expect it to be released in 2032 since they didnt work on the game immediately after Pikmin 3 was complete back in 2012 nearly 9 years ago. What yall do after that? Nothing.
They also need to start Bayonetta 4 while the developing team are still there making Bayonetta 3.
That’s…stupid?
What harm does it to you to include those names anyway? Pretty sure you paid them for their work anyway so why not credit them.
I really fail to see why they think such a policy benefits them.
because some people didn’t do anything about the policy. But still this is a strange policy that I never seen from the company. What kind of dumbass made up that stupid policy.
That is incredibly scummy…