A new documentary by German games sites Game Two and GameStar has exposed the harsh realities behind the troubled development of The Day Before. It reveals the alleged mistreatment of volunteer developers and chaotic management practices. Honestly, it sounds worse than any story I’ve heard here in the US.
As first found by IGN, the video is based on interviews with 16 former Fntastic employees, one “volunteer,” and seven staff from The Day Before’s publisher Mytona. The documentary paints a picture of a studio in disarray, and workers crunched to an inhumane degree.
Sources in the documentary claim the game’s development was constantly buffeted by the changing whims of the Gotovtsev brothers, Fntastic’s founders, leading to frequent shifts in scope and style. The character creator reportedly underwent multiple overhauls to mimic popular games like GTA Online and Hogwarts Legacy, while the setting was dramatically altered based on the brothers’ preferences.
However, the most concerning allegations surround the treatment of staff. Fntastic, previously criticized for its use of volunteer workers, is accused of exploiting young, inexperienced labor from the former USSR. Sources described mandatory unpaid overtime, months of crunch, and even fines for “substandard” work, with some allegedly forced to pay over $1,900 for poor voice recordings. Fear of termination reportedly loomed, with one tester supposedly fired just before release for encountering a bug.
The Gotovtsevs themselves seemingly vanished around launch, only reappearing to shutter the studio via video call. Their whereabouts remain unknown, with speculation suggesting they have started a new mobile game studio. Based on many videos about the two, it seems like something they’d do.
The Day Before launched in a disastrous state, garnering widespread criticism before being pulled from existence just four days later. Management blamed the game’s failure on a “hate campaign” by journalists, but the documentary suggests deeper problems. Honestly, it’s hard to think this is just made up when you see the game was essentially just a scam.
It’s important to note that these are just allegations, and Fntastic has not yet responded to the documentary’s claims. Still, it’s interesting to keep all of this in mind, and we only recommend the documentary if you’re not prone to being triggered by the abuse you read above.
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