French developer Quantic Dream has published a blog post on the occasion of Pride Month. In this, numerous employees of Quantic Dream, who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community, describe their experiences at the cult studio. The text can be found in German below. The English version and more information is available on the Quantic Dream blog.
“Pride Month reminds us to celebrate diversity, which is one of the key strengths of the gaming universe, while remembering that giving everyone a chance to be heard is an ongoing process. The LGBTQIA+ community at Quantic Dream recently decided to create a cross-study discussion group to share ideas, foster dialogue within teams, suggest concrete actions, celebrate diversity, and raise awareness. Some of their voice actors, Ingrid (Lead Animation Motion Kit, Paris), Sébastien (Lead Environment Artist, Paris), Hyun-Soo (3D Character Artist, Paris) and Benoit (Senior Gameplay Programmer, Montreal) were available for the following interview :
Quantic Dream – Ingrid, you are the founder of the LGBTQIA+ group at Quantic Dream. What was the trigger for the formation of the group?
Hyun-Soo – Especially when Star Wars Eclipse was announced, everyone was overwhelmed by the flood of positive feedback. But there were also some outside voices that had things to say about the studio that I hadn't heard. We started an impromptu internal email thread that was sent out to the whole studio to explain the situation. A few of us, of course, came forward and asked if we could personally report what we're going through here because we felt it was unfair.
Benoit – The initiative came from Paris, but it was only natural that Serge (Senior Gameplay Programmer) and I in Montreal got involved as inclusion and openness are values we share.
Ingrid – Creating a group that could really represent us was just a matter of the heart. Members wanted to reflect positively and actively on all experiences at Quantic Dream.
Sébastien – It became necessary for me to make our voice heard. I've read so many things that didn't line up with the studio's values, which I've experienced myself for over 14 years.
Quantic Dream – What does this group bring to the studio and teams?
Hyun-Soo – First of all, it allows anyone who wants to speak out on the subject to do so, privately or not. It also allows us to raise awareness, organize events and help people.
Ingrid – What touched me the most when the group became official was the many messages of encouragement and even thanks from my colleagues for starting this initiative. I feel like she brings a clear sense of openness to the new generation of Quantic Dream that we as speakers within the studio have always known and now want to pass on.
Benoit – Having an LGBTQIA+ group gives visibility to the community and sends a message to people that they can really be themselves at work.
Ingrid – It is true that our primary aim is to listen and offer support to people who need it; individual experience is not universal. We also want to share this incredible world with our colleagues. Raising internal awareness of important commemorations such as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, sharing educational films, series or games that touch us, or even inviting everyone to celebrate Pride Month “as a united team”, are initiatives that already motivate us. I felt that by creating this group we made the right choice for our entire team.
Quantic Dream – The representation of identities is an important theme, both in the studios and in the games themselves, but it wasn't always the case. How do you perceive this development?
Hyun-Soo – And the more minorities you see, the more they become normalized; at least that's how I feel in my family and at work. In fact, I had come out to my team a few years ago and I haven't noticed any change, I just felt freer and that was liberating for me. As I came out to the rest of the studio, I received messages of encouragement and support that really moved me.
Sébastien – It is indeed a natural evolution of society. However, it has to happen naturally, to clearly state the problems, without pressure; that's the best way to help the cause.
Hyun-Soo – It's simple: as long as there are people, we must continue to represent everyone, because that's part of being human.
Ingrid – Indeed, it is first and foremost a societal path: many efforts have changed the way minorities are seen. In France, the media, social networks and many groups and associations can enlighten and inform us. Our laws are moving more and more towards the acceptance of a rainbow society. These themes that used to be the exception are finally becoming commonplace! Of course, I am aware that there are still some very steep slopes to be overcome, but this enthusiasm for fair integration is a very positive step for the future.
Benoit – The situation has improved a lot since I started my career, but it is everyone's job to create a healthy environment.
Ingrid – I'm still optimistic that we'll reach a point where we can fully engage in a game without questioning the identity of the characters we're playing."
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