A mere days away from the release of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, developer Kylotonn is going on strike. The reason: The "strategy of silence" of publisher Nacon.
A long period of development looks to finally come to an end on September 12 when Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set to release after the launch having been postponed from 2022, as was initially targeted. Just days before the open-world racing game's supposed full launch, developer Kylotonn has gone on strike, however - for the second time.
The studio was acquired by Bigben Interactive, which later turned into Nacon, in 2018. Since then, it is a subsidiary of the company, best-known for developing the titles of the WRC series from WRC 5 onwards. Kylotonn is also behind TDU SC - and has now gone on strike in solidarity for another studio under Nacon's umbrella, Spiders, who are currently working on the RPG GreedFall 2.
Spiders had already called for a strike on August 27 in an open letter to Nacon, citing their reasons in detail in a 20-page letter. These include "a blatant lack of transparency on all aspects of the company", problems not being and their existence being denied, and "a complete opposition to anticipating problems and securing working conditions".
Some of these talking points are also reflected in Kylotonn's short statement. "Management regularly brings up the studios' supposed independence, but every demand we make gets rejected with the argument that there should be coherence within the Nacon group. Much in the same way, negotiations are hampered under the same pretense".
Despite this, the first gameplay preview of TDU Solar Crown was shown at Nacon Connect.
With just over a week to go until the game's scheduled release, one has to wonder if this strike is going to impact the timing. We have reached out to Nacon for a statement and will update this article once we receive a reply.
Players who preordered the game are set to gain access to TDU SC on September 5 already.
What are your thoughts on the Kylotonn strike just before the release of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown? Let us know in the comments below!
A long period of development looks to finally come to an end on September 12 when Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set to release after the launch having been postponed from 2022, as was initially targeted. Just days before the open-world racing game's supposed full launch, developer Kylotonn has gone on strike, however - for the second time.
The studio was acquired by Bigben Interactive, which later turned into Nacon, in 2018. Since then, it is a subsidiary of the company, best-known for developing the titles of the WRC series from WRC 5 onwards. Kylotonn is also behind TDU SC - and has now gone on strike in solidarity for another studio under Nacon's umbrella, Spiders, who are currently working on the RPG GreedFall 2.
"Lack Of Information About The Future"
The main reason of this strike: "Nacon's strategy of silence", as the statement on the French Video Game Workers Union website (Le Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo) states. "Both studios are property of the Nacon group and encounter similar problems such as: hiring, turn over, a general lack of information about the future of our companies and productions...", the statement continues.Spiders had already called for a strike on August 27 in an open letter to Nacon, citing their reasons in detail in a 20-page letter. These include "a blatant lack of transparency on all aspects of the company", problems not being and their existence being denied, and "a complete opposition to anticipating problems and securing working conditions".
Some of these talking points are also reflected in Kylotonn's short statement. "Management regularly brings up the studios' supposed independence, but every demand we make gets rejected with the argument that there should be coherence within the Nacon group. Much in the same way, negotiations are hampered under the same pretense".
Kylotonn On Strike For The Second Time
It would appear that not much has changed communication-wise since July 2023 then, as Kylotonn went on strike over a lack of transparency and possibilities for negotiations at the time. Right before Nacon Connect 2023, the studio demanded better conditions for renegotiations of wages and working conditions, as well as "to put an end to the pathogenic and authoritarian management style that threatens workers' mental health and cohesion".Despite this, the first gameplay preview of TDU Solar Crown was shown at Nacon Connect.
With just over a week to go until the game's scheduled release, one has to wonder if this strike is going to impact the timing. We have reached out to Nacon for a statement and will update this article once we receive a reply.
Players who preordered the game are set to gain access to TDU SC on September 5 already.
What are your thoughts on the Kylotonn strike just before the release of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown? Let us know in the comments below!
