Ori Developer Moon Studios' Founders Face Allegations Of Sexism & Racism
Thomas Mahler and Gennadiy Korol, the founders of Ori studio Moon Studios, have been accused of sexist and racist behavior in a recent report. The pair founded the independent studio back in 2010 and remained mostly out of the limelight until the success of Ori and the Blind Forest, which catapulted the studio to relevancy. Since then, they have found themselves occasionally foraying into that limelight, a recent example of this being Mahler's public statements criticizing Microsoft and other companies for their focus on exclusivity and console wars.
While Mahler may have a history of being outspoken and opinionated about the world of gaming, the world that he, Korol, and the rest of their development team created for the Ori franchise is comparatively more tranquil and non-confrontational. Ori and the Blind Forest first launched exclusively on Xbox back in 2015 to rave reviews, with several game critics and consumers falling in love with the game's stunning visuals, music, and fluid platforming mechanics. Its sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps iterated upon the foundation set by the 2015 release, further solidifying the company's reputation. Since then, Moon Studios has become a much more established name in the industry, managing to effect positive change through efforts like donating proceeds from the Switch version of Ori 2 to Rainforest Trust.
With the company portraying such an environmentally conscious and industry-critical image, some fans might be surprised to learn that founders Korol and Mahler are being accused of sexism, racism, and general abuse by their employees. An illuminating article from GamesBeat (later covered by outlets like Game Informer) presents testimonials from current and former employees and associates of the company, all painting a vivid picture of a toxic workplace. Some of these individuals described the work culture as "oppressive" and "unprofessional," with several reports detailing lewd, anti-Semitic, and generally inappropriate comments. GamesBeat provided a statement from Mahler and Korol that responded to these allegations, which did not outright deny the claims but rather claimed they were not "representative" of the studio.
The Ori games are widely appreciated for their charm and breathtaking presentation, among countless other details, so fans will likely receive this news with shock or disappointment. Abuse seems to run rampant in the gaming industry, and although most high-profile stories of this abuse often come out of huge, AAA studios and publishers like Ubisoft or Activision Blizzard, it is apparently not the only area in this industry which is in need of oversight.
While these allegations have not yet escalated to accusations of criminal abuse, they are certainly disheartening to hear about. Some fans may be conflicted about how to feel with regards to the Ori games, as these unsettling claims cast a dark cloud over these wholesome experiences. Hopefully, steps will be taken in response to this alleged abuse.
Source: GamesBeat (via Game Informer)