Rockstar “will not publish Team Bondi’s next game”

5 July 2011

It’s more drama today from Team Bondi, this time about the developer’s “damaged” relationship with publisher Rockstar. Sounds like a motive to me.

The news comes amid some controversy about the company’s hostile working conditions, with GamesIndustry.biz publishing a bunch of internal emails alongside commentary from former, anonymous employees.

Speaking to GI.biz, one former employee reveals that, “What hasn’t been discussed yet (from what I’ve seen) is the relationship between Team Bondi and Rockstar. I’ve heard a lot about Rockstar’s disdain for Team Bondi, and it has been made quite clear that they will not publish Team Bondi’s next game. Team Bondi are trying to find another publisher for their next title, but the relationship with Rockstar has been badly damaged – Brendan treats L.A. Noire like a success due to his vision but I think Rockstar are the ones who saved the project. They continued to sink money into LA Noire, and their marketing was fantastic. Without their continued support, Team Bondi would have gone under several years ago.”

The source goes on to explain that Rockstar’s influence during development of LA Noire – which “overruled many of the insane decisions made by Team Bondi management” – led to feelings of resentment on “management’s” part.

The published emails show McNamara’s increasing contempt for the publisher, as well as the demands that employees work longer, unpaid hours, and subsequent conflict between management and the employees.

TL;DR: There probably won’t be an LA Noire 2.

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