Aliens vs. Predator Dev Accused of Withholding Wages, Layoff Payments
Sources allege that Rebellion's Derby studio faces bankruptcy.
By Dustin Quillen, 05/10/2010
Aliens vs. Predator developer Rebellion has fallen on hard times, according to insider reports. Sources close to the studio told Develop that the Derby, England-based division of Rebellion has laid off nearly all of its staff, and the company is being accused of not sending out wages or redundancy payments for the month of April. "What I understand from the guys left in Derby -- there are about 5 of them, I think -- is that they were told to go home, still with no explanation of what was happening with the money they are owed," claims one former employee. "Come pay day, after clearing the office, the [affected staff] didn't get the wages for April's pay, and those due redundancy money that month didn't get it either."
Additional sources allege that Rebellion aims to declare the Derby offices bankrupt, which could allow the developer to skip out on paying severance to the remaining employees. According to the ex-Rebellion staffer above, the few people left at the company have been there for about 20 years, and, as a result, have some of the largest redundancy packages.
"They seem to be claiming that as Rebellion Derby is registered as a separate legal entity, and it's not currently making money, that [there is] no money to pay their remaining [staff]," explained the wife of one of the affected employees. "The feeling amongst those who have been left is that it looks like they will be putting the studio into liquidation in order to get out of paying the packages that they have agreed."
Rebellion has yet to officially comment on these allegations, but we'll let you know the moment we get an update.
Source: 1up.com
