A new report from Internal clearance says Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) will require staff to work seven-day workweeks until mid-October.
In an internal email obtained by the outlet, CIG leadership says the studio must meet deadlines ahead of its annual Citizencon event on October 19. Therefore, it is “doubling down over the next 18 days” to finalize a Star Citizen patches and demo showcase for 42 Squadron.
All staff are required to work in the office on Friday 4 and 11 October, which are typically remote working days. They are also expected to work in person on Saturdays, October 5 and 12, and Sunday, October 6.
According to the alleged email, remote work is acceptable on October 19, but employees are “encouraged” to come to the office. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on weekends during this two-week period.
In a separate internal email obtained by Insider Gaming, leadership thanked “everyone who will be dedicating extra time over the next couple of weeks. […] To show our appreciation, everyone who will be with us in the trenches over the next two weekends will be able to spend Monday, October 21st together as a free holiday.”
Cloud Imperium and its alleged behavior towards staff
Earlier this year, two former Cloud Imperium employees alleged that the studio had a toxic workplace culture and mistreated employees.
In February, then-producer Turbulet Games Annie Bouffard stated CIG (which acquired Turbulent in 2023) was a “highly toxic study”. At the time, he said he was “gaslit” about the layoffs that had been canceled following a staff transfer.
Several core developers on Star Citizen were affected by such reductions, including the live game director Todd Papy.
More recently, a Julya UK employment tribunal found that Cloud Imperium had discriminated against a disabled worker. That employee, Paul Ah-Thion, said CIG's return-to-office policy did not take into account his needs as a disabled person diagnosed with autism.
Ah-Thion found remote work to be accommodating and said he requested a permanent remote work arrangement. It was later denied and was subsequently released in July 2022 after multiple requests for reconsideration.
The court ultimately sided with Ah-Thion, saying there were “no specific issues” with his work-from-home versus office-based performance and that CIG could ultimately make “reasonable adjustments” to meet the your request.
The CIG was then ordered to pay £27,748 (or $36,800) to Ah-Thion in compensation.
You can read Insider Gaming's full report on Cloud Imperium's seven-day temporary work mandate Here. The game's developer has reached out to the studio for comment and will update when a response is given.