New challenges ahead for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga developer

A number of TT Games employees have spoken out about the LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’s developer in a new report.

Following an article published by Polygon in January, working conditions at TT Games were revealed to be less-than ideal. The recently-released LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was reported to have been developed in a ‘culture of extensive crunch’ overtime for staff amid ‘soft-spoken blackmail.’

The article shed a very unfavourable light on TT Games, which may have led the LEGO Group to end its exclusivity agreement with the studio. Rumours now suggest that other developers, such as 2K Games, could be working on new LEGO video games, which leaves the future of TT Games in some doubt.

Now a follow-up piece on fanbyte by the same writer, Jack Yarwood, reveals what the internal response at TT Games was like following the release of the original article. One senior member of the production team apparently referred to the article as an “attack”, with staff said to have been urged not to talk to the press. The piece also suggests that the launch of the overview trailer for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was brought forward as a possible response to any potential negative allegations.

According to the new article, not much seems to have changed at the studio, even with the company now said to be working on a new LEGO video game based on a major IP. TT Games has apparently switched back to using Unreal Engine 5 for the new title, moving away from its own proprietary NTT engine used for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, following internal complaints about its stability and missing features. Some employees are also worried that the developer is keeping all of its eggs in one basket by relying on LEGO games and needs to branch out and create other titles.

In addition, some staff have reported continuing communication and procedure breakdowns, a lack of trust and frustrating and constant micro-management. TT Games has seen a high turnover of staff in recent months, with many ex-employees having now formed a new development company, 10:10 Games.

While the future is looking uncertain for TT Games, the developer still has a major hit on its hands with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. The game has sold over 3 million copies and reviews for the latest title have been mostly favourable.

You can find out what we thought about LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga in our full review and video review.

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