Rekindling what the classics in the series were known for, Metroid Dread is currently tearing up the gaming world having been launched a week ago, with fans and critics giving it high praise all around. With Metroid Dread smashing franchise sales records, it's a wonder Nintendo didn't put this return-to-form title out sooner. However, while gamers are blasting their way through ZDR, some of its development staff have been aiming their concerns towards MercurySteam, the studio responsible for the game, about having their names missed off the closing credit sequence.

According to a report from Eurogamer, which references a number of LinkedIn profiles of the developers in question, numerous people who worked on Metroid Dread have not been included in the game's credits. Artists, animators, and other staff members have noted in published posts that they have been proud of the work that they've put into Dread, and have spotted their efforts in the game itself, but are baffled as to why the studio has not mentioned them. The studio has since responded to the concerns.

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In a statement, MercurySteam, which is known for the Castlevania games, has come forward to say that the company’s official policy is to only credit members of the development team who have been at the studio for at least a quarter of the project’s development. By this policy, anyone who was not there for at least 25% of Metroid Dread's cycle were not included in the closing credits. However, the statement goes on to say that "exceptions are made" especially when "exceptional contributions" are taken into consideration.

The Eurogamer report goes on to say that such rules around staff crediting are not limited to MercurySteam. Bethesda and Arkane Studios' Deathloop is another incident in which members were not given credit, or at the very least had relegated them to the "special thanks" section. Much of this comes down to the games industry not being as "heavily unionized" as film or TV.

It's unsure whether MercurySteam will go ahead and include those who have expressed concerns, especially given the "exceptional contributions" that some of them may have made to the game. From a fan perspective, Metroid Dread is proof that Nintendo should do more games in the series. But it does seem like if developers are going to be significantly involved in its creation, there is an argument to be had that they should be given full credit for work they've put into it.

Metroid Dread is available now for Nintendo Switch.

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Source: Eurogamer