We spoke to Ukrainian developer Frogwares about the Russian invasion, and how the team has a sense that “this is all a long, terrible dream that keeps going.”
Despite the ongoing conflict with the Russian invasion, Ukrainian developer Frogwares has still managed to give Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened an April release date. We spoke to Sergiy Oganesyan, head of publishing at Frogwares, about how the team is coping amid the turmoil, and how working on the game “has been a significant aspect of maintaining a sense of normalcy for many of us.”
Frogwares talks about how it’s coping with the ongoing conflict of the Russian invasion
“At the beginning of the war, our team structure was similar to that of most studios. Teams worked together under the guidance of their leaders,” Oganesyan begins. “However, due to the ongoing power cuts, scattered work schedules, and slower decision-making, people had to become more independent and self-sufficient. We know that a colleague who is working with us today might not be able to log on for hours or even days. So we have to make progress on our own until they return.” As a result, Oganesyan continues, “many of us have started to learn more about our colleagues’ roles so that we can partially take over when they’re absent.
“We’re not allowed to discuss the overall status or mood on the battlefield for safety reasons, but we have team members serving on the front lines,” Oganesyan says. “Everyone knows what they’re fighting for, but they all wish they could return to their lives before the war. There’s a sense that this is all a long, terrible dream that keeps going, and everyone misses the days when everyday worries and joys were the norm.”
It seems working on Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened itself has gone a little way towards helping the team continue to focus on its new games and updates. “Creating this game has been a significant aspect of maintaining a sense of normalcy for many of us amidst the ongoing conflict. As a result, we dedicate ourselves fully to this project, pouring in our passion, concentration, and labour to bring it to fruition,” Oganesyan says, adding that Frogwares’ next open-world horror game will come “from a much darker place.”
Frogwares has worked hard to communicate the realities of its situation amid the ongoing conflict, and we wondered if there was anything else the team wished to say to the rest of the world. “As an independent studio, we handle the publication of all our games… Without the support of deep pockets or big publishers, we rely on our own resources,” Oganesyan says. “Therefore, it’s important to note that if you’re aware of a Ukrainian team whose games you’ve been wanting to play, now is a great opportunity to support them. Furthermore, we kindly ask for your patience as we work hard to balance everything. And it goes without saying — thank you always for your amazing, tremendous, and just simply beautiful support. Our fans are truly beautiful beings.”
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened launches on April 11th.
