Montreal-based independent studio Dynasty Loop, founded by entrepreneur Rania Oueslati in 2020, looked promising. A AAA game, a supporting billionaire father and a 50 million contract with Microsoft convinced around twenty video game artisans, including sought-after veterans, to embark on the adventure. It has turned into a nightmare since October 2022, four of them allege.
Accusing Ms. Oueslati of having multiplied the lies, they filed a lawsuit on March 21 claiming $518,822.32 in unpaid wages, bonuses and expenses. They add to this claim $120,000 in damages and punitive damages.
This request has not yet passed the test of the courts and hearing dates have not yet been determined. La Presse’s requests for comment from Ms. Oueslati went unheeded. His lawyer asked not to be named. “I have nothing to say and am not involved in this situation,” he wrote.
Contacted, three of the four ex-employees declined interview requests, explaining that a legal process was underway.
Julie Anne Doyon, Dany Joannette, Frédérick Audet and François Émery, who joined Dynasty Loop between April 2022 and January 2023 to design a video game called Nocturne, thought they had found a rare combination in this industry: an independent studio wanting to launch a high caliber game, a “AAA”, and with a guaranteed multi-million dollar budget.
When creative director François Émery, hired in April 2022, asks where the funds will come from, Ms. Oueslati assures him that “we have liquid funds available of several million dollars, notably from a 50 million contract between Dynasty Loop and Microsoft. “.
The video game studio is also reportedly involved in a non-fungible token (NFT) project, Nekton. Frédérick Audet, senior producer who has 14 years of experience at Ubisoft, joins the team in August 2022. Things start to go wrong in October, according to what we read in the request.
On October 18, a consultant, Mickael Lelièvre, revealed to Mr. Audet that he had not been paid for several months. On October 21, salaries are not paid to employees. Some will be paid later by bank transfer or check, without issuing pay statements. Some checks cannot be cashed due to lack of funds in Dynasty Loop’s bank account.
In addition, invoices from subcontractors are not paid. Asked about these problems, “Ms. Oueslati provides evasive explanations, mentions a link problem between the payroll platform and the company’s bank account, but maintains that the company is in good financial health”, can we read.
This is followed by “several one-off incidents” somewhat preposterous which sow even more doubt in the minds of the employees. An administrative assistant has to travel to the United States to pick up a check produced by Microsoft. “The envelope was supposedly intercepted by customs officers and [the assistant] then found that the check was not from Microsoft, but from Mr. Alex [one of Dynasty Loop’s investors]. »
A new shareholder, Joan Rosa Lura, “whom the plaintiffs have never heard of before”, is now effectively listed as a majority shareholder with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
“Ms. Oueslati provides contradictory and implausible explanations in an attempt to justify the situation,” the motion states.
The four employees behind the lawsuit left Dynasty Loop on March 14 and 19. Frédérick Audet is the one who claims the largest sum in total, or $211,785.35, followed by Dany Joannette ($188,308.73) and François Émery ($174,021.01).
Since Rania Oueslati has repeatedly threatened to liquidate the studio and return to her native Tunisia, they are also seeking a seizure before judgment on Dynasty Loop’s bank account.
The company itself appears inactive, with its main site dynastyloop.com unresponsive. On LinkedIn, employees still show themselves as part of the studio. Contacted, an employee who wishes to remain anonymous explained that she had not been paid since January 3 and was looking for a new job. “Rania never fired me or officially fired me,” she adds. She also does not respond to emails. »
