Great people, ok company, awful leadership - Artist Embark Studios Employee Review

1.0
12 Jun 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I am an artist who quit at the end of 2023 - Competitive starting salary based on experience - 100% salary during Föräldraledighet - WFH/Remote flexibility - Nice location at Kungsträdgården - Very talented colleagues, specifically artists but also some engineers - Interesting game projects - Some teams are very tools focused so you can move very fast - Sometimes given a lot of autonomy to impact the product more than you would expect in your discipline

Cons

- 0 chance ever for promotion. If you aren't hired as senior, you never will be. Do not come here if you're wanting any kind of longer term goals for your career aside from what you do on the game itself. If you already are senior and are near the end of your career this could be a good place. - Working harder isn't rewarded. Overtime is rewarded with maybe some days off, not a higher salary or recognition - If you want higher salary, you must look externally and threaten to leave with a competing offer, only then will something happen - No bonuses - Very cliquey leadership. If you are not ex-DICE and haven't worked with the leadership for 7+ years, do not expect to go far within the company. - CEO does not speak to the company regularly and will avoid communicating with you if you try. - Design leadership hamper talented designers on all projects and don't allow honest discussions about the state of the project. - Leadership is extremely emotion driven rather than rational. Features will be decided on the CEO's whim at times - Feedback about planning almost never gets implemented - Leadership on all teams circumvent the planning process and directly ask individuals to implement features. Additionally these individuals rarely are rewarded for the added stress. - Production on all teams are almost all contractors and have little to no games or technical background. Very often wasting time with unneeded work and create unneeded stress

Explore other reviews about Embark Studios

1.0
26 Sept 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nothing…. This company treated us and the customers like dogwater

Cons

Terrible management. Did not treat us fairly

5
4.0
16 Jul 2025
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most employees are extremely welcoming and kind, Facilities and office are very generous and in a lovely area of Stockholm, Good levels of trust and belief overall

Cons

Convoluted layout of the floorplan in the office due to the nature of the old building Slight lack in maturity around organisation and decision making processes by design, which impacts some people significantly more than others

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All