Assassin's Creed, Stadia and kindness: Introducing Jade Raymond's Haven Studio

The former Ubisoft, EA and Google exec discusses her new independent team.

[Notellin]

She hasn't done anything notable in so long I can't believe anyone cares.

[Orchard]

this^

Has she actually done anything meaningful since the first AC?

[Notellin]

Not a single thing.

[Chevalier]

She's got 20+ more years in the game industry than you guys. But let's get this straight you guys are the same people who prop up The Initiative which literally has no games under their belt and now need another studios help, but, hey look it's 'exciting'.

Playstation funds a start up studio and you guys are like she hasn't done anything in awhile. So what?! She's doing something now.

[Orchard]

@Chevalier Has she? You don't know either of us nor how old we are.

She doesn't have the best track record post AC... SC Blacklist, WD1, AC Unity, Battlefront 2...

Also where did I say The Initiative are a good studio? Please show me.

[Chevalier]

Cool. Says you've been here a year and you're a game developer? So what masterpiece did you make?! 😆

You can list off all these 'failed' games she's done. Yet they're all successful properties though. But again go ahead and list your illustrious game developing career that puts hers to shame. I'll wait.

[Orchard]

@Chevalier Been on N4G for about a year probably now, yeah.

The difference is I’m just a lead engineer, I don’t set any kind of creative direction for the titles I work on - I simply execute and deliver other peoples ideas.

She will be a key stakeholder in the direction of the title - as she has been on her past games.

Also WD1 and ACU were a mess, Battlefront 2 an even bigger mess. And where’s splinter cell nowadays?

She has only really directed one successful product - the first AC.

I’ll happy be proven wrong though and will eat my hat & buy the game if it’s good.

[Nacho_Z]

@Orchard

Mad how you bought a PS5 just to give an air of legitimacy to the Microsoft PR work you do on here. Shows real commitment.

[Orchard]

@Nacho_Z Yes, I sunk hundreds of dollars into difficult to find consoles I don't intend on using, same reason I own a PS4, same reason I spent hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on PS5 games. I'm thinking of buying a Lambo next since I'm apparently made of money 😂

[Chevalier]

"Also WD1 and ACU were a mess, Battlefront 2 an even bigger mess. And where’s splinter cell nowadays"

So NONE of that is the fault of EA or Ubisoft?! It's ALL her fault?! Lol. EA has had issues with Star Wars because of their strategy which I doubt had much to do with her. Ubisoft hasn't been using their own IP so the idea that Splinter Cell which Ubisoft has shown they have no interest in making games for has again nothing to do with her.

What's worse is you say you worked the same position she did so you should know that. Sounds like she does have more experience than you do, but, you're pretending you know know more. Well thanks for proving my point. The idiocy you spout is absolutely garbage.

I agree with Nacho's recent comment. It's pretty easy to see in your comment history shilling Gamepass and pretending. It seems for someone pretending to be unbiased stupid stuff you have said like the following wouldn't occur, following quote:

"Heck even one of the best PS5 games is developed by Microsoft."

True words of an idiot. But yeah sure you have a PS5. Dude just sell this pretend PS5 you 'own' and get rid of it. Doesn't even sound like you're a gamer. But yeah if you're idea of 'developing' games is buying games already in development is making games. Which original IP has Microsoft developed and not purchased? All their best IPs so far have already existed and they came along and purchased. Wait I thought you said you're a game developer? Wouldn't you know that? But again go ahead and show us illustrious career that so outshines Jade Raymond. But based on what you're saying can we assume you're not very good as a developer? Nah that would be a biased and dumb assumption wouldn't it?! But here you are trying to tear another developer down? Humble you aren't! I really hope I don't have the displeasure of supporting your game development 🙏.

[Orchard]

@Chev I never said it was all her fault, but clearly, in such a high up role with some degree of control over the business and creative directions of a project - some blame has to land on her.

I work as an engineer, which she was one day, yes - before going over to the creative side. But as stated, engineers don’t set the direction on anything on the creative or business side. If she was just a programmer on those games then it wouldn’t have been up to her anyway and she’d have zero blame - along with all the other programmers.

Which part of my statement about DeathLoop is incorrect if it’s the words of an idiot? Is it not one of the best games today on PS5?

Hate to break it to you, but my PS5 isn’t pretend, I’ve shared pictures on here multiple times and always happy to share more pictures - I even have another one coming soon from Walmart!

Developing games is writing the code, creating the models and textures etc - buying a studio doesn’t mean they are no longer developing games…

Also it’s perfectly normal for corporations to acquire studios. The only one who doesn’t do it often is Nintendo.

Given the companies I’ve worked and the one I’m currently at - you definitely support my titles - and I thank you for it 👍 - we may not see eye to eye but I always like seeing people play my work.

@Monkey Where did I say people are out to get me? I don’t think that at all. And what actions?

The difference here is people like me don’t think that because we own a plastic box and some silicon that somehow it is 100% perfect and the company can never be criticized.

I doubt you even have a PS5.

But aside from that, Jade Raymond has nothing to do with Sony or PS5 really, and has been criticized for year.

Are we now also not allowed to criticize third parties if they ship on PS5? Interesting.

Anyways, with that, I am out because this topic is getting stale.

[Chevalier]

Again thanks for proving my point about how much of an idiot you are! No one says you can't criticize other people work or shipping on PS5. But honestly there's no game out yet and you're trying to tear her work down?! It's absolutely 💯 idiotic.

I have a couple friends working in the movie industry. One whose work won him and Emmy and his studio does work regularly from games, movies etc., but, as much success as they've had they don't go tear down other developers or movie studios/people EVER and always have great discussions with them. The other always proudly post about the work they've filmed and positive posts about seeing the movies they helped make in theatres afterwards. Definitely work that would have been seen in the U.S., but, they're actually never posting or tearing down anyone in the industry they're involved in.

Apparently you're a developer? But it's kind of despicable to see you tear down other people's work and disparage them when you can't even post about any of your work. Honestly you seem like a really awful person regardless of whether you're good at your job or not I can say with certainty that you're not humble. Definitely some absolutely trash comments all round! I'd say I look forward to you adding something worth discussing, but, nah pretty sure it's just going to be more idiotic trash 🗑.

[SassyBoi]

Yeah I don't even know who this bird is.

[bangoskank]

She hasn't done anything notable ever. She's just a face, not a creative.

[autobotdan]

But she is hot lol

[RaiderNation]

Bingo.

[Silly gameAr]

"She hasn't done anything notable in so long I can't believe anyone cares."

Until she does a game for MS and Xbox, and then she'll be the most creative woman in gaming.

[CaptainHenry916]

There's a lot of publishers and developers that haven't done anything notable in a decade. But I won't name them because there's a lot of sensitive gamers on here.

[Orchard]

@Monkey_Balls and they got a lot of stick for their behavior and performance last gen and turned it around for this gen.

Now they’ve released hit games like Psychonauts 2, MSFS already this year with (the very fun) Halo and FH to come. And GamePass is on fire with 12 minutes, back 4 blood etc.

Heck even one of the best PS5 games is developed by Microsoft.

The difference is there’s no indication of Jade Raymond improving or changing post AC1. I would love to be proved wrong though.

[Orchard]

@Monkey_Balls I play on PS5 - it’s also the only next gen console I have. So why would I attack her for working on PlayStation? I also work on PlayStation myself… maybe I should attack myself.

Also most of the studios MS and Sony have are acquisition… so what?

[Orchard]

@Monkey I’ve shared multiple pictures of my PS5 on here before, complete with date and my username in the picture.

For example: https://ibb.co/J2Nb4SN

It’s no secret that I game on PS4 and 5.

[13sentinel]

"Heck even one of the best PS5 games is developed by Microsoft."

You mean developed by Arkane studios. Whether Microsoft was in the picture or out, deathloop wouldn't have released any differently. Arkane studios have never needed Microsoft to be the success they are today. Basically, MS's biggest achievement, is that they threw money around.

[Orchard]

@13sentinel Microsoft owns them, ergo it's made by Microsoft - which part of my statement is incorrect?

MS and Sony have both bought a lot of studios. It's normal business for a corporation.

[13sentinel]

Agreed, I can see straight through her thin PR facade. There is nothing of substance behind her face

[RaiderNation]

Can we have an honest conversation here? The only reason anyone cares as much about this chick as they do is because shes attractive. If she looked like Gabe Newell no one would be giving her this much attention.

[DOMination-]

Every other day the biggest article on N4G seems to be something about a nude patch on a PC game.

It isn't Jades fault that she is a woman trying to make games.

I thought we had moved past the stereotype that gamers were all sweaty boys stuck in a basement but the evidence is sadly here in the comments of this article alone to prove the industry hasn't moved on at all.

[KingofBandits]

I remember when all the simps came out to drool over her back in the day. I actually figured she just faded away so seeing this surprised me. Either way I am both interested and not. Look I love PlayStation as a brand and for what it represents in gaming and Japanese culture but.....they are becoming way too censorship heavy and the BS of game approval moving to "woke" California has been a disaster thats lead to appeasing of the whiners while clamping down on traditional aspects. PlayStation's leadership is definitely more hands off, then say Microsoft but I just hope this isn't more woke BS.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

That's why I buy most games for my Switch nowadays.. especially visual novels