20-6-2024 (WARSAW) A Polish game developer studio, Spectrum Studios, has found itself in hot water after its Creative Director, Jacek Piorkowsky, posted a recruitment advertisement on LinkedIn that included a rather unconventional requirement: attending naked sauna sessions with the entire team. The bizarre request has sparked outrage and raised questions about the studio’s approach to team-building and workplace dynamics.
According to Piorkowsky, the reasoning behind the naked sauna meetings stems from the studio’s current project, a game where the main character is a “saunamaster.” In an attempt to immerse his storytellers and gather inspiration for the game’s narrative, Piorkowsky believes that these nude sauna sessions will enable the team to come up with “great content and scenes,” citing that his “narrative girls” have already been able to write “awesome scenes” through this unorthodox approach.
Found an article in Polish media with the actual ad: pic.twitter.com/IGBJXgLN7e
— Simon Christiansen (@SimonChris1729) June 18, 2024
However, not all employees seem to be on board with the idea. Piorkowsky acknowledged in his responses that the studio does indeed have female employees, and some have expressed discomfort with the prospect of attending naked sauna sessions with their colleagues.
In an effort to address potential concerns, Piorkowsky stated that Spectrum Studio is able to organize female-only naked sauna sessions, which they have already done. He also dismissed the idea of allowing staff to wear towels during these meetings, claiming that towels get drenched in the steam and leaving them on could lead to fungal infections.
The studio’s controversial approach has sparked a heated debate within the gaming community and beyond. While it is not uncommon for game developers to immerse themselves in scenarios and themes related to the games they are creating, many argue that there are limits to such practices, and Spectrum Studios may have crossed a line.
Critics have pointed out that attending naked sauna sessions with colleagues could create an uncomfortable and potentially hostile work environment, particularly for female employees who may feel pressured or objectified. There are also concerns about the potential for harassment and the blurring of professional boundaries.
Defenders of Spectrum Studios’ approach argue that the studio is simply attempting to foster a creative and immersive environment for its developers, and that participation in the sauna sessions is likely voluntary. However, others counter that even if participation is not mandatory, the very existence of such a requirement could create a culture of coercion and exclusion for those unwilling to participate.
