Metro: Last Light dev says conditions weren't ideal, 'talent and relentlessness' drove team

4A Games creative director Andrew "Prof" Prokhorov responded earlier today to former THQ president Jason Rubin's story about the studio's working conditions, telling Polygon the team behind Metro: Last Light is driven by "talent and relentlessness" rather than its resources.

In a statement sent to Polygon, Prokhorov said Rubin was the only THQ president to ever visit the Ukranian office and provide feedback on its projects, adding that the development team supports Rubin.

"For the last couple of months before the THQ bankruptcy we have been working together with Jason," Prokhorov told us. "Need to mention, for the last 10 years of working with THQ (including STALKER time), he was the only THQ president who was visiting our office, sending us feedback as to game improvements, discussing game troubles with the team, e.t.c."

Prokhorov addressed questions regarding the validity of Rubin's statements on 4A's working conditions by admitting its office was not of the highest quality.

"Our working conditions are not five stars for sure, but [you] kind of get used to it," he said. "It's kind [of like] a big garage band.

"We can state that 4A is fueled by talent and relentlesness rather than resources," he added. "We do what we can having what we've got. We have a fun and friendly atmosphere. It's not a drama. We have discussed Jason's article here, and he has the support of 100 percent of our team."

"We do what we can having what we've got."

Prokhorov also responded to the story in a comment on the article, adding 4A is "thankful" for Rubin's story and restating the less-than-perfect working conditions.

"It is a fact that our work conditions are worse than those of other developers outside [of the] Ukraine," he wrote. "I don't think anyone can doubt that — yes, it's true that American and most of European developers operate in a country far more comfortable than Ukraine. And yes, the publishers pay them more. This is clear: the more 'reasonable' the country the less the risks. And we don't want to be all dramatic about that — after all, better conditions are earned, and we strive to do this as soon as possible."

Prokhorov addressed Rubin directly in his comment on Games Industry International, asking him to not pass judgment on publisher Deep Silver for not including 4A's logo on the Metro website.

"Jason, please don't blame Deep Silver for not having our logo on the game site," he wrote. "Just like us, they ended up in a harsh situation and had to do a lot of things in two months, which was definitely a very hard task. I don't blame them for letting the logo thing slip. They are trying hard.

"After all, it's our game that matters and not our logo," he added.

The creative director noted that 4A Games' did want to include a multiplayer mode in Metro: Last Light, but did not give reasons for its cancelation other than a cryptic comment about wasting time.

"Though if it was excluded from the start, a lot of precious time wouldn't be wasted and we'd make an even better single," he wrote.

"After all, the final consumer doesn't care about our conditions," he concluded. "And this is right. We need no indulgence."

Polygon has reached out to Prokhorov to clarify his statements made on Games Industry International, as well as Deep Silver for comment on his post. We will share more information as we receive it.