Navid Khonsari, a former developer for Rockstar and Remedy games has been branded a spy by his native homeland, Iran.
Kotaku report that Khonsari, who previously worked on Grand Theft Auto 3; Max Payne and Alan Wake, began development on a game called 1979 about the turmoil surrounding the Iranian Revolution which led to Iran disavowing the developer.
Khonsari addressed an audience at a recent gaming conference saying:
“When word got out about the game, it got picked up by the conservative newspaper in Iran and I got written up as a spy,
“They’re basically saying that I’m making propaganda. So, as a result, I can’t go back to Iran now. It really sucks because I’ve got some family there, including elderly relations.”
Khonsari explained that the Iranian main artist that worked on all of the main concept art for the title, has now fled the country as a result.
“We haven’t even released anything yet. But you’re guilty just as a result of your affiliation.”
