Paramount confirms Mike Zaimont is employed by Avatar Legends dev
Paramount Games has confirmed that Mike Zaimont, a developer previously accused of sexual harassment, is employed at Gameplay Group International, the studio developing Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game. The confirmation came approximately one week before the game’s July 23 release date.
Zaimont was the subject of a 2021 lawsuit at Lab Zero Games, where he previously worked as CEO and contributed to fighting games Skullgirls and Indivisible. In 2023, he was reported to be part of the development team for Diesel Legacy, another fighting game from Gameplay Group International.
The revelation sparked industry frustration among professionals regarding the employment decision. Paramount Games representatives stated that Zaimont “holds a position as an individual contributor” at Gameplay Group International. Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a two-player fighting game inspired by the popular 2005 animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and has generated significant industry attention ahead of its release.