Square Enix creates great games, it just doesn’t know how to sell them, says departed Eidos Montreal founder Stephane D'Astous.

D'Astous announced his departure from the Square Enix subsidiary yesterday, citing a lack of leadership, courage, and communication from its parent company.

Speaking with Polygon, D'Astous said Square Enix "has some things to learn about how to sell their games".

"We are in a situation that we have great games that could have sold more," he said, referring to the company’s recent slate of Tomb Raider, Hitman: Absolution, and Sleeping Dogs.

"They need to attack that very, very seriously. Last year was supposed to be a home-run season, but we didn't hit a single home run; maybe a double or a triple, but they weren't home runs.

"I think in those situations when people are put into immense pressure they sometimes change."

In March, “extraordinary losses” forced the resignation of Square Enix president Yoichi Wada, and later, Square Enix North America president and CEO Mike Fischer quit.

"Square Enix is in a tight spot because there are compromises that are made, investments that are made that should not have been and things that they didn't invest in but should have," said D'Astous.

"Communication is very lacking."

However, despite rumours of studio instability, Eidos Montreal’s Thief reboot was in safe hands, D'Astous added.

"Thief has been a long project," he said.

“Every AAA has its up and downs and I guess we were exposed more to the public when we we're at the bottom of the barrel. That was a long time ago.

"The new team and producer has turned the corner and they're doing a good job. That is one of my biggest regrets, not to be at the head of the studio that would deliver Thief."

Thief is due out next year on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC.