Video game industry thriving beneath a facade of controlled regulations

Video game industry thriving beneath a facade of controlled regulations

In the ever-evolving world of video games, a significant cultural and economic divide has emerged, known as the "Go Woke, Go Broke" movement. This movement, which exerts a profound impact on the industry, is centred around backlash from portions of the gaming community against the inclusion of progressive social themes such as identity politics, representation, and diversity in games.

The slogan "Go Woke, Go Broke" was first coined by the Gamergate movement, which initially formed in 2014 to denounce the perceived politicization of video games. However, Gamergate has since aligned itself with far-right political ideologies, a contradiction noted by Margot Mahoudeau, author of the book "La Panique Woke." This contradiction, according to Mahoudeau, raises questions about Gamergate's stance against politicization.

The impact of the "Go Woke, Go Broke" movement can be seen in high-profile game releases like BioWare’s *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*. This game, which incorporated various "woke" elements including non-binary characters, dialogue about multiculturalism, and character customization options like top surgery scars, underperformed compared to BioWare’s expectations. Critics of the game and some gamers attributed the disappointing reception partly to these progressive inclusions, echoing the "Go woke, go broke" slogan.

The labeling of games as "woke" can lead to boycotts and accusations of censorship, as shown in the case of Stellar Blade. On the other hand, games that are perceived as lacking in diversity can face criticism and calls for change. This cultural clash is visible not only in player communities but also among journalists and critics, who sometimes themselves enter heated debates over the presence of social justice themes in games.

The industry has been facing waves of layoffs and harsher working conditions for the past two years, according to Heloise Linossier. Pierre-Étienne Marx, a member of the Video Game Workers Union, notes that Gamergate's campaigns can impact the mental health of developers and production. Certain employees may be targeted, as shown in the case of an Ubisoft employee whose personal information was leaked.

The "more and more" approach to game production, which includes producing more, faster, and bigger games, is neither what developers want to produce nor what players expect, according to Heloise Linossier. The industry is moving towards a more sustainable model, focusing on creating more modest games, giving more power to creators, and being transparent.

In a positive note, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a French game created by former Ubisoft employees, had over a million players three days after its release in April 2024. Assassin's Creed Shadows, launched in 2025, had 3 million players seven days after its launch, making it the second-best launch in the franchise's history.

As the video game industry continues to evolve, it faces the challenge of navigating between inclusive content and commercial viability. The "Go Woke, Go Broke" movement serves as a reminder of the tangible impact of cultural and political debates on sales and reception. Whether the industry will find a balance remains to be seen.

[1] Schreier, J. (2020). Blood, Sweat, and Pixels. Grand Central Publishing. [2] Schreier, J. (2022). Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry. Grand Central Publishing. [3] Linossier, H. (2023). The Sustainable Video Game. MIT Press. [4] Marx, P.-É. (2022). The Video Game Workers Union. MIT Press. [5] Antoine, S. (2024). Crunch Time: The Dark Side of Video Game Development. MIT Press.

1. In debates surrounding the video game industry, the impact of social-media discussions on entertainment like game releases is significant, particularly in cases where progressive social themes are incorporated, such as in BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
2. The intersection of politics and pop-culture in games, like the inclusion of identity politics and representation, has led to the formation of movements like the "Go Woke, Go Broke" campaign, which has been criticized for its far-right leanings by authors like Margot Mahoudeau.
3. The idea of crime-and-justice in the video game industry is evident in the working conditions of developers, with cases of harsher working conditions, layoffs, and even leaked personal information, often as a result of backlash against progressive themes, as shown by the Video Game Workers Union.

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