Baldur's Gate 3: Publisher Calls for Pirates to Clean Up BioWare

Recent layoffs at BioWare, developer of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked widespread conversation about the current state of the gaming industry. Larian Studios' publishing director, Michael Daus, has again taken to social media, this time addressing the prevalent issue of industry layoffs. He emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and holding leadership accountable, rather than burdening rank-and-file workers:

Avoiding widespread layoffs between or after projects is achievable. Retaining institutional knowledge within the team is vital for future success.

While "trimming the fat" is often cited as a reason for such actions, and understandable given financial pressures, Daus questions the necessity of aggressive corporate efficiency. This approach might be justifiable with consistent hit releases, but frequent layoffs are simply a drastic cost-cutting measure, not a solution.

The core problem, Daus argues, lies with upper management's strategic decisions, yet those at the lower levels always bear the brunt of the consequences. He uses the analogy of a pirate ship, where the captain would be the first to be thrown overboard in times of crisis. Daus suggests the video game industry should adopt a similar approach to accountability.