If you still doubted the tension in the video game industry recently, a recent event should confirm that our industry is on the verge of dividing into two factions. It began yesterday afternoon with a screenshot of an ex-message from Matt Hansen, the former artistic director of the upcoming game Avowed, set for release on February 12th next year on PC and Xbox Series X|S. This is Obsidian Entertainment’s new game, and both the studio and the game have been experiencing turmoil since this message sparked controversy online.
Reminder to Black artists seeking to have their portfolio assessed or advice for their work: my direct messages are open and you will always be a priority for me. There are too many entrenched whites in this field; let me help you replace them one day – I want to return to living in the woods.
The message, which has since been removed from Matt Hansen’s profile, was shared by streamer Asmongold, who himself is involved in controversy over hateful remarks (again!), leading to anger among many players and drawing attention to the issue even reaching Elon Musk. In response, Musk tweeted (viewed 46 million times) at Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, reminding him that “it’s illegal,” while also contemplating starting his own studio because he believes there are too many studios owned by large corporations. This presents a paradox in Musk’s statement, seemingly hiding his message: his opposition to ‘wokeness,’ which extends even to video games.
On the other side, Matt Hansen stated that he is pleased to have angered Elon Musk by showcasing the game’s inclusivity (“I so wanted to get him angry with my game, and I can’t believe it actually happened”), but it is expected that his statements will likely be the subject of a debate between Xbox, Obsidian, and Microsoft as these lines are written. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Avowed will be affected by these declarations; the game is set to release on February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and our preview remains accessible.
