Summary
- Square Enix has published a document outlining its policy regarding employee harassment.
- Square Enix is willing to take legal action against excessive harassers.
- Cast members of Final Fantasy 7 have spoken out against toxic shipping culture.
Square Enix has published its Group Customer Harassment Policy, a document designed to protect the company’s employees from “fan” harassment (thanks, Eurogamer).
“There are instances where certain customers take actions directly or through our support centres, or towards our group executives, employees, partners who are involved in the creation and distribution of our group products and services, that constitute “customer harassment,”” the statement begins. “Such as denial of personality, violence, defamation, intimidation, advance notice of wrongdoing, advance notice of obstruction of business, harassment. Such actions do not only prevent our employees and partners from engaging in their work with a sense of security but also causes disruptions to other customers. Square Enix will not tolerate harassment and will take action as necessary.”
Square Enix Could Take Action Against Harassers
In terms of actionable cases, Square Enix “…reserves [its] right to cease providing support services or to refrain from providing our group’s products and services. Where such action is egregious or with malicious intent, Square Enix reserves its right to protect its employees and partners and to take legal action or criminal proceedings upon consulting the police and/or lawyers.”
The document then lists the behaviours that Square Enix deems to “exceed socially acceptable behaviour.” It contains what any reasonable person would inherently understand to be harassment and/or unacceptable behaviour.
It’s become increasingly necessary for Square Enix to publicly protect its employees following a string of harassment incidents against voice actors and developers, most notably from players of Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 14.
Aerith voice actor Briana White addressed the toxic shipping culture of Final Fantasy 7, essentially saying that shippers need to relax. A similar sentiment was expressed by Cloud voice actor Cody Christian, who said shippers “ruin great character development” by “overtly sexualising every relationship.”
We’ve also seen transgender voice actor Sena Bryer face harassment for her portrayal of Wuk Lamat in Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail. The harassment of Bryer prompted FF14 producer Naoki Yoshida to speak up in her defence, saying “If there are any sort of criticisms, bring it to me, because I’m the one approving this material. I wanted to reiterate that, please refrain from personal attacks against our staff.”
Final Fantasy Rebirth is the second part of the FF7 Remake project. It continues the story of Cloud Strife, a former SOLDIER turned mercenary who joins Avalanche, a group of eco-terrorists seeking to save the planet from the malevolent Sephiroth. As the party pushes out of Midgar, leaving the Shinra Corporation devastated, where will their paths take them?