Summary
- CI Games, the publisher behind Lords of the Fallen, has stated that it won’t be including DEI elements in its titles.
- According to its global marketing director, DEI isn’t appreciated by players and has the potential to hurt sales.
- Instead, CI Games will continue to focus on games “created specifically for core and adjacent audiences”.
CI Games, the developers behind Sniper Ghost Warrior and publishers of Lords of the Fallen, has stated in a recent investor’s call that it won’t be integrating “social and political elements” into its games due to how it impacts sales.
As the first Gamergate proved all the way back in 2014, the inclusion of diversity in video games can be very controversial for a specific crowd. While most see it for the positive movement that it is in the move to make games for everyone, there are always going to be those who very vocally oppose it, something that we saw in full effect in 2024 with Sweet Baby Inc., Concord, and a whole lot more.
Related
Interview: With All Eyes On Sweet Baby Inc., The Devs Are Just Getting On With Their Jobs
Grant Roberts, a former narative director at Sweet Baby Inc., tells us that the studio’s work continues, even after facing overwhelming abuse.
Over the past year, we’ve seen a lot of high-profile and anticipated games, with some of the most recent examples being Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and The Witcher 4, being targeted due to a perceived notion that they’re forcing diversity. While most companies seem to be shrugging those complaints off, it seems that others are starting to take a stance against it.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Developer Says Players Don’t Appreciate DEI Elements
As pointed out by WCCFTech and originally reported by Strefa Inwestorów, CI Games global marketing director Ryan Hill was asked about the publisher’s stance on DEI in its games during a recent investor’s call. In response, Hill said that CI Games is committed to producing games that have “compelling themes and characters created specifically for core and adjacent audiences”.
Hill also pointed out that other games have taken the opportunity to “embed social or political agendas” into their stories and that many players do not appreciate it, which he says has caused several big releases to underperform. This is likely a nod at DEI targets Concord and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, despite the big issues affecting those games being far from their inclusion of diversity.
We remain committed to producing player-first video games that prioritize an excellent user experience with compelling themes and characters created specifically for core and adjacent audiences. While some video games have recently taken the opportunity to embed social or political agendas within their experiences, it is clear that many players do not appreciate this. – Ryan Hill
Hill ended his response on DEI in games by saying that CI Games will always make its games with the goal of maximising “player enjoyment and success”, something that can’t be done by integrating “social or political agencies” due to the high risk they prevent. Moving past the marketing speak, it seems that Hill’s response is essentially saying that the inclusion of diversity isn’t worth its perceived impact on sales.
Next
Final Fantasy 14 Isn’t Grindy Enough
FFXIV players need some new content to sink their teeth into and keep them occupied.