Industry Ethics
Ongoing coverage on Industry Ethics.
Latest coverage
Ex-Call of Duty designer "who survived the crunch" in order to launch Black Ops 1 & 2 calls out executives "raking it in" from sales of remasters
A former Treyarch developer, Gavin Goslin, has criticized Activision executives for profiting from re-releases of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2, games he and his colleagues worked tirelessly on. Goslin highlighted the disparity between executives receiving substantial financial windfalls from these older titles and the original creators receiving no compensation, calling it a fundamental flaw in the industry's valuation of talent. The re-releases have reportedly been highly successful, selling millions of copies.
Game Developer veteran Chris Kerr launches Vertical Slice, a games publication "giving workers a voice and holding power to account"
Veteran games journalist Chris Kerr has launched Vertical Slice, a new subscription-funded publication aimed at providing "incisive, bold reporting" for industry professionals. The outlet, which is entirely funded by reader subscriptions and will not carry advertising, aims to give workers a voice and hold power to account. Kerr, formerly of Game Developer, has self-funded the site and plans to reinvest revenue back into editorial content.
Games Inbox: Is Marvel’s Wolverine worth getting on PS5?
Readers discuss the potential value of Marvel's Wolverine on PlayStation 5, with many expressing skepticism due to mixed reviews and Sony's recent business practices. The conversation also touches on Hideo Kojima's situation with Xbox, Nintendo's perceived ethical approach, and the decline of VR gaming.
Film Roles That Actors Later Regretted
Several actors have publicly expressed regret over past film roles that have since been criticized for issues like whitewashing, harmful stereotypes, or fatphobia. Stars like Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Eddie Redmayne have reflected on their choices, acknowledging the problematic nature of their characters and the importance of authentic representation in Hollywood.
Crimson Desert Debuts in 1st on the UK Retail Charts
This article discusses the controversy surrounding the use of AI-generated art in video games, specifically mentioning Crimson Desert's debut on the UK retail charts. Commenters debate whether AI art takes jobs from human artists, impacts creativity, or is a necessary tool to alleviate developer crunch. The discussion also touches on transparency and the potential for 'canceling' games over minor issues.
