The topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become increasingly prominent in various industries, including video games. While DEI initiatives aim to create a more inclusive and representative environment, it has only have caused significant challenges within the video game industry. In this post, we’ll explore what DEI is, the unintended consequences of its implementation in gaming, and why it should no longer be a focus.
What is DEI?
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These initiatives seek to create environments that are more inclusive by focusing on hiring and promoting individuals from underrepresented groups, ensuring fair treatment, and cultivating a culture of belonging. In theory, DEI is about increasing diverse perspectives within a company or industry, which can lead to more innovative products and a healthier work environment.
However, when applied to the creative industry, particularly video games, the implementation of DEI can lead to very problematic consequences.
Creative Constraints and Tokenism
One of the key criticisms of DEI in the gaming industry is the perception that it imposes creative constraints on game developers. DEI initiatives often pressure companies to include diverse characters, but this sometimes results in superficial or tokenistic representation rather than meaningful, well-developed characters. For instance, adding characters from underrepresented groups simply to meet diversity quotas risks undermining the narrative quality of games.
Games like The Last of Us Part II and Concord faced serious backlash being that the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters felt very forced, distracting from the storytelling. Similarly, the inclusion of female soldiers in Battlefield V, set during World War II, sparked controversy for being historically inaccurate, with fans claiming it was done solely to appease modern DEI expectations.
Alienation of Core Audiences
DEI initiatives have also been blamed for alienating long-time fans of gaming franchises. When game developers prioritize diversity over storytelling or gameplay, many fans feel disconnected. In some cases, this has led to sharp drops in sales and therefore the closure of game studios, like Volition, a victim of bad implemented DEI.
A victim of DEI: Volition
Volition, the studio behind Saints Row and Red Faction, was shut down in August 31, 2023 as part of a restructuring by its parent company, Embracer Group. While financial reasons played a major role in this decision, the studio’s embrace of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices—particularly in the Saints Row reboot—sparked significant backlash, which contributed to its demise.
The Saints Row reboot, released in 2022, was a turning point. The game attempted to modernize the series with a more inclusive cast and toned-down, politically correct content, reflecting DEI ideals. However, fans were highly critical of this shift. Longtime players felt that the reboot lost much of the original series’ edgy, irreverent humor, which had been a hallmark of the franchise. By aiming to align with more progressive, DEI-focused narratives, Volition alienated a large portion of its core audience.
This fan backlash was more than just about the characters or storyline—it reflected broader dissatisfaction with the direction the game was taking. Players felt the changes were forced and superficial, often sacrificing gameplay quality and fun for the sake of meeting diversity quotas.
Dilution of Gaming Culture
Many argue that gaming is an artistic medium and should be free from external pressures, such as political or social agendas. DEI has often been viewed as imposing these agendas on developers, forcing them to cater to outside forces rather than focusing on the creative freedom that has made video games unique.
Historically, gaming has always been about providing an escape, telling captivating stories, and immersing players in fantastic worlds. When DEI principles are overemphasized, the fear is that the essence of video games—fun, creativity, and immersion—gets diluted. Some developers and fans feel that this shift detracts from what gaming is supposed to be.
Internal Tensions and Workforce Issues
Beyond the games themselves, DEI initiatives have also created internal divisions within gaming companies. As DEI hiring goals become more common, there are reports of tension between employees who feel that diversity hires are prioritized over merit-based promotions. This can lead to workplace resentment and reduced productivity, especially if employees believe that their efforts and skills are overlooked in favor of ticking diversity boxes.
Misaligned Priorities: DEI vs. Game Quality
A recurring concern with DEI initiatives is that they misalign priorities. Instead of focusing on creating innovative and high-quality games, companies may become more concerned with hitting diversity metrics. When game quality suffers, it alienates not just the core audience, but also new players who expect high standards from their gaming experiences.
In this sense, DEI becomes more of a check-the-box exercise, rather than genuinely enhancing the gaming experience. As a result, companies face both internal dissatisfaction and external backlash from gamers.
The Risk of Homogenizing Creativity
There is also the fear that DEI, while aimed at promoting diversity, could ironically homogenize creative output. As studios attempt to conform to a set of DEI standards, they may shy away from controversial or unconventional ideas in favor of safer, more broadly acceptable content. In the long run, this could stifle innovation and reduce the bold storytelling that gaming is known for.
The risk is that as developers conform to DEI pressures, games become more predictable, losing the uniqueness that once defined them. As with any artistic industry, creative freedom is key to success.
Moving Forward: A Balanced Approach
While the goals of DEI—fairness, representation, and inclusion—are in theory, noble, their implementation in the video game industry has been fraught with challenges. For this, a balanced approach may be needed. This would involve:
- Prioritizing merit and creative freedom over rigid diversity quotas.
- Ensuring that diverse characters and stories emerge organically from the game’s narrative, rather than being added for the sake of representation.
- Focusing on improving workplace culture without alienating employees or even more importantly, the hardcore fanbase.
The ultimate challenge for the gaming industry is to balance inclusivity with creativity, ensuring that both goals enhance rather than undermine each other.
Conclusion
The call to reduce or eliminate DEI from the gaming industry stems from valid concerns over creativity, audience alienation, and internal workplace dynamics. To move forward, gaming companies must strike a delicate balance between embracing diversity and preserving the core elements that have made video games such a beloved medium.
If the industry fails to find this balance, it risks diluting the quality of its content, alienating its audience, fracturing its workforce and therefore, making more game studios disappear—a future no gamer wants to see.