Gears of War Producer Criticizes Avowed Dev for Elon Musk Feud

As a seasoned gamer and industry insider with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but shake my head at the ongoing drama surrounding Avowed. Having witnessed countless games rise and fall, I’ve seen firsthand how external factors can make or break a title.

Laura Fryer’s recent video on ‘The Games Industry Elephant’ hit the nail on the head. Matt Hansen’s comments about Elon Musk were reckless and potentially damaging for the entire team at Obsidian. It’s heartbreaking to see such promising games like Avowed get lost in the shuffle due to controversy, especially when they’ve put years of hard work into it.

The whole situation reminds me of a game I worked on back in the day – let’s call it ‘Cursed Crusaders.’ We had a fantastic concept, but one misstep during marketing led to a boycott from a certain segment of the gaming community. The game never recovered, and now it’s just a footnote in gaming history. I wouldn’t want that fate for Avowed.

On a lighter note, let’s hope that the next time Elon Musk tweets about games, he double-checks his sources to avoid any more unwanted drama. After all, as they say in the industry, ‘To err is human, but to tweet without checking is a rookie mistake!’

Laura Fryer, renowned for her contributions to ‘Gears of War‘ and its follow-up, has spoken out against Matt Hansen, the art director of ‘Avowed’, over his remarks regarding Elon Musk. In a video titled ‘The Games Industry Elephant’, Fryer voiced her opinions on a topic that has generated much discussion recently.

Fryer pointed out that the disagreement began when it was announced that the game Avowed would incorporate pronouns. Elon Musk responded on X by labeling this decision as ‘completely unacceptable.’ Hansen, in turn, shared on BlueSky, expressing his intention to provoke Musk with the game and was taken aback that he managed to do so. He also included a thought-provoking remark, advising Musk to be patient for the game’s standard configurations.

Fryer found herself puzzled by Hansen’s actions, wondering why he would intentionally antagonize Musk, who commands a vast following. She cautioned that this exchange could potentially be the most memorable aspect of Avowed for numerous individuals, overshadowing the actual game itself.

Having pronouns in a fantasy video game is utterly unacceptable 😡

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024

Additionally, she expressed concern about the possible repercussions Hansen’s remarks might have on the team developing the game. Fryer pointed out that a single heated comment on social media could sway public sentiment and potentially undermine years of effort. Anticipating negative reviews and backlash, she emphasized how this could make the game’s launch more challenging than initially anticipated.

IRREFUTABLE proof of the RACIST WOKE cabal that HATES gamers
byu/TRFih inGamingcirclejerk

Fryer showed empathy towards the Obsidian team, stating it’s unfortunate to witness the game’s promise being overshadowed by controversy. She emphasized that completing a game already poses numerous challenges without having to confront outside turmoil.

The debate surrounding the game “Avowed” has already influenced its initial popularity. On Steam, it has a smaller user base compared to other games at a similar development stage, and its presence on wishlists and top-seller rankings is less than impressive. Fryer cautioned that these negative repercussions could persist for some time, particularly given the comparisons made to “Dragon Age: The Veilguard,” another game that faced criticism for promoting supposed ‘progressive ideas.’

As a long-time video game enthusiast who has seen countless titles rise and fall, I can say that Fryer’s concerns are not unfounded. In my own experience, I have witnessed games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which struggled to perform well after its controversies, with low player counts and disappointing sales rankings. If the upcoming game Avowed faces similar backlash, it could meet a similar fate, despite its potential as a strong release. As much as I am excited for new releases in the Dragon Age series, I can’t help but feel that the past may repeat itself if the developers are not careful to address and learn from previous mistakes.

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2024-12-29 08:45