Geoff Keighley lets down video game developers

Speaking of which, you can’t help but say how amazing the quality of the games released this year in 2023 is. it is been completely heavy To the people who make them. But that’s exactly what Geoff Keighley did at this year’s Game Awards.

Numbers vary, but estimates are somewhere in between Six to seven thousand workers lost their jobs Just this year. No studio at any level of size or success is immune. Those who have been laid off are now forced to compete for a dwindling number of open positions.

Jakin Vela, executive director of the International Game Developers Association, said: “This is one of the most tumultuous periods in the gaming industry in the past 15 years.” during an interview polygon.

To be clear, Geoff Keighley is not responsible for these redundancies, which are an unfortunate but common part of this and many other industries. But with the platform Keighley has, he does have a responsibility to make his audience aware of the conditions for redundancy. The games his events celebrate are well-choreographed. He’s done this before.

In the same thread, he also recognized the power and visibility of his platform.

“I also realized we had a big platform that could accelerate and inspire change,” he posted“We’re committed to that, but we all need to work together to build a better, more inclusive environment so everyone can feel safe developing the best games in the world.”

At this year’s awards ceremony, Keighley and the developers spoke about the impact video games have had on our culture, and their fundamental ability to change minds and wider perspectives. (Because show organizers allow developers to speak before playing games, or in one case), cut them off entirely. ) Ostensibly, The Game Awards celebrate video games and recognize the achievements of those who make them.

Video games are made without people, and those people are suffering right now on an unprecedented scale. Even after acknowledging the power of his position, not commemorating this at all is, at best, an abdication of one’s responsibility. Keighley has shown that beyond hyping “world premieres” and engaging with his industry friends and Muppets, he does care about the broader video game community, which makes this state of affairs all the more disappointing.