Baldur's Gate 3 publisher thinks developers should become pirates to clean up BioWare's act

The recent layoffs at BioWare, the creators behind the much-anticipated Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked widespread discussion about the current state of the gaming industry. These layoffs have brought to light the challenges and decisions that game development companies face, prompting industry leaders to voice their opinions on the matter.

Michael Daus, the publishing director of Larian Studios, has been vocal on social media about the issue of layoffs within the gaming sector. He emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and argues that the responsibility for such decisions should not fall on the shoulders of regular staff but rather on those who make the strategic decisions. Daus believes that it is possible to avoid mass layoffs between or after projects, highlighting the significance of retaining institutional knowledge which is crucial for the success of future endeavors.

He critiques the common corporate justification of "trimming the fat" or reducing redundancies, especially when companies face financial difficulties. Daus questions the necessity of such aggressive efficiency measures, particularly when they do not consistently lead to a string of successful game releases. He argues that using layoffs as a severe form of cost-cutting is not the solution and points out that the real issue lies with the strategies developed by those at the top of the corporate hierarchy. It is the employees at the bottom who suffer the consequences of these decisions.

In a striking analogy, Daus suggests that video game companies should be managed more like pirate ships, where the captain—those making the decisions—would be held accountable for the ship's direction and success. This approach, he implies, would foster a more responsible and employee-centric management style within the gaming industry.