Recent layoffs at BioWare, the creators of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked significant discussions within the gaming industry. These events have drawn attention to the broader challenges and practices within game development, particularly regarding workforce management and corporate decision-making.
Michael Daus, the publishing director of Larian Studios, has been vocal on social media about the issue of layoffs. He emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and suggests that responsibility should fall on decision-makers rather than the workforce. Daus argues that it's possible to avoid large-scale layoffs between or after projects, stressing the need to retain institutional knowledge which is vital for the success of future projects.
Daus critiques the common corporate rationale of "trimming the fat" to justify layoffs, especially when financial pressures arise. He questions the necessity of aggressive efficiency measures by large corporations, pointing out that such strategies may not be effective if they do not consistently result in successful game releases. He sees aggressive layoffs as an extreme form of cost-cutting that fails to address the root issues.
He further highlights that the strategies devised by higher management are the real problem, yet it is the employees at the lower levels who bear the brunt of these decisions. Daus uses a striking metaphor, suggesting that companies should be managed like pirate ships, where the captain (management) would be held accountable, rather than the crew (employees).
