“You don’t know the circumstances that resulted in the thing that you’re mad at.”

Mark Darrah, known for his long history with BioWare, expressed concern over the toxicity prevalent in segments of the gaming community. He highlighted how fans often celebrate layoffs at studios after perceived failures in game releases, stating that such actions cross a moral line.

In a recent YouTube video titled Your $70 Doesn’t Buy You Cruelty, Darrah responds to the acute issue of harassment directed at developers. According to a survey from GDC 2023, 91% of game developers reported that player harassment is a significant issue.

Darrah implores fans to direct their frustrations toward the appropriate channels, emphasizing that personal attacks on developers are misguided. He pointed out that hostility can result in severe consequences for those targeted, including unnecessary distress and degradation of morale among development teams.

Darrah condemned the behavior of celebrating layoffs as fundamentally cruel, urging enthusiasts to maintain empathy towards their fellow human beings in the industry.

“You are entitled to your opinion, but stay away from cruelty and targeting individual people.”

Furthermore, the wave of layoffs at BioWare felt like a consequence of larger decisions made by leadership rather than the fault of the developers themselves. Darrah’s sentiments echo the frustrations echoed by other figures in the industry, such as Michael Douse from Larian Studios, who advocates for responsibility and compassion within the community.

For more insights, check out the full video on YouTube: Your $70 Doesn’t Buy You Cruelty.