Dustborn developer Pink Thread Video games has launched a press release decrying the “tidal wave of hate and abuse” that has surrounded the studio and recreation since its launch final week.
Dustborn is an alt-history Americana highway journey recreation that wears its politics on its sleeve: It is a recreation a couple of “group of outcast queers and exploited staff [who] combat fascist cops and smash company drones whereas navigating new and evolving relationships,” as we put it in our June preview. It holds a “principally optimistic” consumer ranking on Steam and an mixture essential rating of 68 on Metacritic—by all appearances it is a respectable recreation focusing on a fairly particular viewers.
However it’s additionally attracted appreciable “tradition wars” backlash, as seen in varied consumer evaluations, YouTube movies, and Reddit threads the place you will see the phrase “woke” used lots. There’s additionally a not-insignificant quantity of glee over Dustborn’s apparently modest launch gross sales, yet one more instance of the frankly pathetic eagerness some folks must grave dance on video games they do not like.
Ten days after Dustborn’s launch, Pink Thread has had sufficient of it. “We anticipated Dustborn to spark dialog and debate, and seemed ahead to partaking with our gamers in a optimistic and constructive vogue,” the studio mentioned in a message posted to social media. “Sadly, that dialog has been drowned out by a tidal wave of hate and abuse.
“We welcome considerate suggestions and respectful criticism. We embrace dialogue and debate. However we have now zero tolerance for hate speech, harassment, and threats of any variety. Those that have interaction in such habits shall be faraway from our neighborhood.”
Dustborn writer Quantic Dream expressed “heartfelt assist” for Pink Thread Video games in a retweet of the studio’s assertion, including, “We stand united towards hate in all its kinds and are dedicated to fostering communities constructed on understanding and respect.”
In a follow-up assertion supplied to PC Gamer, Pink Thread mentioned Dustborn is a recreation that “emphasizes the ability of phrases and the significance of constructing an inclusive society the place everybody belongs.”
Understandably, after all, there are limits to inclusion, and individuals who insist on being persistent dickholes as a result of a videogame character makes use of gender-neutral pronouns are going to seek out themselves on the surface.
“We all the time welcome constructive enter, nonetheless, we don’t tolerate the spreading of hate,” the studio mentioned. “We’re conscious of sure specific and hateful feedback on our varied channels and have taken motion to ban these customers instantly. We need to remind gamers that we have now a zero-tolerance coverage for threats, hate speech, or harassment. We are going to proceed striving to construct a optimistic neighborhood the place everybody feels secure to be their genuine self.”
For those who’re interested in Dustborn—as a recreation, not a pawn in on-line tradition wars stupidity—however not fairly able to commit, a demo is on the market on Steam.
