Swen Vincke, Larian Studios CEO and the director behind the development team of the wildly successful Baldur’s Gate 3, has recently taken a firm stance against the wave of mass layoffs sweeping through the gaming industry – and this isn’t the first time, either.
It is not an understatement to say that Larian Studios has been batting a hundred since Baldur’s Gate 3 launched. Despite the technical issues from day one and the necessary regular fixes, BG3 earned massive acclaim and commercial success.
Not every game publisher and studio has been having the same fortune, and it’s the workforce that is paying the price. 2023 has been a nightmare of multiple layoffs, and it seems Larian Studios’ chief finds this an unacceptable state for the gaming industry to be in. This is doubly true when the companies doing the layoffs are also posting record profits, which is the case.
In a candid address at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) as Baldur’s Gate 3 wins another Game of the Year title, Swen Vincke attributed these workforce reductions to what he termed as “corporate greed,” emphasizing the detrimental impact such actions have on both employees and the industry as a whole.
For the avoidance of doubt – there are plenty of people in publishing I met who have their hearts in the right place. This message was for those who try to double their revenue year after year. You don't have to do that. Build more slowly and make your aim improving the state of… https://t.co/DTMmwst1qE
— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) March 21, 2024
During his acceptance speech for Baldur’s Gate 3, Vincke didn’t shy away from using strong language to convey his frustration with the prevailing corporate mentality. Decrying the relentless pursuit of short-term profits at the expense of sustainable practices, Vincke passionately stated:
Greed has been f–ing this whole thing up for so long, since I started. I’ve been fighting publishers my entire life and I keep on seeing the same, same, same mistakes over, and over and over.
It’s always the quarterly profits. The only thing that matters are the numbers, and then you fire everybody and then next year you say ‘sh-t I’m out of developers’ and then you start hiring people again, and then you do acquisitions, and then you put them in the same loop again, and it’s just broken.
Vincke’s remarks at GDC expressed his frustration with this ongoing issue, stressing the need for a change in approach. His critique was particularly pointed towards corporations prioritizing short-term financial gains over the well-being of their workforce and the long-term success of projects.
He highlighted the detrimental cycle perpetuated by such actions, where layoffs lead to a loss of valuable institutional knowledge, only to be followed by subsequent hiring phases and acquisitions. His impassioned speech underscored the need for companies to exercise restraint and prioritize the care and retention of their employees.
Despite 2023 being hailed as a landmark year for gaming with numerous major releases, it was also marred by a series of distressing layoffs within the industry, which have continued into 2024. The frequency and scale of these dismissals have raised concerns, signaling a troubling trend that persists into the current year and beyond.
Vincke’s message resonated with many within the gaming community, who echoed his sentiments across various social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. It should be noted that Swen Vincke’s stance on the issue aligns closely with that of his development studio.
Recently, Larian Studios issued a statement welcoming developers affected by layoffs to apply for positions within their company, emphasizing their commitment to supporting the industry’s workforce.
Adding a layer of irony to the situation is the involvement of Wizards of the Coast (WotC) and Hasbro, owners of the Dungeons & Dragons IP, in the recent spate of layoffs. Despite their integral role in facilitating the licensing agreement with Larian Studios for Baldur’s Gate 3, WotC and parent company Hasbro have had significant workforce reductions of around 20% of its employees, including key creative personnel.
Swen Vincke’s impassioned plea serves as a rallying cry for change. Will industry leaders heed his call to prioritize people over profits and break free from the cycle of layoffs and rehiring? How will this situation affect the future of Baldur’s Gate 3 and other games from Larian Studios? Do you agree with Vincke’s take on the greed permeating the gaming industry?
