Recent layoffs at BioWare, the developers of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked a wider conversation about the current state of the gaming industry. Larian Studios' publishing director, Michael Daus, has again taken to social media to address these industry-wide layoffs. He argues for a greater appreciation of employees and emphasizes that accountability should rest with decision-makers, not rank-and-file workers.
Daus contends that laying off significant portions of development teams between or after projects is avoidable. He stresses the critical importance of retaining institutional knowledge for future projects. While acknowledging that "trimming the fat" (reducing redundancies) is often cited as a reason for such layoffs, particularly during financial difficulties, he questions the necessity of large corporations' aggressive efficiency strategies. He points out that this approach only works consistently if a company is releasing continuous hits, and that layoffs are ultimately a drastic cost-cutting measure rather than a solution.
Daus argues that the strategic decisions made by upper management are the root problem, yet those at the bottom of the corporate hierarchy consistently bear the brunt of the consequences. He uses the analogy of a pirate ship, where the captain would be the first to be thrown overboard, suggesting that the video game industry should adopt a similar approach to accountability.
