Baldur's Gate 3 publisher thinks developers should become pirates to clean up BioWare's act

Recent layoffs at BioWare, the studio behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked wider conversations about the gaming industry's current climate. Larian Studios' publishing director, Michael Daus, has again voiced his concerns on social media, this time addressing the prevalent issue of industry layoffs. He emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and holding decision-makers accountable, rather than sacrificing rank-and-file staff:

The loss of a significant portion of the development team between projects, or post-completion, is entirely avoidable. Retaining institutional knowledge is vital for future projects.

While "trimming the fat" is frequently cited as justification – and understandable given financial pressures – Daus questions the necessity of large corporations' aggressive efficiency drives. He argues that this approach, manifested in layoffs, is ultimately an extreme cost-cutting measure, only justifiable if a company consistently releases successful titles.

Daus points out that flawed high-level strategies are the root cause, yet those at the lower levels always bear the brunt. He uses the analogy of a pirate ship, where the captain would be the first to be thrown overboard in times of crisis. He suggests that video game companies should adopt a more responsible management style, learning from this historical example.