Baldurs Gate 3 actor says that some games are now cutting diversity from their stories.

[Gizmo_Duck]

"Storylines Have Been Cut": Baldur's Gate 3 Actor Warns That Diversity Is Being Removed From Some Games

Actor Samantha Béart says that they are aware of game devs having diverse and inclusive elements cut from their games.

www.thegamer.com

Speaking with me in an interview that will be published tomorrow, actor Samantha Béart, who played Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3, tells me that they are already aware of game devs who have had their work censored, as the industry appears to be bowing down to the regressive politics of Trump's second term.

This came up in my chat with Béart when I asked if, in our current climate, they feared that a game as diverse as Baldur's Gate 3 would struggle to get greenlit now.

"Without exposing devs, I know that's happening. Their storylines have been cut," they tell me. "Historically, appeasement is a really bad thing."

Despite this, they are optimistic that this won't last forever. "Indies exist. And people can write, and communities will get together, and we will absolutely get through this together."

Cacs won, we’re going back to the good ol’ days

 

[Neuromancer]

"Storylines Have Been Cut": Baldur's Gate 3 Actor Warns That Diversity Is Being Removed From Some Games

Actor Samantha Béart says that they are aware of game devs having diverse and inclusive elements cut from their games.

www.thegamer.com

Cacs won, we’re going back to the good ol’ days

Support black created games. you should have seen this coming from nerd culture.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Support black created games

I dont think one thing really leads to another. The majority of black created games are like indie titles, that aren’t going to necessarily grow into AAA productions.

i think Xavier Nelson’s studio might be the only exception.

 

[Neuromancer]

I dont think one thing really leads to another. The majority of black created games are like indie titles, that aren’t going to necessarily grow into AAA productions.

i think Xavier Nelson’s studio might be the only exception.

Oh what I'm saying is there was never any hope for AAA productions with the exception to Strange Scaffold. Non white male gamers were never going to win this war due to the fact that there are many more white male gamers.

I'm saying support black created games so hopefully they can get to the level of a Strange Scaffold. It worked with black comics. We got a Bitter Root movie coming out soon. There should be more black gamers based on the fact that there seem to be more black gamers than black comic fans.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Oh what I'm saying is there was never any hope for AAA productions with the exception to Strange Scaffold. Non white male gamers were never going to win this war due to the fact that there are many more white male gamers.

I'm saying support black created games so hopefully they can get to the level of a Strange Scaffold. It worked with black comics. We got a Bitter Root movie coming out soon. There should be more black gamers based on the fact that there seem to be more black gamers than black comic fans.

Yeah, i just wish there was one Ryan Coogler type creative director that could get original black lead AAA games out the door.

 

[Instant Classic]

Yeah, i just wish there was one Ryan Coogler type creative director that could get original black lead AAA games out the door.

I think the issue is the politics in play for development and most likely limited chances for black leads to develop. Even if we look at AAA games from big publishers I can only think of Dinga Bakaba getting backed to direct games.You would need an experienced figure like him to start a studio and go from there. I just think it's a tough task because you still need to get investors and most likely more difficult to get investors for a studio lead by a black developer even if they're experienced.

Also, I wouldn't blame the younger generation avoiding the career path of being a game developer. Why risk dealing with the politics, limited opportunities, lower pay, and volatile industry? You have to have special dedication to endure this industry because things come at you from all angles if you're a black person..

Lastly, whenever studios take group pictures it's very rare to find a black person in the photos. I think due the reason above it's extremely difficult to find creatives that endured the industry and gathered enough experience to do their own thing or get the chance to be a director.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

I think the issue is the politics in play for development and most likely limited chances for black leads to develop. Even if we look at AAA games from big publishers I can only think of Dinga Bakaba getting backed to direct games.You would need an experienced figure like him to start a studio and go from there. I just think it's a tough task because you still need to get investors and most likely more difficult to get investors for a studio lead by a black developer even if they're experienced.

Also, I wouldn't blame the younger generation avoiding the career path of being a game developer. Why risk dealing with the politics, limited opportunities, lower pay, and volatile industry? You have to have special dedication to endure this industry because things come at you from all angles if you're a black person..

Lastly, whenever studios take group pictures it's very rare to find a black person in the photos. I think due the reason above it's extremely difficult to find creatives that endured the industry and gathered enough experience to do their own thing or get the chance to be a director.

Dinga Bakaba is like my only hope as of right now. He got deathlioop out and it made enough noise for him to get blade greenlit and it looks like it’s going to have a black lead cast.

Now we have to cross our fingers and hope that Microsoft’s greater ambitions don’t hamper their ability to complete that game or keep the studio open.

I remember barlog or someone saying every AAA game that gets made is a miracle because of how much the greater business factors into the timeline and people involved. To hit a home run with triple A is something people take for granted.

Now factor all that into somehow getting a black man (or woman) into a creative director position and trusted with a major budget project.

Remember Sylvester Stallone trying to big bro coogler on the first creed movie and then took all the credit for it when it was succesful

 

[Instant Classic]

Dinga Bakaba is like my only hope as of right now. He got deathlioop out and it made enough noise for him to get blade greenlit and it looks like it’s going to have a black lead cast.

Now we have to cross our fingers and hope that Microsoft’s greater ambitions don’t hamper their ability to complete that game or keep the studio open.

I remember barlog or someone saying every AAA game that gets made is a miracle because of how much the greater business factors into the timeline and people involved. To hit a home run with triple A is something people take for granted.

Now factor all that into somehow getting a black man (or woman) into a creative director position and trusted with a major budget project.

Remember Sylvester Stallone trying to big bro coogler on the first creed movie and then took all the credit for it when it was succesful

I think there's hope for Blade because you don't want to mess with Disney's money. That's one relationship publishers would be scared to mess up due to how powerful their IPs are. I just worry about meddling and budget cuts. I guess we would have to worry about once it releases if studio is safe. Hopefully they don't mess that relationship up, but I have faith due to it being Disney and already announced it will release.

Yeah, I remember Sly doing that and also started hating on the franchise once Michael B got a chance to do his thing with 3. Stuff like that will happen in this industry too, which is why you don't see many rise up. The politics is why it's very rare to get a black person or a woman to direct a game.

I think only way something gets going is if black developers gets tried of the politics and attempts to create their own studio. Like I said before the toughest part is getting investors to fund projects. It's a shame we don't have black investors willing to take a chance because there's many wealthy black people that are into video games, but they put funds into esports. Just look at how many athletes are funding esports, but imagine they put that fund into a game studio. The return might be harder, but the reward is possibly better if the studio make a worthwhile project.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

think there's hope for Blade because you don't want to mess with Disney's money. That's one relationship publishers would be scared to mess up due to how powerful their IPs are. I just worry about meddling and budget cuts. I guess we would have to worry about once it releases if studio is safe. Hopefully they don't mess that relationship up, but I have faith due to it being Disney and already announced it will release.

Thats what i thought at the beginning of the generation before EA starting cancelling all their Star Wars and Marvel games.

I think only way something gets going is if black developers gets tried of the politics and attempts to create their own studio. Like I said before the toughest part is getting investors to fund projects. It's a shame we don't have black investors willing to take a chance because there's many wealthy black people that are into video games, but they put funds into esports. Just look at how many athletes are funding esports, but imagine they put that fund into a game studio. The return might be harder, but the reward is possibly better if the studio make a worthwhile project.

This might be where i think i disagree a bit. I think the best shot we have is someone working their way through the system like dinga and kind of proving they can handle big projects once the old heads step down. It’s what im hoping happens at Naughty Dog with Sean Escayg who did Lost Legacy. He’s working on something there now and I assume once Neil retires from making games they’re gonna have to give someone else the reigns. Or maybe the 2nd game they’re working on now (which is rumored to be a full game) is the one that propels him.

i agree with the investors thing. I think games are too risky an endeavor, especially if you aren’t extremely knowledgeable about the market which most investors probably wouldn’t be.

its why so many studios are running to Tencent for funding now, or worse Saudi Arabia. We know they aren’t giving black people that type of funding either

 

[daze23]

the internet was a mistake

it's just a sea of misinformation, and ignorant opinions. it used to be easy to write it off as bunch of angry basement dwellers. now they're influencing entertainment, and running our government

 

[Instant Classic]

Thats what i thought at the beginning of the generation before EA starting cancelling all their Star Wars and Marvel games.



This might be where i think i disagree a bit. I think the best shot we have is someone working their way through the system like dinga and kind of proving they can handle big projects once the old heads step down. It’s what im hoping happens at Naughty Dog with Sean Escayg who did Lost Legacy. He’s working on something there now and I assume once Neil retires from making games they’re gonna have to give someone else the reigns. Or maybe the 2nd game they’re working on now (which is rumored to be a full game) is the one that propels him.

i agree with the investors thing. I think games are too risky an endeavor, especially if you aren’t extremely knowledgeable about the market which most investors probably wouldn’t be.

its why so many studios are running to Tencent for funding now, or worse Saudi Arabia. We know they aren’t giving black people that type of funding either

yeah, working your way up is the best option. Just look at all of the studios that had to shutdown after they left a big company to form their own. It's most likely difficult to build from the ground up even though team is experienced. I don't blame black investors not investing in industry like that because the risk is too high and games actually crossing the finish line and having success is rare. If I was an investor I would look at many industry. Personally, I just don't think the e-sports many invest to doesn't have that big of a reward and would prefer it to go towards funding a studio


I haven't looked into it much, but it would be nice if there's programs at major publishers to develop black developers. It most likely wouldn't happen in this climate but something like that could go a long way to get foot in door because getting foot in door is a major issue in this field. It's why its always concerning looking at dev teams because it makes you realize why certain things happen in games because there's no black voices

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

yeah, working your way up is the best option. Just look at all of the studios that had to shutdown after they left a big company to form their own. It's most likely difficult to build from the ground up even though team is experienced. I don't blame black investors not investing in industry like that because the risk is too high and games actually crossing the finish line and having success is rare. If I was an investor I would look at many industry. Personally, I just don't think the e-sports many invest to doesn't have that big of a reward and would prefer it to go towards funding a studio


I haven't looked into it much, but it would be nice if there's programs at major publishers to develop black developers. It most likely wouldn't happen in this climate but something like that could go a long way to get foot in door because getting foot in door is a major issue in this field. It's why its always concerning looking at dev teams because it makes you realize why certain things happen in games because there's no black voices

If i ever won the lottery it’s definitely something I’d look into investing in lol

but you gotta have realistic expectations in regards to ROI. I think most people looking at the gaming market are people like Andrew Wilson, they don’t give a fukk about the type of games they make they just want to know how worth it for them it is in the end. You gotta have someone thats passionate about the industry to want more out of it than just a paycheck.

thats why GAAS and stuff are pushed so hard on investors its the only thing with super high margins right now. Most people don’t want a modest return like Claire Obscur or Alan Wake 2. They want something like a Pal, Elden Ring, GTA, Witcher, etc. which just isn’t realistic because we only get like one of those a year now outside of platform holders.

 

[winb83]

the internet was a mistake

it's just a sea of misinformation, and ignorant opinions. it used to be easy to write it off as bunch of angry basement dwellers. now they're influencing entertainment, and running our government

This is what the majority want. It is what it is.

 

[Return of the Jedi]

FWIW the article calls our queer storylines in particular as stories that are facing pressure by game devs, not black stories..and frankly I'd like to see some receipts because being gay is pretty accepted and even celebrated by wide swaths of western civilization. The Coli is more homophobic than the average American city lol.

Of course we need more games with black leads. We need to buy Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra when it comes out in January.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

FWIW the article calls our queer storylines in particular as stories that are facing pressure by game devs, not black stories..and frankly I'd like to see some receipts because being gay is pretty accepted and even celebrated by wide swaths of western civilization. The Coli is more homophobic than the average American city lol.

Of course we need more games with black leads. We need to buy Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra when it comes out in January.

to me, they don’t even gotta say “black” stories or lead stories are being limited cause we all saw the fallout from stuff like Assassins Creed Shadows, Dragon Age, even Deathloop had a bunch of it.

people that cry “woke” have more of an issue with modest looking women and black leads than they probably have with LGBT at this point. I can see publishers just not wanting to add even more roadblocks to profitability when they are spending so much marketing hours putting out small diversity fires.