i’ve been sitting with this question for a bit. it’s hard to answer.
you’re right that boycotting games isn’t always the ideal solution. i wouldn’t say that it necessarily hurts marginalized developers - all of that harm has mostly been done by the time any game ships. boycotting a game en masse due to work conditions suffered by the developer can be a way to help.
but boycotts have to be organized; it’s not really enough for any one person to simply stop buying, for example, any ubisoft game (because ubisoft empowered, protected and is still protecting sexual predators who were and remain close friends with ceo yves guillemot). it has to be the sort of thing where people show up en masse to refuse to buy a game on very specific grounds in a way that has a tangible effect on sales and is well publicized. most “game boycotts” are not this - it’s a few conscientious objectors, which doesn’t really do much.
so here’s a few things we can do:
try to create an online environment that is more receptive and welcoming to whistleblowers. when people come forward with allegations of abuse, take them seriously, and do what you can not to defend a company bc of the image you have of it in your mind.
on that note, stop going to bat for corporations. it’s one thing to go to bat for indie developers, but there’s not a single aaa video game studio or publisher that needs anyone to defend them for free online. one of the worst things about being abused like this is having to interface with an online community who will choose the release of a new game from their favorite studio over your life any day of the week, and who will hate you for implying that working in the industry is anything less than a privilege.
in any way you feel is appropriate, circulate news of what these companies are guilty of, and continue reminding people of it even after the buzz dies down. companies like ubisoft, activision, cd projekt red, and rockstar want you to forget the way they abuse their workers. it makes it a lot easier for them to do.
when you celebrate a game you love, make a conscious effort to celebrate the team that made the game rather than the studio. games are made by people, not companies, and the video game industry execs are notorious for believing that any part of a team can be discarded and replaced at any time, with no consequences to the end product. this is a mentality that enables rampant abuse of devs.
if you’re thinking about going into the industry yourself, please be aware of abuse allegations wherever you apply. most video game companies have had some documented history of abusing their staff - if they don’t, investigate why. be thorough. the negative impact of this type of continuous abuse on your mental, physical, and spiritual help cannot be overstated.
if you’re already in the industry and your workplace is abusive, please find someone to talk to about it. i realize that whistleblowers often get blacklisted from the industry - the culture of secrecy in video games is, in many cases, something that enables our abuse. if you’re not willing to risk approaching a journalist, please at the very least find either a therapist, or trusted friend who can support you. you shouldn’t have to go through this alone.
lastly, support legislative, regulatory solutions to worker abuse, and in any way possible support legal action to be taken against these companies on workers’ behalves. support the creation of strong, empowered unions for game devs.
these are really the best ideas i can come up with. i don’t know that there’s really one singular expedient solution to this, which isn’t very satisfying. but that’s i guess why i made the post in the first place. letting people know that this is the norm feels like all i can do.
