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

Recent layoffs at BioWare, developer of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked widespread conversation about the current state of the gaming industry. Larian Studios' publishing director, Michael Daus, has again commented on social media, this time addressing the prevalent issue of industry layoffs. He emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and holding leadership accountable, rather than blaming rank-and-file workers:

Avoiding widespread layoffs between or after projects is achievable. Retaining institutional knowledge within the team is vital for future success.

While "trimming the fat" is often cited as a reason for these layoffs, and understandable given financial pressures, Daus questions the necessity of large corporations' aggressive efficiency strategies. This approach, he argues, only makes sense with a consistent stream of successful releases. Layoffs, however, are a drastic, ultimately unsustainable cost-cutting measure.

The core problem, Daus contends, lies in the strategic decisions made by upper management, yet the consequences are always borne by lower-level employees. He uses the analogy of a pirate ship, where the captain would be the first to be thrown overboard in times of crisis. Daus suggests that video game companies should adopt a more responsible, arguably less ruthless, management style.