The sexism scandal at Activision Blizzard, a questionable boycott call and one of the biggest leaks in history. These were the biggest gaming scandals of 2022.
The year 2022 has once again provided plenty of fuel in the gaming industry. Never ending sexism allegations at one of the biggest developers in the world. One of the biggest leaks in the history of the gaming industry. And a troll that no one understands.
We look back at the biggest gaming scandals of 2022
PlayStation raises prices, consoles still in short supply
PlayStation fans were astonished when Sony announced a price increase for the PlayStation 5 in August. 550 euros instead of the previous 500 euros – Sony justified this with “difficult economic conditions” and the “high inflation rates”.
The announcement caused resentment among fans. Especially because many of them still haven”t been able to get their hands on a PlayStation 5. Even more than two years after the release, the console is only available with luck or long waiting times.
The potential buyers were correspondingly disillusioned, as they now have to pay even more for the PlayStation after the long waiting times.
GTA 6 – Leak publishes game scenes
Leaks happen all the time in gaming. Usually small bits of information are leaked like new promotions in FIFA or upcoming features in Call of Duty.
A Message from Rockstar Games pic.twitter.com/T4Wztu8RW8
– Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 19, 2022
But the gaming industry had probably never seen a leak of this magnitude. In September, nearly 100 anonymously posted clips surfaced on the internet purportedly showing gameplay scenes from GTA 6, including raids, gunplay and even dialogue.
A day after the leak, Rockstar Games confirmed there had been a “network intrusion”, that the videos were indeed development footage of GTA 6, but that the leak would not affect the development of the game.
Sexism scandal at Activision continues
A sexism scandal rocked developer Activision Blizzard back in 2021. Women had been subjected to “constant, sexual harassment” at the company, according to a lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The Wall Street Journal reported that CEO Bobby Kotick knew about the allegations but did nothing about them.
Since then, there has been no quiet about the corporation and its controversial CEO, who remains in office. Also in 2022, more sexual harassment lawsuits followed at Activision Blizzard. Among other things (reported a female employee), she was pressured to participate in so-called “cube crawls” in which women were subjected to sexual comments and groped.
An initial lawsuit against Activision Blizzard was dropped in March 2022, (in exchange for a payment of $18 million) into a new fund for harassment and discrimination victims. However, further proceedings are still ongoing. So the issue will continue to preoccupy the gaming industry in 2023.
Bayonetta spokesperson Hellena Taylor and the alleged $4,000
“I”m asking fans to boycott this game.” With these words, voice actress Hellena Taylor addressed fans of the “Bayonetta” series in October. The reason: the voice actress who voiced Bayonetta in the first two parts of the franchise would no longer be part of the soon-to-be-released third part. Taylor claimed that developer Platinum Games only offered her a $4,000 salary to voice Bayonetta 3.
Friends, Worldlings, Bayonutters. Hear ye! PlatinumGames Nintendo Bayonetta Bayonetta3 Bayonutters Boycott NintendoEurope NintendoAmerica NintendoJapan pic. twitter.com/h9lwiX2bBt
– Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 15, 2022
An outcry followed on social media. Fans, colleagues and many players in the gaming industry showed solidarity with Taylor.
But only three days after Taylor”s call for a boycott, a report by Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier turned the tide. According to the report, Taylor had been offered a salary of 15,000 US dollars. A little later, Taylor confirmed via Twitter that this offer was on the table, but that she turned it down. The sum of 4,000 US dollars was offered to her almost a year later “to speak a few lines”.
As I posted on part three of my video thread. I explained that their first offer was too low. That offer was 10,000 dollars total. Remember, this is 450 million dollar franchise, (not counting merchandise.) I then wrote in Japanese to Hideki Kamiya, asking for what I was
– Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 24, 2022
With this, Taylor had shot himself out of the running with many fans. Even the justified discussion of whether 15,000 US dollars would have been enough for the job took a back seat. Many fans and supporters were disappointed because Taylor had not been honest in her call for a boycott.
“Bill Clinton Kid” blasts Game Awards
The most curious scandal was saved for last by 2022. At the “Game Awards 2022”, the highlight is coming up on the evening of 8 December: The prize for the best game of the year will be awarded. “Elden Ring” wins and game director Hidetaka Miyazaki strides to the stage with his translator and two other people from the team.
But wait, there”s still a teenager behind all the co-starring men?! After Miyazaki and his translator finish their acceptance speech, the boy confidently steps up to the microphone. “I think I want to nominate this award to my reformed orthodox rabbi Bill Clinton, thank you everybody,” he says before security personnel escort him off the stage.
alright so trying to balance “we shouldn”t give trolls attention” and “but seriously what the hell was that about,” here”s what I managed to gather from a conversation with Elden Ring Bill Clinton kid:https://t. co/Dytx045SNJ pic.twitter.com/EdzPlMvVbk
– Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi) December 9, 2022
What exactly he meant by that, whether his action had a message at all or was just a troll, not even seasoned journalists like Jason Schreier or Paul Tassi of “Forbes” magazine could get out of the “Bill Clinton Kid” so far.
