After its release yesterday, the trailer for an upcoming live-action gameGamer Girlwas met with severe backlash. Following this, Wales Interactive has pulled the controversial trailer from its YouTube channel and released a statement defending its stance on the focus of the game.
Gamer Girlis intended to be a full-motion video (FMV) gamewhere players will act as the moderator to up and coming livestreamer Abicake99. Through real-time chat scenarios and leveling mod abilities, the goal of the game is to guide Abi’s choices as she navigates through a troubling scenario. The plot revolves around an anonymous chat member who becomes more and more of a threat by stalking the livestreamer.
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Not surprisingly,Gamer Girl’s name was dragged through the mud immediately following the trailer’s release. The bulk of the criticism resided around the idea of selling trauma that female livestreamers typically endure on a frequent basis, or, at the very least, is their worst nightmare. Not to mention that theharassment-focused plot that many women Twitch streamers are familiar withwas headed completely by a team of men. This, paired with a streamer who seemingly uses her scantily-clad looks for views, a stereotype many women try desperately to avoid, made for a firestorm of controversy. And the game’s developers over at Wales Interactive have since responded to the backlash.
After the constant stream of criticism ensued, Wales Interactive has since removed the trailer from its YouTube channel. It defends its stance onGamer Girlof bringing up toxic issues with being a female livestreamer in its most recently released statement. “Gamer Girlwas co-written by Alexandra Burton,” the developer explains, “the lead actress who improvised the entire script.”
The Welsh developer claims that four years of streaming content research went intothe making ofGamer Girland dozens of female streamers were interviewed, many of whom have experienced harassment of some kind online. “Online abuse is real and is still happening every day—Gamer Girlseeks to raise awareness of this issue.”
Wales Interactive has, in the past, been a successful studio. The Welsh developer is known for anotherFMV psychological horror game,The Bunker, which has received mostly positive reviews on Steam since its release back in 2016. The publisher has also won a number of awards. WhileGamer Girlis currently set to release this September, gamers will have to wait and see if a cancellation of the upcoming horror title is soon to follow, or if the developers will continue on with its release.
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