"Baldur's Gate 3 Publisher Urges Developers to 'Pirate' BioWare's Approach"

The recent layoffs at BioWare, the creators behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked significant conversation about the state of the gaming industry. These developments have prompted Michael Daus, the publishing director at Larian Studios, to share his perspective on social media. Daus argues strongly for the importance of valuing employees and places the responsibility on decision-makers rather than regular staff.

Daus believes that companies can and should avoid laying off large portions of their development teams between or after projects. He emphasizes the importance of retaining institutional knowledge, which is vital for the success of future projects. The common justification for such layoffs, often termed as "trimming the fat" or reducing redundancies, is something Daus understands in the context of financial pressures. However, he critiques the aggressive efficiency drive of large corporations, suggesting that it may be unnecessary, especially if these companies aren't consistently releasing successful games.

Daus points out that the strategy developed by those at the top of the corporate hierarchy is the root of the problem, yet it's the employees at the bottom who suffer the consequences. He humorously suggests that video game companies should be managed like pirate ships, where the captain (the decision-makers) would be held accountable and potentially "tossed overboard" if they fail to lead effectively.