Commented Mark Kern, the former president of the World of Warcraft game development, on the recent news that the game development studio FromSoftware has decided to increase its employees’ salaries by 12%.
Kern believes that this is a clear indication that focusing on players, not agendas or minorities, is the key to the success of any game company. This focus not only ensures the studio’s continued operation but also allows for an increase in employee salaries, as Kern wrote on the former platform “Twitter”:
“FromSoftware has announced an 11.8% salary increase for all employees. Advocates of Western AAA games will try to convince you that this year’s poor sales are due to either high player expectations or a poor economic situation.”
Kern added:
“This is a lie fabricated to hide the real reasons. AAA studios have abandoned their customers, preferring to produce repetitive and error-filled games that focus more on agendas than gameplay style.”
Kern also pointed out that studios like FromSoftware, Game Science, and developers of Helldivers and Palworld have smaller budgets than big companies like Ubisoft and EA, but they compete in the same market, achieve success, and increase their employees’ salaries, while Western companies are laying off employees and cutting expenses.
Kern concluded his remarks by saying that the lesson is clear for those who can listen, where players should be the priority and said, “Leave the agendas outside the door.”
It can be said that Mark Kern’s statements raise important points worthy of discussion and reflection. It is certain that the focus of game companies on players is essential to ensure their success and continuity rather than focusing on pleasing minorities. The involvement of agendas in games can negatively affect the product quality and alienate players, as is the case with a number of game development companies that are beginning to suffer from this impact clearly.