Tripwire Interactive CEO steps down because of backlash
Last Updated on: 8th September 2021, 05:51 am
Tripwire Interactive has been the recipient of widespread backlash due to the words of its now ex-CEO, John Gibson. Because of these words, Tripwire has had to take action to assuage the damage that was being done to its brand. It’s no surprise that the video game industry is under more scrutiny these days than its ever been. As more outspoken voices call out things like “frat-boy work culture” and general misconduct in the workplace, we see that companies are being pushed further to address controversial figures in the video game industry.
It’s just not viable to pretend that the person with shocking opinions doesn’t reflect the values of your company, especially when they’re the CEO of all people.
S.B 8 and John Gibson
Just recently in the U.S, the state of Texas has passed S.B 8, a law that has introduced some of the strictest abortion restrictions yet seen in the country. The law has its supporters, as they laud the new restrictions as another step in protecting the unborn, while others condemn the law for being not just incredibly restrictive but vindictive for anyone seeking an abortion. One controversial aspect of the law encourages citizens to report anyone who may be suspected of receiving an abortion or aiding another in seeking one in exchange for a monetary reward.
John Gibson expressed his support for the restrictive law, labeling himself as a “pro-life developer” at the end of his statement:
God of War director Cory Barlog swiftly condemned the stance. Once this particular domino fell, others did too, like co-development studio Shipwright Studios who not just condemned Gibson’s stance but also announced a break with Tripwire Interactive effective immediately:
After even more backlash, John Gibson stepped down from the position of CEO and Tripwire released the following statement as of September 6th, 2021:
The comments given by John Gibson are of his own opinion, and do not reflect those of Tripwire Interactive as a company. His comments disregarded the values of our whole team, our partners and much of our broader community. Our leadership team at Tripwire are deeply sorry and are unified in our commitment to take swift action and to foster a more positive environment.
Effective immediately, John Gibson has stepped down as CEO of Tripwire Interactive. Co-founding member and current Vice President, Alan Wilson, will take over as interim CEO. Alan has been with the company since its formation in 2005 and is an active lead in both the studio’s business and developmental affairs. Alan will work with the rest of the Tripwire leadership team to take steps with employees and partners to address their concerns including executing a company-wide town hall meeting and promoting open dialogue with Tripwire leadership and all employees. His understanding of both the company’s culture and the creative vision of our games will carry the team through this transition, with full support from the other Tripwire leaders.
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Tripwire stands against Gibson
Tripwire firing Gibson to ease the backlash they face isn’t too surprising, as such support for an incredibly controversial and vindictive law isn’t the best look for a company. If Tripwire feels that John Gibson’s stance on abortion doesn’t mesh well with company ideals, they’re well within their right to let him go. While the issue has people on both sides of the fence, it’s ultimately up to the company to protect its image, especially when someone that is arguably the face of the company has such opinions.
It might be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s obvious that the current state of social issues is permeating the safe wall that we’ve put up around video games as this haven for escapism. The world has grown up and so has this industry that has always been written off as dumb entertainment for kids; there are societal issues that need to be addressed everywhere, and that, unfortunately, includes video games.
If you happen to be someone who is tired of this kind of discourse regarding the industry, I’ve got some bad news for you. These polarizing opinions and difficult work conditions have always existed. It’s just that we’ve come to a point where we can’t exactly ignore these things when they come up. No one will shame you if you decide to keep buying Tripwire Interactive games, but they do expect you to stay out of the conversation if you’re just there to complain about everyone having a conversation.
We really need to pay more attention to the industry. There is no pretending that it’s just all about fun video games and escaping real-world problems. They exist here too, unfortunately. And they’re here to stay.
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