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To say this was a long time coming would be an understatement–In the background of a turbulent moment in American history, many have come forward about all manners of troubling behavior within the gaming space, resurfacing the question of when — if at all — those responsible will be held to account.
Things started out small, but they eventually snowballed into what could only be described as a collective acknowledgement that the current state of things cannot endure. The loathsome misdeeds of some echoed much of what was already scrutinized to a great degree in gaming’s #MeToo moment from August of last year, but this one carries a different weight–it appears that participants in this dialogue have grown more wary of vacuous claims of change, and are pressuring platforms and employers alike to address these issues on an institutional level.
Ex-Twitch streamer Austen Marie felt sweet vindication when many of her stories were being corroborated by fellow colleagues in the industry–she gave up streaming after her many calls for reform kept being disregarded, even as many chose to put up with the abuse and stick with what is for a great number of them their sole source of income. If a job’s condition is to be constantly subjected…
