The Video Game Industry's Fear of Transparency

The video game industry has a long history of being secretive, and this trend continues to this day. From the secrecy surrounding game development to the use of non-disclosure agreements, the industry likes to keep its cards close to its chest. This lack of transparency can lead to a lack of understanding and mistrust among gamers and the wider public. The recent layoffs at Naughty Dog are a prime example of this, with the company trying to keep the news quiet and not providing severance pay to the affected contractors. In contrast, Epic Games has shown a more transparent approach to layoffs, providing six months of severance pay and other benefits to affected employees. The industry's lack of transparency is not just limited to layoffs, but also extends to the way it handles sales data and other information. The use of loot boxes and other monetization methods has also been criticized for being opaque and unfair to players. The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) has introduced a new system for rating games, but the industry has been slow to adopt it. The lack of transparency in the industry can have serious consequences, including the exploitation of workers and the manipulation of players. It is time for the industry to become more transparent and accountable to its players and employees.