MADISON, Wisc. — In an effort to be an ethical consumer, local gamer Teresa Moyers has vowed to purchase video games only from studios where horrifying workplace allegations have not yet come to light.
“I’m sending a message to gaming companies: If you harass coworkers, demand abusive hours, and generally create an unsafe working environment, you better hope that information hasn’t yet become available to me personally,” said Moyers, who always searches “[studio name] allegations” exactly once before playing a new game. “If it does, I’ll probably play a different game instead so I don’t feel bad. You have to be the change you want to see in the world.”
While the change required sacrifice on her part, Moyers insisted she was no hero.
“It’s a matter of simple morality. Could you imagine enjoying a video game, knowing that the studio hasn’t successfully hidden the exploitation involved in its creation?” asked Moyers. “Personally, I don’t know how I could sleep at night.”
Critics have claimed Moyers’ plan is unsustainable, given the massive amount of global labor involved in AAA video games and the cold profits driving it. But others have defended her.
“Is labor abuse built into the very bones of the industry? Yes. Is pretty much every major studio probably guilty of it? Yeah, for sure,” said journalist Jason Schreier. “But I’m only one guy. There’s always going to be ones I haven’t gotten around to. She’ll be fine.”
When asked what games she does play, Moyers refused to give a specific answer, saying she “doesn’t want to jinx it.”
