The Critical Drinker is right here when he points out that the demise of Bioware is more than a classic case of “go woke, go broke”, although that is of course part of it. As he correctly analyses, the Western video game industry is falling apart for the same reason that Hollywood is: For decades now, both have prioritised technology — and the way a movie, TV show or game looks — over its story. They have failed to understand that not looks is what makes a fiction engaging, but the story. That doesn’t mean the story isn’t enhanced by looks, but everything inevitably falls apart if your story is bad in the first place. And of course, if you already have bad writing, it doesn’t help if you further foul it up with condescending political messaging nobody enjoys.

Bioware was hit especially hard by this, because story was essential to their success. Their legendary games all set themselves apart by their story first and foremost. They knew this. But still they got swept up in the idea that better technology would make for a better game no matter what and they hired writers that didn’t prioritise what was fun for players, but what they wanted to proselytise about. And they paid the price. The same thing is happening all over the creative industries as we speak.

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