The recent layoffs at BioWare, the creators of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, have sparked significant discussion within the gaming industry. Michael Daus, the publishing director at Larian Studios, has taken to social media to express his views on this pressing issue. He emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and argues that accountability should rest with decision-makers rather than the workforce.

Daus asserts that it's possible to avoid mass layoffs between or after projects, highlighting the necessity of retaining institutional knowledge which is vital for future endeavors. He critiques the common corporate practice of "trimming the fat" as a means of justifying layoffs, especially under financial pressure. While acknowledging the rationale behind such decisions, Daus questions the efficacy of this aggressive efficiency, particularly when companies fail to consistently produce successful games.

He points out that the real problem lies in the strategies devised by those at the top of the corporate hierarchy, yet it's the employees at the bottom who bear the brunt of these decisions. Daus humorously suggests that video game companies should adopt a more "pirate-like" management style, where the captain—symbolizing those in charge—would be held accountable for the ship's fate.

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