Daily Briefing: Friday 27th August

Why Haven't EA Had The Same Issues As Activision-Blizzard & Ubisoft?

Chris Bruzzo, EVP for 'Positive Play', marketing and commercial, gave an interview to GamesIndustry.biz on toxicity, loot boxes and more. The reason they aren't embroiled in the same harassment allegations is apparently down to EA having a team that investigates complaints and takes action. "So, yes, we have had to take some significant actions and dismiss employees etc. over the last several years." He says that it's inevitable toxic behaviour and bad actors will crop up in a company of over 10,000, but that their job is to deal with it and keep making things better.

• Assuming we take this at face value, EA have been more proactive at dealing with problem behaviour from staff and that's why they've been conspicuously absent from the news. Good on them!

Elden Ring Previews Abound

A ton of gaming websites have shared information from a hands-off preview they were invited to this week. The gist of things is that Elden Ring is very much a more open and improved successor to Dark Souls, with an open overworld full of varied environments, dungeons both small and 'legacy' (read: large) and secrets. From hopes character buillds will "evoke a sense of the good old fashioned RPG genre". The game includes some stealth mechanics from Sekiro, a 'Spirit Steed' to mount in the overworld, fast travel from any point on the map, day andn ight cycles, a jump button and a TON more.

• Go check some of the previews for yourself - it sounds like Elden Ring is as large and as full of features as expected from a game in development so long. Here's hoping it's all good!

The Saints Row Reboot Debate Is Getting Heated

The Saints Row reboot is under substantial fire from fans, communicating their dismay over the apparent change in tone and aesthetic. On Twitter, they're bombarded with negative sentiment and the trailer has more dislikes than likes on Youtube - 16K likes to 22K dislikes. The complaints are aimed at the loss of the old 'Saints' characters, the new characters (described as 'Californian hipsters' by some) and even the Saints Row Twitter logo being blue instead of the traditional Saints purple. The Twitter account is not letting up, though, saying: "We are not backing down on this game. We get it, it’s new and it’s a shock reaction to a reboot like no other.". When asked about the logo colour, they said "Because at the start of this game you're not a Saint yet."

• This has all been a very, very interesting situation. The gameplay trailer they posted assuaged fears for many since it looks very much like a Saints Row game, and the characters are more nuanced in action. There are valuable lessons to learn - and we may even throw together a video on this topic, because there's a LOT to think about. Audience expectations, creative license, how to navigate it all - wild stuff. I hope Volition can puzzle through it and release a good game that people love.