GamerGate: The Fallout and The Future of Women in the Gaming Industry
Nearly ten years since the maelstrom of GamerGate, an infamous scandal synonymous with misogyny and harassment directed towards women in the gaming industry, the year 2023 remains entrenched in echoes of the past. The burning question on everyone’s mind: Where is the games media headed from here?
Progress has been made, undoubtedly. The number of women working in the industry has surged since 2014, with trailblazers such as Sony Santa Monica’s Mila Pavlin and Naughty Dog’s Emilia Schatz leading the charge for innovation and accessibility. Esports teams, under female leadership, are emerging, while women like Sarah Bond are taking prominent roles, such as Vice President at Xbox. Simultaneously, women journalists are breaking ground in storytelling, highlighting cultural issues, and probing the controversies engulfing gaming culture. However, despite these strides, 2023 has remained rife with disillusionment, disconcerting accusations, and deeply disheartening events.
Allegations of misconduct towards women at GDC 2023, a conspicuous absence of women during Summer Game Fest, a scandal involving deepfake pornography targeting female Twitch streamers, and a recently published woman-less retrospective of PC Gamer’s 30-year history have only intensified the burning question—where do we go from here?
This uncanny sense of deja vu has struck a collective nerve throughout the year. The tireless need to emphasize the critical role and presence of women in the gaming industry, reminiscent of the post-GamerGate discourse. The response to PC Gamer’s post on social media announcing an all-male celebratory print issue was nothing short of a tidal wave of dissent.
As Dr. Rachel Kowert remarked, “There are no women named in PC Gamer’s list of influential voices over the past thirty years. NOT ONE?” along with many others echoing a strong sentiment of disapproval. As the clamor grew ever louder, one underlying question was resoundingly clear—why is the presence of women still a matter up for debate in an increasingly diverse industry? The answer? It shouldn’t be.
Yet, despite the receding wave of GamerGate trolls, the rampant harassment women continue to endure within the gaming community remains relentless. The path to quashing this toxicity lies in normalization, in elevating representation for not just women, but BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals, until any objections to it are nothing more than futile dissent against the inevitable. The unyielding chorus remains the same: Representation Matters.
The paradigm has to shift. The Game Awards, IGN’s Summer of Gaming, and other high-profile gaming platforms need a radical change, ensuring equal representation by centering female voices. Men in positions of power are called upon to amplify female voices at every turn, for women cannot carry the weight of this movement alone. It’s time to break the cycle, shatter the looking glass of the GamerGate era and create a new, inclusive industry that thrives on diversity.
