Warner Bros. Games has initiated a leadership program catered to women and non-binary individuals with the objective of diversifying the video game industry, a sector often perceived as being dominated by men. The launch follows a $200 million loss experienced from their game, Suicide Squad, that was developed in consultation with Sweet Baby Inc., a diversity consultant. This company is recognized for shaping diversity narratives in video games.
The Women and Non-Binary Leadership Program was introduced by tech community, Built In. It is designed to challenge the industry’s gender imbalance, currently skewed 70:30 in favor of men. The initiative, already in progress with 25 leaders from Warner Bros. Games’ 11 global studios, aims to amplify career development opportunities for underrepresented groups in gaming.
Senior director of business development and licensing at Warner Bros., Kelly Hill, attested to the program’s reaffirmation of her commitment to diversifying the industry. Critics, however, have questioned the logic of prioritizing diversity over gameplay quality, citing significant financial losses.
The sentiment that political messaging and diversification initiatives are causing negative impacts on the gamer’s experience is echoed by game designer Mark Kern, who claims that the substantial $200 million loss cannot be overlooked.