Do you want to stay updated with the latest news? Follow us on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
The video game industry has several sections in which it can improve and mature. One of them is on gender issues since, in several companies, there are multiple reports of sexism, sexual harassment, and more. Sadly, this situation extends to one of the year's most significant video game events.
From March 20 to 24, 2023, the Game Developers Conference 2023 was held, a convention where developers come together to share experiences, take courses, make contacts, and more. Unfortunately, it was a place that also brought out some of the worst in the industry, as incidents of attempted sexual harassment were reported.
What happened is that several developers who were present claimed that their drinks were adulterated with drugs to presumably sexually abuse them. These reports were confirmed by Guy “Yug” Bloomberg, president of Stride PR, which organized activities within GDC.
“We've been informed of multiple folks that were roofied last Thursday night in SF, most probably at the karaoke event we hosted.
Thankfully they had friends who looked after them and they're ok all things considered. ”
Bloomberg also assured that they are already investigating the situation to find the person or persons responsible.
Please check in on your friends, and if anyone else has anything to report please get in touch with me directly, or you can also reach out to the Games & Online Harassment Hotline by texting SUPPORT to 23368
— Guy 'Yug' Blomberg (@YugSTAR) March 25, 2023
[ 4/4 ]
That is not the only thing that happened in GDC 2023. The above since, as the developer Leena van Deventer says, a man "in a position of power" took a couple of women to his room to talk about an idea, but once there, he attacked them.
Women at GDC this year have been belittled and undermined in their roles, been hit on relentlessly, and had their drinks spiked by predatory men.
— Leena 🌵 (@LeenaVanD) March 24, 2023
Two women were even lured up to a hotel room by a man in a position of power for a “pitch”, where he then assaulted them.
It is worth mentioning that it is not the first time that something like this has happened in GDC. Sexual harassment is something that has happened in previous editions. Many developers prefer to skip the event, while others have had to create networks and protection systems to avoid being victims.
LRT both of them
— leisha (she/they) (@LeishaRiddel) June 20, 2020
Ive been roofied twice, both times at GDC. And i was with friends or i felt odd and i found a way into the womens washroom.
They were both near misses. But i do not attend GDC now.
Stay informed at LEVEL UP.
Comments
Best
New