Bandai Namco Speaks Out Against GamerGate Harassment

September 2016 Added Disclaimer: Coverage of GamerGate at this point in time was not done in good faith. Ian Miles Cheong was a member of Crash Override at this time. 

Earlier today, a post on the #GamerGate hub on Reddit (KotakuInAction) came to my attention, in which members of the #GamerGate campaign were cheering a victory with a supposed endorsement by video game publisher Bandai Namco Games America’s (Dark Souls, Lords of the Fallen, Dynasty Warriors) support of their campaign. 

The #GamerGate movement was founded upon the harassment of an independent game developer named Zoe Quinn and is responsible for the harassment of several other game developers, media critics such as Anita Sarkeesian, and their supporters in the game industry (Source: BBC, The New York Times, Washington Post). 

The post in question was championed as a tacit endorsement by Bandai Namco of their activities, and served as encouragement for the movement’s proponents to continue.  

I reached out to representatives of Bandai Namco for clarification of their stance, with regards to the harassment issue. 

Here’s what they told me: 

BANDAI NAMCO Games America Inc. stands with what’s been shared by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) regarding GamerGate in that threats of violence and harassment are wrong. They have to stop. There is no place in the video game community—or our society—for personal attacks and threats.

The spokesperson also informed me that the ESA, which represents the game industry, stands behind this statement. 

Needless to say, Bandai Namco stands against #GamerGate.