De Quiet Things: developer feels shut out and silenced after BAFTA awards

De Quiet Things is an upcoming narrative game developed by Silver Script Games. The game tells an autobiographical story based on the experiences of founder Alyx Jones, who has dealt with mental health issues, childhood abuse and trauma. It was originally set to be shown during the BAFTA Game Awards, but the De Quiet Things trailer was pulled from the showcase at the last minute because of its themes.

Trailer status

Alyx Jones was informed by phone the night before the BAFTA Awards that the De Quiet Things trailer had been removed from the event. Organizers said there was not enough time to provide the proper warnings for viewers. Jones offered to make changes to the trailer, but those suggestions were ignored.

The decision has left Jones frustrated, as she says this is not the first time she has faced this kind of ruling because of the content of her work. She has tried to maintain important industry relationships and says she has grown used to these rejections. Jones stresses that De Quiet Things tells a deeply personal story about trauma, survival and giving survivors a voice.

Game content

De Quiet Things highlights the impact that silence and censorship can have on people who have experienced trauma. The game explores themes that are not often given enough attention in the games industry, but are crucial for many people. According to Jones, it is important that art makes people feel, and that stories are told, however uncomfortable they may be.

Reactions and impact

The decision to remove the trailer has sparked widespread reaction across the gaming community. Many players and fellow developers have voiced support for Jones and criticized BAFTA’s decision. The incident has also raised questions about how the games industry handles sensitive themes and the freedom of artists to tell their stories.

The situation could affect not only Jones and her team, but also how other developers approach their work and themes in the future. Concerns have been raised that the decision may discourage similar projects that aim to tell deeply personal stories.

It is essential to continue the dialogue sparked by this situation and to advocate for a more inclusive and supportive environment within the games industry. The success of De Quiet Things could be a step toward greater openness and recognition of the experiences and stories of all players.