Ashley Poprik, a writer known for contributions to video game projects such as Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, found themselves at the center of controversy in 2023 when a group of disgruntled gamers began circulating false accusations. These gamers objected to the appearance of Mary Jane in Spider-Man 2, specifically criticizing that she was not deemed "hot enough." Unfounded conspiracy theories suggested that Poprik, then a writing intern without the authority to alter character designs, had modeled Mary Jane after themselves. This claim arose from a comparison of a photo of Poprik next to an image of Mary Jane, highlighting their similar facial features and hairstyles.
Identifying as gender-fluid and describing their appearance as androgynous, Poprik reported receiving significant backlash, with narratives falsely labeling them as a trans woman. This incited harassment from some individuals with alt-right ideologies. Poprik disclosed experiencing numerous death threats, images of violence, and misleading YouTube content about them, significantly altering their relationship with the video game industry.
The harassment escalated to a point where Poprik felt compelled to remove personal information from the internet for safety reasons. Over several months, Poprik faced persistent online hostility and was wrongly accused in person of injecting "woke" elements into games they had no part in developing. Despite these challenges, Poprik noted a lack of support and security measures from the companies they were affiliated with, pointing out that marginalized developers often had to navigate such situations independently.
The environment for non-cisgender game developers in the United States is increasingly precarious. Online abuse targets transgender and gender-nonconforming developers, fueled by criticisms of socially progressive measures and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Simultaneously, political actions, such as executive orders proposed by former President Donald Trump, aim to challenge the recognition and rights of transgender individuals, including restricting healthcare access for minors and barring trans individuals from military service.
Additional executive orders threaten the elimination of funding for programs that address discriminatory practices, a move being mirrored by major tech companies such as Meta, Google, and Amazon. There is concern among developers that their employers may also adopt similar measures. The ongoing controversy, often referred to as "Gamergate 2.0," has been primarily directed against DEI efforts, raising valid concerns within the community.
WIRED conducted interviews with seven developers from varying sectors within the gaming industry, from large AAA studios to small independent outfits. Many requested anonymity due to safety concerns or limitations on speaking to the media. These conversations revealed a recurring theme of fear, stress, and alienation pervasive in their professional environments and the broader online gaming culture.
