In the vast world of gaming, a small team known as Sweet Baby, consisting of just 16 people, has found itself at the center of a growing movement against what some call “forced diversification.” This group, despite its size, has sparked significant debate.
Sweet Baby was established in 2018 by Belair and has quickly become a go-to studio for services like sensitivity readings and creative consulting. They provide feedback and ideas, but they don’t have the final say in the creative process. The ultimate control over the projects remains with the clients. Belair emphasizes that their role is advisory, without any power to make final decisions on content.
The controversy surrounding Sweet Baby gained momentum on platforms like Kiwi Farms, but it has particularly taken shape around a Steam curation group named Sweet Baby Inc Detected. This group, which also operates a Discord server, has become a hub for negative and hateful commentary. Following a report by Kotaku, the individuals involved in this group have targeted the reporter with online harassment.
A writer from Sweet Baby shared that the harassment intensified after the Steam group was formed, including receiving threatening messages. The writer described the situation as feeling like a “holy war,” with a cult-like atmosphere developing around the campaign against them.
The founder of Sweet Baby Inc Detected, in a YouTube interview, claims his interest was piqued by changes he noticed in games like “God of War Ragnarök,” despite not having played it. He accused Sweet Baby of influencing games to include “woke products” and “virtue signaling,” criticizing the inclusion of diverse characters. He argues that entertainment is being used for political agendas, without specifying how.
Games such as “God of War Ragnarök” and “Alan Wake II,” which feature Black women in significant roles, are cited as examples. However, these games do not delve into political issues. “Ragnarök” explores mythical stories, while “Alan Wake” focuses on a writer’s supernatural adventures.
Belair points out that many accusations against Sweet Baby, especially regarding games with diverse characters, are unfounded. This, according to Belair, reveals the true nature of the critics’ complaints, highlighting a resistance to diversity in gaming.