These controversies are subsequently quite diverse in the manner that they formulate, and can be found in a huge range of aspects of the industry that are seemingly ever-growing. Sadly, 2022 was no exception to the high frequency in which these gaming controversies occur. In no particular order, here are the ten biggest video game controversies to occur in 2022.
RELATED: Why Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion’s Genesis is Such a Controversial Character
Bayonetta VA Pay Controversy
A huge gaming controversy for 2022 came in October, when long-time Bayonetta voice actress Hellena Taylor rocked the industry with her claims that she was essentially strong-armed out of reprising her role in the anticipated Bayonetta 3. Taylor claimed that she was offered a payment well below the industry standard for potential work on Bayonetta 3, and initially rallied huge amounts of support from many who sympathized with the hardships that voice actors can endure over compensation for their work.
However, it was later revealed that Platinum Games had actually offered Taylor around five times more than the initial $4,000 figure the voice actress initially claimed she was offered, turning the story and the tide of public opinion quite significantly. Many criticized Taylor for seemingly taking advantage of the Bayonetta fan base and the discourse surrounding voice actor compensation, with these criticisms only growing when Taylor then asked fans to donate to anti-abortion charities instead of purchasing Bayonetta 3.
Diablo Immortal Microtransactions
Another substantial gaming controversy came in June with the release of Diablo Immortal. This particular title had been controversial even prior to its release due to its nature as a free-to-play mobile game, with many fans of the Diablo franchise being skeptical of how Immortal would monetize itself, and rightfully so.
Upon playing the game, many fans instantly characterized the title as being heavily reliant upon microtransactions in its monetization strategy, with truly free-to-play gameplay being an almost impossible grind that heavily pushed players towards in-game purchases. Some of the best in-game items were essentially locked behind these purchases, with certain streamers spending close to $25,000 on Diablo Immortal just to get a single five-star item.
Google Stadia Shutdown Blindsides Devs
The ambitious Google Stadia platform launched in 2019, being Google’s major foray into the world of cloud gaming. Allowing games to be streamed instantaneously to a huge range of devices, Stadia had received a fair amount of attention over the years, which made the shock announcement that the Stadia service would be shutting down all the more surprising to the gaming industry.
This announcement was made in September of this year, and came completely out of left-field for both consumers and developers alike, who were only made aware of Google’s plans to shut down the service as a result of the announcement itself. While fans were offered complete refunds, game developers working with Google Stadia were very vocal in their disappointment regarding how the announcements were handled, with many studios having already pooled resources and made significant commitments to a now defunct platform.
RELATED: 10 Best Multiplayer Video Game Skins of 2022
Gotham Knights and Xbox Series S
Gotham Knights was one of the most anticipated games of 2022, making it all the more susceptible to producing some significant controversies. Just days prior to its October launch, certain information regarding the console versions of Gotham Knights were brought to light which created huge rifts in the gaming industry, leading to discourse about the potential precedents that the release may have uncovered about the industry as a whole.
The controversy in question surrounds the fact that Gotham Knights is limited to 30 FPS on consoles, with there currently being no plans for a performance mode to be added to the title. With many expecting the industry-standard for current gen consoles to be 60 FPS, frustrations were voiced and discussion began as to why this frame-related decision had been made.
The Xbox Series S was the main culprit behind why many believed this decision was made. With devs now potentially having to account for a game running on the Series S as well as the Series X and PS5, many fans are worried at the future implications of games releasing in technically simpler states just to adhere to Series S hardware.
Microsoft and Sony Argue Over Call of Duty, ABK Acquisition
It is no secret that one of the most high-profile and controversial developments to come from the gaming industry this year came with Microsoft’s announcement of its intentions to acquire Activision Blizzard King in a record-shattering $68.7 billion deal. The acquisition is still undergoing an extensively scrutinizing legal process before it is formally confirmed, and the huge implications of the deal have predictably led to a lot of back and forths within the industry.
The most vocal of these criticisms came from Sony, who is Microsoft’s largest direct competitors in the console space. Given how lucrative and strategically important franchises like Call of Duty and Overwatch could be for Microsoft, PlayStation executive Jim Ryan even flew to Brussels to speak to regulators regarding the implications of the potential acquisition. With Sony refusing Call of Duty commitment offers from Microsoft and continuing to voice its disapproval of the deal, the uniquely public nature of such intense industrial tension fostered a rather significant level of controversy in the gaming space.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ Graphics Controversy
Another highly anticipated release of 2022 that generated controversy was Pokemon Legends: Arceus. An ambitious title in the wide-spanning catalog of Pokemon games due to its higher emphasis on exploration and less-traditional combat, there was one aspect of Arceus in particular that was negatively received by many fans.
Perhaps as a result of the increased scale of the release, the graphics of Pokemon Legends: Arceus were controversial to many fans, who felt that the game had cut corners and not put in the proper effort in terms of its fidelity. While the title was still lauded for its gameplay, things like frame-rate issues, poor draw distances, and texture pop-ins led to a wider discussion about the graphical state of the Pokemon franchise as a whole, which were not helped by similar issues that many also faced when playing the newer Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The Grand Theft Auto 6 Leaks Show How Little is Known About Development
Huge controversy rocked the gaming world in September, when one of the most significant gaming leaks in history came regarding the massively anticipated Rockstar title Grand Theft Auto 6. With huge amounts of the upcoming title’s source code, as well as many early development in-game videos, being made public, the leaks had such severe implications that the hacker behind them was swiftly arrested and is facing severe criminal charges.
While these leaks were inherently controversial, many consider the public reaction to the leaked footage of the game to be just as contentious. With many of the leaked videos for GTA 6’s gameplay being from extremely early stages of development, the videos of course lacked the graphical polish of a finished game, as to be expected.
However, this did not stop swathes of people from lambasting GTA 6 for poor graphics due to this footage, highlighting a worrying disconnect between many players and what the development cycle of a game actually looks like. To highlight this, many development studios released their own pre-release footage in solidarity with Rockstar, to reinforce just how basic early development footage actually looks from a graphical standpoint.
RELATED: 10 Best Video Game DLCs of 2022
The Last of Us Part 1’s Pricing Controversy
The original Last of Us is a truly revered title, being considered by many to possess one of the most compelling and immersive narratives that gaming can offer. However, when it was officially announced in June of this year that the game would receive a ground-up remake called The Last of Us Part 1, controversy stirred regarding the sizable price-tag of the game compared to what fans believed it would offer.
From the promotional footage of The Last of Us Part 1, many were excited at the prospect of playing the game again, but felt it did not offer much besides basic graphical improvements and minor additions to core gameplay. Considering how many fans also believed that the original 2013 title still held up quite well from a graphical perspective, many began questioning the purpose of Part 1, as well as if its creation was even necessary. With the release launching with a hefty $70 price tag, these criticisms were significantly heightened, with many characterizing the title as nothing more than a Sony cash grab, tarnishing the game prior to its launch.
Twitch Gambling Meta
The Twich streaming platform is no stranger to controversy, with the massive amounts of viewership and different creators that the site hosts inevitably breeding some contentious issues. While these issues often occur on an individual level, they can sometimes manifest as platform-wide metas that only heighten the inexorable backlash.
One of the most controversial metas the platform has ever seen came this year with a popular gambling meta, which saw many high-profile streamers like xQc and Adin Ross be sponsored by companies like Stake.com to gamble on stream. With huge amounts of money being involved, many characterized the streams as a glorification of gambling that could be harmful to young and impressionable audiences. Following large-scale backlash regarding this growing meta from other streamers, Twitch eventually moved to ban gambling in October, although many felt that the damage had already been done.
Twitch Pay Split Changes
Another significant controversy came from the Twitch platform this year, this time being attributed to the company itself as opposed to those who broadcast through it. Back in September, the platform announced its intentions to change the 70/30 subscription revenue split that some creators enjoyed to 50/50, which predictably infuriated many streamers.
It must be said that the 70/30 split was only offered to a select few of the site’s top performers, meaning some of the most influential names on Twitch were directly impacted by these changes. While Twitch has long been at the top of the streaming industry, the platform is facing growing competition from the likes of YouTube, making this decision against their biggest earners all the more confusing and controversial. Given how Twitch has been steadily losing some of its top streamers to other sites, many saw this decision as bizarre, especially when considering how it coincided with the aforementioned gambling controversy that gripped the platform.
MORE: 5 Games Set On New Year’s Day
