Square Enix Reportedly Axes Diversity Consultants Behind Suicide Squad

Square Enix Reportedly Axes Diversity Consultants Behind Suicide Squad

Key Takeaways

  • Sweet Baby Inc. has removed Square Enix from its client list.
  • Controversy has surrounded Sweet Baby Inc. over its impact on game narratives.
  • The consultancy’s future remains uncertain amidst backlash and financial losses incurred by clients.

As a seasoned gamer and long-time follower of the gaming industry, this latest development between Square Enix and Sweet Baby Inc. has piqued my interest. Having witnessed the evolution of game narratives over the years, I’ve seen how they’ve become more than just entertainment—they’re a reflection of our society and its complexities.


Sweet Baby Inc., the latest narrative consulting firm under scrutiny, has decided to part ways with Square Enix as one of their clients.

Established in 2018, this consultancy endeavors to share heartfelt narratives and contribute to the growth of the video game sector. It has collaborated with notable industry heavyweights like Ubisoft, Rocksteady, Santa Monica Studio, and most recently, Square Enix.

It remains unclear which party was responsible for the apparent disagreement, as neither Sweet Baby Inc. nor Square Enix have issued any statements regarding this recent alteration in their relationship.

There have been whispers and unverified stories circulating since June regarding the connection between these two companies. Notably, popular gaming blogger @michsuzu shared that during a recent investors’ gathering, there were queries about Square Enix’s business ties with Sweet Baby Inc.

According to their translation from Japanese, they stated that CEO Takashi Kiryu didn’t provide a direct statement concerning the consultancy, but instead expressed a preference for avoiding detailed comments about particular clients.

Creating content that’s both entertaining and secure for our users contributes to the fun factor of our product. As innovators, we aim to deliver our best.

– Allegedly, Takashi Kiryu

It appears that the details provided by Michsuzu are not backed up by other reliable sources, with only a handful of niche websites offering similar accounts.

Square Enix hasn’t commented on these rumors either.

Sweet Baby Inc’s Controversy

Square Enix Reportedly Axes Diversity Consultants Behind Suicide Squad

Over the last year, anyone even casually keeping up with the gaming industry news is likely aware of the Sweet Baby Inc. scandal.

The company claims it prioritizes creating joy for underserved gaming communities and aims to contribute positively, not just rectify issues. However, some players argue that the company is unintentionally pushing political agendas into their games.

Games initially started as a form of amusement, but they’ve since evolved into potent mediums for expressing cultural, societal, and political ideas. Regrettably or not, this is the world we live in. On one hand, you have games like “Doom,” where you can spend endless hours smashing demon heads. On the other hand, there are games such as “Spec Ops: The Line.

Supporters of the consultancy claim it aims to illuminate the experiences of underrepresented individuals and their tales. Critics, on the other hand, have suggested that its communications have driven a wedge between gamers, overshadowed existing narratives, and opted for token representation over genuine inclusion – leading to both financial and critical collapse.

It wouldn’t be entirely fair to blame the storyline issues of Gotham Knights or Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on their narrative consultants alone, as they may have contributed, but other factors could also be at play. In the case of Suicide Squad, it was reported that these problems led to significant financial losses for Warner Bros, costing them hundreds of millions.

The entire list compiled by Steam serves as a caution regarding Sweet Baby Inc.’s role in the creation of a game. Some entries have been taken down, but others continue to remain.

A Sweet Baby Inc employee reportedly asked their followers to mass report the lists.

As more Sweet Baby Inc. games bombed, this controversy grew and attracted some unsavory types.

What started as genuine creative disagreements has ballooned and brought along those who assume including a single POC character means a game has fallen to “woke” status; or that, somehow, Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy and Control‘s Jesse Faden, weren’t attractive.

Given its questionable standing and rumors suggesting it might be the initial domino to fall, the future of Sweet Baby Inc is uncertain. Regardless of what unidentified internet commentators claim, a business can’t survive without customer support – that much is certain.

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2024-09-25 16:09