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BioWare Responds To Harassment Following Uproar About Mass Effect: Andromeda's Animations
In the last few days, controversy has spread online surrounding Mass Effect: Andromeda's wonky animations. While most of the online clips and images poke fun at character movements rather than project malicious intent, some people began harassing a former female Electronic Arts employee and casting the blame on her.
BioWare responded to the harassment recently via Twitter, stating the victim of harassment was misidentified as the lead animator of Mass Effect: Andromeda. According to the studio, she had never been in the lead animation role to begin with. You can view the statement from BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn below:
— BioWare (@bioware) March 18, 2017
The animations shared online were from players who had early access to the first 10 hours of the game through EA Access. These early access builds include the day one patch that all other players will receive when Mass Effect: Andromeda releases on March 21 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Our Take
While I can agree that these animations are wonky, harassment is never the answer, regardless of how strongly you feel about an issue. As BioWare courteously states, the team accepts constructive criticism from fans if they feel unhappy with one feature or another in the game. I'm saddened to hear that this person was being attacked online for something they weren't responsible for to begin with. Even if this was the lead animator, it's important to remember that creating games is a team effort. My thoughts are with this former employee during these difficult times.
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