Dustborn devs call out the 'tidal wave of hate and abuse' that's engulfed the game: 'Those who engage in such behavior will be removed from our community'

Dustborn developer Red Thread Games has released a statement decrying the «tidal wave of hate and abuse» that has surrounded the studio and game since its release last week.

Dustborn is an alt-history Americana road trip game that wears its politics on its sleeve: It's a game about a «group of outcast queers and exploited workers [who] fight fascist cops and smash corporate drones while navigating new and evolving relationships,» as we put it in our June preview. It holds a «mostly positive» user rating on Steam and an aggregate critical score of 68 on Metacritic—by all appearances it's a decent game targeting a pretty specific audience.

But it's also attracted considerable «culture wars» backlash, as seen in various user reviews, YouTube videos, and Reddit threads where you'll see the word «woke» used a lot. There's also a not-insignificant amount of glee over Dustborn's apparently modest launch sales, yet another example of the frankly pathetic eagerness some people have to grave dance on games they don't like.

Ten days after Dustborn's launch, Red Thread has had enough of it. «We expected Dustborn to spark conversation and debate, and looked forward to engaging with our players in a positive and constructive fashion,» the studio said in a message posted to social media. «Unfortunately, that conversation has been drowned out by a tidal wave of hate and abuse.

»We welcome thoughtful feedback and respectful criticism. We embrace discussion and debate. But we have zero tolerance for hate speech, harassment, and threats of any kind. Those who engage in such behavior will be removed from our community."

Dustborn publisher Quantic Dream expressed «heartfelt support» for Red Thread Games in a retweet of the studio's statement, adding, «We stand united against hate in all its forms and are committed to fostering communities built on understanding and respect.»

In a follow-up statement provided to PC Gamer, Red Thread said Dustborn is a game that «emphasizes the power of