MechWarrior studio apologises after its policing of in-game trans rights messages sparks concern
Piranha Games, developer of MechWarrior Online, has apologised for forcing players to re-name a competitive team titled “Trans Fights” and “Trans Rights”, after previously saying it was simply enforcing the game’s Terms of Service and Code of Conduct.
Piranha boss Russ Bullock initially sparked ire on Twitter when explaining the studio’s reasoning behind the move – as well as its decision to ban a user who continually posted the message “Trans rights”.
“I have zero concerns about [Piranha] staff in this regard everyone is 100 percent inclusive with no prejudice,” Bullock wrote over the weekend, in response to Piranha’s handling of the situation. “For super obv reasons the word Trans and others are and have been excluded in the EULA for a very very long time.”
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Bullock suggested the word “Trans” was banned due to “bad trolls” and that while “it’s fine to be disappointed and wish [Piranha] had somehow found a way around this tough situation… it’s disingenuous to immediately call [Piranha] anti trans etc. Unfortunately bad apples create situations that limit choice for the larger group.”