Young game development stars feel "effective props" as Future Class programme is abandoned.
The Game Awards' Future Class programme, launched in 2020 to highlight a diverse cohort of young game developers, has effectively faded away. Inductees were invited to attend the prestigious awards ceremony and receive networking opportunities and career advancement advice, but support for the programme dwindled over time. For some members, it felt like they were used for positive publicity before being cast aside when diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) initiatives fell out of favour.
"It was inspiring to have these conversations [with industry leaders], but that's really as far as it went," said Dianna Lora, a game producer who was inducted into the first Future Class cohort. "They fought for everything we got, from the mixer to covering our flights... everything I got was a result of my previous classmates."
The programme's demise has left many inductees feeling frustrated and disappointed. They say they were used as tokens to boost the industry's diversity claims before being abandoned when it wasn't convenient anymore.
"It's sad that we were part of something great, that has amazing people, that was left by the wayside," said accessibility consultant Steve Saylor. "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed."
Lora and other inductees believe the programme was disbanded because they pushed for improvement. "You have the influence, you have the power, and you can change shit," Lora said. "But ever since we pushed back, it was like, 'This is too much trouble, might as well peace out'."
The programme's failure serves as a reminder that allyship without proper support is performative. However, some inductees see the positive impact of the Future Class as a lasting legacy.
"The camaraderie and community that was created by bringing nearly 200 developers and creatives from underrepresented communities together... it was the best part of it all," said Midnight Hour founder Elaine Gómez.
The official Future Class Discord remains active, with more members engaging now than in recent months.
The Game Awards' Future Class programme, launched in 2020 to highlight a diverse cohort of young game developers, has effectively faded away. Inductees were invited to attend the prestigious awards ceremony and receive networking opportunities and career advancement advice, but support for the programme dwindled over time. For some members, it felt like they were used for positive publicity before being cast aside when diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) initiatives fell out of favour.
"It was inspiring to have these conversations [with industry leaders], but that's really as far as it went," said Dianna Lora, a game producer who was inducted into the first Future Class cohort. "They fought for everything we got, from the mixer to covering our flights... everything I got was a result of my previous classmates."
The programme's demise has left many inductees feeling frustrated and disappointed. They say they were used as tokens to boost the industry's diversity claims before being abandoned when it wasn't convenient anymore.
"It's sad that we were part of something great, that has amazing people, that was left by the wayside," said accessibility consultant Steve Saylor. "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed."
Lora and other inductees believe the programme was disbanded because they pushed for improvement. "You have the influence, you have the power, and you can change shit," Lora said. "But ever since we pushed back, it was like, 'This is too much trouble, might as well peace out'."
The programme's failure serves as a reminder that allyship without proper support is performative. However, some inductees see the positive impact of the Future Class as a lasting legacy.
"The camaraderie and community that was created by bringing nearly 200 developers and creatives from underrepresented communities together... it was the best part of it all," said Midnight Hour founder Elaine Gómez.
The official Future Class Discord remains active, with more members engaging now than in recent months.
I gotta say, it's kinda harsh how the Future Class programme got axed 
. On one hand, I get why some people might feel like they were used as props for diversity's sake 
, but at the same time, it's not fair to dismiss all the good that came out of it 
. Like, Dianna Lora and others really did push for change and got stuff done 
. And yeah, maybe some people felt like they were used as tokens, but I think most inductees just wanna see a sustainable solution for DEI initiatives 
.
. But honestly, I think what's more important is how we can support these devs and creatives long-term 
. Maybe instead of abandoning the programme, we should've been working together to make DEI initiatives a permanent part of the industry's fabric 
.
, and it's awesome that people like Elaine Gómez see the positive impact as a lasting legacy 
.
. I think what hurts is that these young devs felt like they were just used as a PR tool to boost diversity claims without any real support or lasting impact 
. It's great that some inductees are still holding on to the camaraderie and community created by the programme, though 
.
. It's like, just because something is trendy doesn't mean it'll last 
? That's more than I can say for some other initiatives that fizzle out quickly 
.
!
. It's not like they didn't make a positive impact or create meaningful connections with each other - that part will always be there 
.
. And honestly, it's also about recognizing that even if we want to do better, sometimes that means we need to support each other more 
. What a reminder to always be mindful of how our actions (or lack thereof) can impact others 
but once it wasn't cool anymore, boom! 
The devs are feeling shafted and I'm like, "no worries, guys, you're still pros!" 
But seriously though, it's a bummer. Those kids were trying to make a difference and get some real support, not just a PR stunt 
They might be gone, but the community lives on 
And what really gets me is that now the official Discord is still active and they're all just chillin' without any support 
. The programme was supposed to be about creating a community and pushing for change, but it feels like they just used those devs as pawns in their own game 
Like, sure, they'll throw around words like "inclusive" and "diverse" but if you dig deeper, the real work isn't being done 
And yeah, let's be real, having "allyship" without actual support is just performative, right? 
️]
] but hey, at least they got to be part of something cool... [Before and After transformation 
]
]
its so sad that ppl who were chosen to represent diversity and inclusivity in the gaming industry got used as props for a bit before being cast aside 
the fact that midnight hour is still active though gives me hope 
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we want diversity and inclusivity in our industry" - but then when it comes down to actually supporting these talented young creators, it's like, "oh, that's too much effort". 
.
. And it's great to hear that some inductees saw the positive impact of the programme as a lasting legacy 
. We just need more people like Elaine Gómez, who understand the importance of community and support 
.
. If we're gonna claim to be advocates for change, we gotta back it up with actions 
! 
. It's like, yeah, we're glad you guys came aboard for the optics, but now that we've seen some real change happen, you're just gonna ghost us? Not cool, fam. 
It seems like they were more interested in getting some free marketing for the awards ceremony than actually helping out the devs.
. It's like, if you're gonna use us for positive publicity, at least have our backs when it counts 
. But I do think there's still value in what the Future Class programme brought to the table - that sense of community and camaraderie among devs from underrepresented communities is real 
.