Indie dev ‘devastated’ after BAFTA pulls trailer at last minute, citing ‘wellbeing of our guests’
BAFTA Games Awards pulled a trailer for indie game “The Quiet Things” just 24 hours before Friday’s ceremony, citing concerns for “the wellbeing of our guests.” Developer Alex Jones expressed being “devastated” by the last-minute decision to remove the promotional material.
“The Quiet Things” is an autobiographical narrative adventure game based on Jones’s real childhood memories. The game explores sensitive themes including childhood abuse, self-harm, and suicide, with the stated purpose of reducing shame around these topics and fostering conversations about mental health and trauma.
The reason for BAFTA’s decision to remove the trailer at such short notice was not fully detailed in initial reports, though the organization’s stated concern centers on the wellbeing of event attendees. The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the gaming industry regarding how major award ceremonies handle content addressing mental health, trauma, and difficult personal experiences. The removal of the trailer raises questions about the visibility and platforming of games that tackle these important but sensitive subjects at prominent industry events.