Lisa Brown via GDC YouTube

A new report claims that one of the developers for Firewalk Studios’ upcoming game Concord demanded her co-workers refer to her as “professor,” that she pushed “extreme politics,” and demanded that her unvaccinated colleagues be fired.

A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios

This new report comes from YouTuber Smash JT and an anonymous source. SmashJT posted on X, “Firewalk Studios, the studio behind the impending ‘Concord’ flop, has serious internal issues… One of their devs – Lisa Brown, AKA @Wertle: – Came out as ‘non-binary’ & forced everyone at the company to call her ‘Professor,’ – She would regularly have meetings w/cheesy phrases like “Teaching/learning with the Professor” – She pushed extreme politics, hated guns & wanted unvaxxed staff fired.”

Smash JT added, “This is just part of why Concord is such a delusional mess… I’ve found out a LOT more about this studio – Just awaiting confirmation before going public w/other stuff.”

In a subsequent video upload, Smash JT reiterated much of this information.

Speaking specifically to Brown demanding she be called the Professor,” Smash JT said, “The source was telling me that if people would not want to refer to her as at or didn’t feel comfortable with it then their job would be in jeopardy. Meaning that this person had their pronouns pushed to the point of calling them something that they have not earned before. They didn’t have any agrees or accomplishments to be called Professor. They just decided one day when they woke up saying, ‘I’m a professor now and people should start calling me that.’

Smash JT continued, “Here’s where it gets crazy. This change, according to the source, had led to a companywide enforcement on adjustments in addressing and interactions. Meaning that people were required to address people how they demanded to be spoken to. And meetings from this Lisa Brown developer when they had these scrums together at the office would be titled really weird things like: “Meeting with the Professor” or “Teaching learning with the Professor,” which as the source had reported to me were not well-received by the staff there universally.”

“Like many of the people at Firewalk Studios felt uncomfortable around this person, but also felt like they’d be retaliated against if they tried to speak up and say anything because the overwhelming architecture of the company especially when it comes to HR was very left leaning,” he added. “Meaning that it was very sympathetic to pronoun bias and how people are addressed and exactly how you need to report to people and if you don’t give them that respect then you’re the person in the wrong.”

A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios

Demanding individuals use preferred pronouns “might seem innocuous and even appear to be an innocent way of signaling love and acceptance of a person,” says Bishop Burbidge in A Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Ideology. “In reality, however, it presents a profound crisis: We can never say something contrary to what we know to be true. To use names and pronouns that contradict the person’s God-given identity is to speak falsely.”

He adds, “The faithful should avoid using “gender-affirming” terms or pronouns that convey approval of or reinforce the person’s rejection of the truth. It is not harsh or judgmental to decline to use such language. In the broader culture, Catholics may experience significant pressure to adopt culturally-approved terminology. However, in no circumstances should anyone be compelled to use language contrary to the truth.”

“The right to speak the truth inheres in the human person and cannot be taken away by any human institution. Attempts by the state, corporations, or employers to compel such language, particularly by threats of legal action or job loss, are unjust. We must love in the truth, and truth must be accurately conveyed by our words. At the same time, clarity must always be at the service of charity, as part of a broader desire to move people towards the fulness of the truth,” Bishop Burbidge declared.

A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios

Later in the video, Smash JT detailed, “Lisa also was someone who advocated for firing people that refused to get vaccinated during the pandemic. Let that sink in just a little bit. Listen to how authoritative this type of personality is where they demand to be addressed a certain way, they demand people respect what they wake up and feel like and they’re non-binary one day and have to be addressed as the “Professor,” work on a game that has guns, but they don’t like guns, but then also don’t want people in the office that aren’t vaccinated to the point of complaining about them wanting them to get fired because of it.”

“This is just one of the employees that’s in a high up position at a company making this game,” he added.

A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios

Smash JT also noted later in the video that this is likely the first in a series of information digging into Firewalk Studios.

He said, “Assertions made by this whistleblower giving me the information are part of a much broader investigation that I have going on with the Studio’s culture and operational efficiencies more of my investigation goes into further detail on HR and their cult mentality and how employees are afraid to speak out against any of the poor design choices for fear of being blacklisted at their own company. This ran through the entire organization insidiously and completely rotted it from the inside out.”

A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios

This is not the first time it’s been reported that a  Firewalk Studios employee engaged in bad behavior. Concord’s Lead Character Designer Jon Weisnewski revealed he was a woke activist in a discussion with former Bungie Lead Programmer Petar Kotevski in 2020.

Kotevski posted on X, “Thinking that all white people are unconsciously racist is the same as thinking that all black people are unconsciously lazy.”

Weisnewski responded, “This is an over simplification. The sentiment being expressed is that whites must acknowledge their privileged position, and then actively work for equality. It will be hard and confronting work, but if we don’t we’re complicit. And complicity allows systemic racism to persist.”

Jon Weisnewski on X

In another post he declared, “I’m not accusing you/myself/’all whites’ of being Jim Crow racists. I also don’t think anyone hearing it should immediately take it that way. Whites in America have always had an advantage in our social/economic/justice systems just because we’re white.”

Jon Weisnewski on X

He added, “Doing nothing and saying ‘well I’M not racist’ allows it to persist unchecked. We need to acknowledge the advantage we’ve had and use it to help others pursue equality and justice. That needs to become the new ‘I’m not racist’: using your privilege to erode that very privilege.”

“Part of that is humbling myself to listen. People are ANGRY. It’s ok for them to yell inflammatory statements. I do it too. I don’t think it comes down to the technical accuracy of their rage and whether or not that results in an accusation towards me. It’s not about ME,” he continued.

Jon Weisnewski on X

Next, he stated, “I also know that when we do the work to listen and learn, we’ll likely find that even though we’re not ‘Racist’, we probably could have been doing a lot more to work against subtle and systemic racism all around us. That’s been true for me and many other white Americans.”

“So I’m not replying because I think you’re wrong. Nor am I trying to say you’re a racist even though you don’t feel racist feelings. Just offering an appeal to hear the humanity coming from the black community right now. Let’s help them,” he concluded. “Nothing but love for you Petar!”

Jon Weisnewski on X

In September 2020, he also claimed that the entire judicial system is white supremacy.

He wrote on X, “The entire thread addresses white supremacy. Proud Boys ARE white supremacy. Police brutality is white supremacy. The entire penal/judicial system is white supremacy. The whole thread. White supremacy.”

Jon Weisnewski on X

What do you make of this report regarding Concord developer Lisa Brown?