A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios
Jon Weisnewski, the Lead Character Designer for Firewalk Studios, the developer of the recently announced Concord game, is a woke activist that buys into the claim that white people are “privileged.”
Following PlayStation showcasing Concord as part of their most recent State of Play video at the end of May, the game’s character designs were mocked across the internet.
In the Gaming subreddit, user gpetrakas declared, “Concord might have the UGLIEST Characters Designs I have ever seen.”
Others agreed. One user wrote, “Yeah I’m not too keen on the character design either but I am also tired of the Pixar toon look that most team shooters have had since like 2007.
Another added, “It’s like they asked chatgpt to make overwatch again but strip it off all identity.”
Still another posted, “piss yellow, moldy green, wine purple and blue lipstick. who tf thought this was a acceptable color palate need to go.”
It was not just on Reddit. On X, user Mangalawyer wrote, “Concord is a new progressive and modern shooter for Pc & Playstation. It features five black women, four aliens, three robots, and one white man. It’s incredibly diverse and non-heteronormative. Plus, it has pronouns. Are you excited?”
Concord is a new progressive and modern shooter for Pc & Playstation. It features five black women, four aliens, three robots, and one white man. It’s incredibly diverse and non-heteronormative. Plus, it has pronouns. Are you excited? 😆 pic.twitter.com/DpLfjIvpp1
— LearningTheLaw (@Mangalawyer) May 31, 2024
Former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern also stated, “Concord, the new game by Firewalk Studios is so focused on ‘inclusive’ teams that they forgot the white guys in their game. Inclusive should not mean racists against white people, but it too often does.”
Concord, the new game by @FirewalkStudios, is so focused on “inclusive” teams that they forgot the white guys in their game.
Inclusive should not mean racists against white people, but it too often does. pic.twitter.com/vaJDGiSQ9X
— Grummz (@Grummz) May 31, 2024
As noted by Grummz not only does Firewalk make it clear they are pushing inclusion as a value at their company, but the company’s Lead Character Designer has made it clear he’s a woke activist.
Back in 2020, he responded to a post by former Bungie Lead Programmer Petar Kotevski who stated, “Thinking that all white people are unconsciously racist is the same as thinking that all black people are unconsciously lazy.”
Weisnewski replied, “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.”
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.”
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.
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!”
In September 2020, he 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.”
What do you make of Weisnewski’s comments? Do you think his allegiance to this ideology has affected the character designs for Concord?
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