Game Developer Drops Key Promoter, Player Base Tanks Amidst Backlash
A recent decision by the developers of the game Crime Boss: Rockay City, Ingame Studios, to sever ties with prominent VTuber Ka has ignited significant backlash from players and appears to have resulted in a dramatic loss of the game’s active player base. The move comes after Ka had been a significant proponent and advertiser for the game since its 2023 release, providing constant marketing through a large platform, conducting testing, and reporting bugs.
VTubers, individuals using anime avatars while streaming or commentating, are a rising phenomenon in online content creation. Ka, identified as a key advocate for Crime Boss: Rockay City, was reportedly the sole content creator heavily pushing the game.
The developer’s decision to drop Ka was reportedly influenced by external pressure, described in one perspective as capitulating to “cancel culture”. This pressure allegedly stemmed from anonymous posts, Reddit users who admitted not watching Ka, and an article by a news outlet. The reasons cited for the developer’s action included hearing about Ka’s “insane beliefs,” laughing at “edgy jokes,” and accusations of being “racist,” spreading “conspiracy theories,” defending George Zimmerman, and making comments about Austin Mechaf’s dad and a Shiloh Hendrick fundraiser.
Specifically, one article reportedly questioned Ka for “pushing the great replacement theory,” supporting “healthy young women having double mastctomies,” and seemingly defending Shiloh Hendrick’s fundraiser after Hendrick reportedly used a racial slur against a child. However, another perspective suggests that Ka’s comments were taken out of context and that she actually opposed the use of the racial slur.
Following Ingame Studios’ decision, the reaction from the player community has been overwhelmingly negative, particularly visible in the game’s reviews on platforms like Steam. Reviews quickly shifted to “mostly negative”. Many negative reviews explicitly mention finding the game through Ka and express disapproval of the developer’s action, vowing not to support the company after they dropped their “biggest supporter” over online drama. Players view this not as a “review brigade” but as paying customers “voting with their voice and their wallet” against what they see as an “astronomically poor decision”. They argue that dropping Ka, the number one advocate, raises concerns about potential future changes to the game to appease critics.
The impact on Crime Boss: Rockay City‘s player count appears significant. Before the backlash, the game was reportedly peaking at over 8,000 concurrent players. Following the developer’s move, the player count plummeted to around 1,000 active players, representing a loss of roughly 85% of the player base overnight. Another observation notes the player count dropping from around 7,500 just 30 days prior to 550 players currently, estimating a loss of approximately 95% of the player base.
Conversely, some individuals expressed support for the developer’s action in reviews, although it is noted that many of these positive reviews come from users who do not own the game.
This situation is being highlighted as an example of a company potentially suffering severe consequences, including a massive loss of its player base, after making a decision perceived by many as yielding to online pressure or “cancel culture”. As one perspective puts it, “you reap what you sow”.
