Capes Publisher Distances Itself from Sweet Baby Inc Amid Controversy and Criticism

A Community Strategist from Daedalic Entertainment recently addressed concerns regarding their association with Sweet Baby Inc (SBI), a narrative consultant company, following criticism of their latest game, Capes.

Capes, which launched on May 29, 2024, is a turn-based strategy title where players control a team of superheroes, each with unique abilities and roles. Despite positive reviews from some critics (IGN), the reception within the Steam community has been mixed, with some users harshly criticizing the game’s approach to diversity and inclusion.

In a post on the Steam community discussion board for Capes, a representative from Daedalic Entertainment, known as Penta, clarified the company’s stance on Sweet Baby Inc. and their involvement in the game’s development, as noted by NicheGamer.

Penta acknowledged the frustrations expressed by players, particularly regarding the design of the characters and the perception that the game followed a “diversity quota checklist.”

Penta explained that Daedalic’s collaboration with Sweet Baby Inc. took place in early 2022 before the DEI controversy. He acknowledged that knowing what they do now, the company might have made a different decision. Penta’s statement read,

“The devs collaborated with Sweet Baby Inc. in early 2022. We are aware of the statements made by individuals connected to them in the years to come, but in 2022, there was no sign of that. It is likely that the decision would have been different in 2024.”

However, Penta also expressed his disappointment over the negative reaction from some players, noting that Capes was designed to be inclusive for all gamers, regardless of their background. He stressed that Daedalic does not condone hate toward any group, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, or white male gamers. After all “We are all gamers, no matter who we are,” he added.

Recently, Sweet Baby Inc. has faced criticism as some players argue that the company’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is compromising the game’s quality. A Steam curator page titled “Sweet Baby Inc Detected” has further fueled this sentiment by listing out the games that SBI allegedly ruined with its forced DEI focus. Recently, the developer of Black Myth: Wukong, Game Science, also distanced themselves from SBI despite the reasonable price offered for the consultancy.

As of now, Capes has a Metacritic score of 72 and a “Mixed” rating on Steam, with approximately 60% positive reviews from over 200 users. The game’s gameplay has been compared to other popular turn-based strategy titles like XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and The Lamplighters League, featuring similar mechanics such as an isometric camera angle, a point-based resource system, and grid-based movement.

Despite the mixed reception, the German video game publisher remains focused on supporting Capes and its community, while also reflecting on the lessons learned from the game’s development and its aftermath.

Capes is available on multiple platforms, including PC (via Steam), Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

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