Update: And just like that, Abylight's Twitter account has been unlocked and is now back up and running. The studio has shared a message of thanks to fans:
"Good news, anybody? The @abylight Twitter is back! As quietly and mysteriously as it disappeared in the beginning of November, it got unsuspended and is now up and running!
We believe we won it back thanks to the support of our players, friends and industry colleagues who shared that #freeAbylight message and likely got attention of some kind human in Twitter's support department. Thank you!"
Original Article (Tue 17th Nov, 2020 16:45 GMT): Abylight Studios, the publisher behind Switch games like Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition and Cursed Castilla EX, has hit out at social media giant Twitter after having its account suspended.
The Barcelona-based team says that its account has been shut down "without warning or explanation", noting that the studio has been cut off from speaking to its 7,400-strong following consisting of media and fans alike. Abylight says that it immediately reached out to Twitter for support, but hasn't received any response.
"This is no small matter," says Eva Gaspar, Abylight's CEO. "Losing this account affects the work of many people, jobs depend on this working out fast. This attitude is incredibly dangerous and careless from such a big company, especially given the current state of affairs worldwide."
The studio describes Twitter as being a "vital part" of its business, and a platform which helps it to communicate with gamers, developers, and an extended network of games industry professionals. The reasoning behind the suspension isn't clear, although Abylight believes that it hasn't violated any of Twitter's rules.
In the meantime, the company is trying to kickstart a #freeAbylight campaign in an attempt to get Twitter's attention.
Gaspar adds, "When things like this happen, they should at least respond to our plight."
Comments 89
Well, sure hope they get "freed" soon
I absolutely feel bad for them, but I can’t help but compare this to YouTubers who feel entitled to a livelihood on the platform.
I don’t think either platforms were designed to uphold people’s livelihoods and jobs, and it’s unfair to criticise them for not being able to do so - even if it does negatively affect you
Just my opinion of course!
This is preposterous, to say the least. I follow them on that platform and really like their games. I don't see a reason for it.
@DeclanS98 "I don’t think either platforms were designed to uphold people’s livelihoods and jobs."
I agree with this statement. Putting all eggs in a basket that is not yours guarantees the basket will be taken from you sooner or later.
However, whether we like it or not, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube are giants in the field, and for all their faults, it is true that they are platforms that help companies and individuals reach their fan base easier and on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, dealing with platforms that have a dicey history when it comes to bans and monetization (ahem, Youtube), is a risk that everyone being a member on the platform has to accept.
With all that said, I'm sure this was just a mistake on Twitter's part.
I thought Hyper Light Drifter was made by Heart Machine? I'm guessing joint developed then or maybe Abylight just published the game?
EDIT: Article updated
I really dislike these platforms. They have all kinds of arbitrary rules that no one can make sense of that essentially comes down to the biases of their "safety" team (as if that isn't Orwellian).
This idea that you can be an open platform but then have some unclear speech codes will always result in the banning of a lot of people and groups that don't deserve it. It's such a hot mess.
What’s twitter? Xx
@Dragonslacker1 Hell
@MatoFilipovic @DeclanS98 While I don't understand how their livelihoods depend on Twitter (given they are not streamers and maybe use this for promotion of their games only - hence a temporary ban does not feel like an "emergency" emergency - although I'll really like to learn why it is so important for them), I don't fully agree with you. These platforms are there and have promised monetary benefits to people, so people have opted for those - although not keeping all eggs in the same basket is always a sound advice. These are legitimate avenues for earning money, just like a standard job is. Someday an employer may wake up and decide to fire someone.
I understand the argument that no one should sustain their business via social media, because those platforms don't belong to them. I mean, I understand it in theory. And legally, I suppose it makes sense.
In practice, though, I find that argument naive. For better or for worse, social media is something all companies must contend with, and where they end up building much of their communication with users and consumers. This is because the real estate of online visibility is, largely, controlled by these social media platforms. So even though they are private spaces, technically-speaking, their social and economic importance goes beyond that. And, frankly, these platforms benefit directly, in terms of users and engagement, from being used so heavily by businesses, so they should make efforts to make their ecosystems healthy and transparent for companies.
The pointless irrelevant arguing throughout these comments shows how toxic Twitter is. 🙄 Even just mentioning it brings across the usual Twitter negativity and same old arguments had about a zillion times over on that website (with nobody ever changing their mind) I advise people who care about their mental health to use it sparingly, if at all!
@k8sMum I wish the world were so simple.
No minds will be changed based on the interactions within these comments so I'm inclined to stop commenting now.
Let's all just agree that Twitter should not have banned this company unless something comes out that adds further context.
Have a great day everyone, regardless of where you stand on these divisive issues.
This isn't new for Twitter. Seems they have ban happy employees
If this comment section is anything to go by, I made the right decision to never sign up for a Twitter account.
@sikthvash I wondered the same. Judging by the game’s Wikipedia, Heart Machine developed it and Abylight dealt with the Switch and iOS ports.
If they truly did nothing wrong then this is weird, but in that case I’m sure they can get back on the platform.
@nessisonett Uh, yeah they do that all the time, actually.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand No, they're not.
@DeclanS98
Except for the people who own the platform, right? For what purpose does Twitter exist?
Someone reported discussion of Ninja Chowdown as a racist post.
If your marketing and communication strategy is dependent on a free platform you are not paying for, have no control over, and is not accountable to you in any way ... that's kinda on you, to be honest.
Agree / disagree, like / dislike, the fact is twitter is a private company and has every right to censor it's platform in whatever arbitrary way they want. They could toss darts at a board and ban anyone they land on, we can't do anything about it. You simply shouldn't tie your business too closely to a platform you can't rely on.
It's funny how a large group of people scream "regulation is EVIL" and companies should be able to do whatever they want when the government is trying to tell them not to drill for oil on a wildlife preserve in first nations lands, but freak the hell out whenever twitter or Facebook exercise that same freedom ... but that's a completely different point.
Is this the first problem that video game company has ever had? They sure don't seem to be handling it professionally
@HotGoomba___Rebrand Twitter seriously be out here like "I mean prejudice is all well and good, but a small studio promoting a game they poured their hearts and souls into? Now THAT'S a racy topic! We gotta shut that down, pronto!"
Politics aside, anyone know why this company was banned?
I had a feeling the comments would catch fire for this. Twitter is essentially a (barely) curated and overgrown comments section in itself, so it's really no surprise to see the same kinds of arguments blow up here. Forgive the irony, but there's a point in which you realize it's absolutely futile to express any sort of nuanced view because people are going to dogpile onto whomever they disagree with and regurgitate with extreme futility from whatever echo chamber they crawled out of.
Everyone gets driven to the fringes desperately trying to get "the other side" to see the things they're blind to. Personally I cringe at feeling like I should have to explain why I think right wing militants are dangerous, but if I don't give someone at least an honest perspective without assuming all of their beliefs it's going to quickly devolve into tried-and-true whataboutism. I know I'm wasting my time here, but we've all seriously got to do better than this.
Maybe it’s time to move to Parler.
And before you say “nasty people use it”: reminder that Twitter was used by ISIS yet you seem to have no problem with it.
@ARPK You’re not wasting your time, I hear you.
@Omars_Comin_Yo Well when the first comment is... THAT, it's not too surprising.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand They're not "fine with nazis and white supremacists." They actively ban them on a constant basis.
Blech Twitter to be place of crystal bulbs
@Kabloop And what rules did they even break?
That's my issue with Twitter. They make rules super vague and then hide behind them to do whatever they want. Then they act like they are a free speech platform when they clearly aren't but still get treated as one.
That said, this developer should not have based all of their communication through Twitter. They should have had multiple outlets for communication.
If anything this topic has doubled my ignore list.
Arguing about Twitter and politics on a gaming comment section, great way to waste a day. Some of y’all got way too much time on your hands.
imagine trying to do politics in a nintendo website comments section? you right wing freaks are the worst people on the planet. keep going on about paedophilia m8s, really normal brain stuff to do on nintendolife.com
@sanguinekhajiit The pattern here is that these types of topics always blow up, and not just on NintendoLife. Reporting on a social media controversy is a powder keg waiting to go off. I didn't read the comments a couple weeks back on the PokePrincxss article but I'm sure that was a dumpster fire too. This section has two to four times more engagement than nearly anything else published today, which likely translates to ad revenue, which in turn probably influences the types of articles that are likely to be published. Every click and comment adds up, even the ones that deride others for wasting their time.
@Kalmaro We have had it good enough for a long time.
@Jokerwolf Speak for yourself, lol.
Don’t worry guys. This is gonna happen to lots of people. The Dark Winter and Great Reset is coming. I’ve got extra canned food, [weapon energy] and batteries for my Gameboy when it comes. Lol
Edit: might as well stop, the comments got deleted.
Snitch alert: it was @nessisonett
Welcome to 1984 people. All media, mainstream and social, are owned by the new world order that is slowly growing behind closed doors.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand I'll have some of that popcorn, thank you.
It sounds like this was all probably an error in Twitter's algorithm. Much less exciting than the comments would have me believe. I feel like having those types of heavy conversations on a site called 'Nintendo Life' is like holding a press conference at a landscaping company.
@BAN that's true but I don't want to talk politics on a website dedicated to Chibi-Robo Zip Lash anymore.
I love Hyper Light Drifter; it's a great game.
Can I get my account unbanned too?
@ryancraddock I wonder how long it will take for comments to be disabled on this article. Happened to a Brie Larson article a while ago...might be necessary here now.
@nessisonett I've had at least 4-5 days worth of pile ons from some of the so called gender criticals recently. Its just tiring.
I see this comments section has turned to rubbish.
@sanguinekhajiit What on earth are you talking about?
@Severian People are allowed to talk. There’s nothing being said on here that seems worth silencing.
@Zadaris I love Game, it’s a great game.
@TG16_IS_BAE You and I must be reading different comments: the hyperbole, ad hominem, and straw man arguments here are cringeworthy.
@astros75 I know right. I was thinking about talking some sense into a few, but I just decided to live life, maybe post a few memes here.
@Severian This isn’t a debate class, it’s a games chat forum. There are no debate rules, the play field is even. Let all voices be heard, even the ones you disagree with, so that you may be exposed to new ideas.
@TG16_IS_BAE I don't have a problem with people disagreeing with me. What I do have is a problem with personal insults and immaturity--and those are against the community rules.
Might as well start another argument.
ITS CALLED ICEES, NOT FLAVORED ICE OR ITALIAN ICE!
@HotGoomba___Rebrand Or: who correctly rolls toilet paper from above rather than weirdly below?
Eh this comment section sure does seem like a Twitter dumpster fire
What in the good name of Lord Miyamoto happened here lol
Ok let’s stop.
Plz?
If I missed a comment on either side and any of you think that’s unfair or something, please don’t bring it up. Just let the discussion end.
Maybe go continue this discussion somewhere else. Like Twitter.
@Eel thank you. 👏🏽
@HotGoomba___Rebrand I was ready for it to stop, but you had to keep it going and open old wounds.
Viva la italian ice
@Eel Sorry Eel, I just removed my last comment. Peace 🙃
@TG16_IS_BAE it takes a lot to offend me. But that doesn’t mean I need to walk into a frat house if I have a choice, nor does it mean people should act like frat boys to highlight their points in a discussion. There was hardly a discussion here worth keeping and thankfully has been mostly done away.
See you in the next article comments section, dude. I like chatting with you actually.
I see that the folks at Nintendo Life cleaned up the comment section including some things I've said.
It's all good though because it was even handed and because of that, I respect it.
Just one more new Parler account
@Severian Thanks, you as well!! And I agree with your points, especially since I’ve been there and done that. Not fun being on the receiving end!
@TechaNinja The abridged version:
/End Twitter Simulation
@Eel Thank you for deleting my comments, I don't want to start any more political arguments.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand just don’t talk about pineapple pizza again, we don’t want another debate like this.
@Eel 🤐
I'm not on Twitter as they seem to randomly censor people all the time, but would recommend that companies don't rely on Twitter and Facebook so heavily either way. Also, Parler is much better than Twitter.
It is a privately owned platform. Vote with your feet.
@Eel The topic of pineapple pizza is serious stuff. My wife, the love of my life, likes pineapple pizza. Everytime she eats it I die a little inside.
New case of a company mobilizing its "forces" against another company?
Not as aggressive as what EPIC pulled, but the terminologies used here seem a little extra.
I don't see anything extreme here.
A publishing company had a major arm of its marketing cut off (a big part of what many publishers do). Mistake on Twitter's part or not, immediate attention-getting action is the way to fix it — partly because Twitter is not fast to respond, otherwise.
Not much to see here unless it escalates or more information about why it was banned comes to light.
My guess and hope is that it will be fixed soon.
Twitter do this all the time, and it's not acceptable. Ban people if you need to, sure. But at least tell them ***** why.
@sikthvash As both the headline and the article say, they published it on Switch.
@Alex79uk the article has been updated to reflect that; originally it mentioned it was the developer.
@sikthvash Ah my bad, apologies.
@Alex79uk No worries bud! Clearly, they want to make me look like an idiot =0p
its account has been shut down "without warning or explanation"
This is the bad so unless they got a warning to do something or notices this is violates them being able to even get it re-addressed the problem.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand Fine by me. I’m not the one that brought them into this comment section.
@BAN Yeah, you're right, but I regret it, I was just trying to fit in.
@DeclanS98 I mean they do. So does Google. Not on the first page as determined by their faceless algorithm then you might as well not exist as a company (increasingly pushed by their search engine design). The power these platforms wield is obscene AND given they've dropped the position of not policing content and being conduits they now need to show they can do it properly or be dismantled.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand Haha it’s fine, I’ve posted much more regrettable crap in my day.
Just use that get out of jail free card that you hide that under the board.
Came off twitter after 11 years of active use. I agree that it is very badly moderated & managed. The main reason I came off the platform
These companies are power mad... let’s all move to Parler and Gab!
So many maddings of tweets
@DeclanS98 I would agree with that, if it weren't for the fact that these companies evade liability laws by pretending to be an unbiased platform. Make them liable for what is posted, and I would agree that they can kick anyone out for whatever reason. But they enjoy the same protection that postal services and telephone companies have. This leads people to think they can trust them to remain neutral and be a stable platform to launch on, while they are not. It is basically fraud on such a high scale that we are getting used to it. Society is turning to a mental jail for everyone around us because of this.
Tap here to load 89 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...