Wealthy Tycoons and Corporations Aren’t Your Allies
Over the holiday weekend, pop icon Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce tied the knot at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The affluent couple secured permits to close off streets around the venue during the holiday, impacting local businesses that thrive on the bustling foot traffic of Midtown Manhattan. The roadblocks made it challenging for residents and visitors to navigate the crowded area, all for Swift and Kelce to exchange vows in one of the most famous music venues globally.
The extravagant reception, attended by some of the wealthiest figures in music, film, and beyond, was off-limits to the public. However, that didn’t deter Swift’s devoted fans from flocking to New York City during a historic heat wave, hoping to catch a glimpse of the event from a distance.
“It’s our version of a royal wedding.” Taylor Swift fans gather outside Madison Square Garden for the pop megastar’s marriage to Travis Kelce.
In many ways, this wedding symbolizes the culmination of Swift’s narrative around her love life, woven throughout her discography with both explicit and subtle references to her past relationships. Fans perceive this wedding as the final chapter in a long-running saga they’ve followed since the beginning. To them, it’s like the last entry in a beloved book series, with the author hosting an exclusive launch party. As fans express in the video, they liken it to a royal wedding, and given the consumerist culture in America, it’s understandable that two incredibly wealthy individuals with vast media empires would be viewed in such a light. Even though barricades and security kept fans at bay, the couple ensured that electronic billboards displayed “JUST MARRIED” around the venue, allowing those outside to feel included in the celebration.
While I’m not a die-hard Swiftie, I do enjoy some of her music and have friends and family who are passionate fans. Even when I’m not actively following her career, I’m usually aware of the discussions surrounding it. Living in New York City, I’ve seen firsthand the impact Swift and Kelce’s wedding has had on locals, and I often hear Swifties pulling out their pre-prepared defenses for the couple’s extravagant display of wealth, almost like they’re reloading saves in a dialogue-driven game to find the perfect response that will justify their favorites.
Swift has faced her share of unfair criticism throughout her career, so her most ardent supporters have a stockpile of arguments ready to go, regardless of the actual discourse. These often revolve around accusations of sexism, suggesting that while a man flaunting wealth goes unnoticed, a woman doing the same draws immediate backlash, as if billionaires like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk have never faced scrutiny. They might point to her charitable use of her wealth as a shield against criticism regarding her private jet’s carbon footprint. Ultimately, many Taylor Swift fans hold her in a way that seems almost delusional for someone they’ve never met, but this is the relationship she has fostered with her audience by inviting them into her life through her music.
So, why does this matter in the gaming world? Because the unwavering loyalty of Swifties mirrors the kind of blind devotion that allows companies like Xbox and PlayStation to spin negative news in ways that prompt their most dedicated supporters to defend them fiercely.
Recently, Xbox announced it would be laying off thousands of employees as part of a significant restructuring. While some might argue that it’s better than outright closures, the speed at which people rush to defend the company for its poor decisions reflects the same blind loyalty seen in fans who travel to witness a “private” wedding from a distance during a heat wave. We shouldn’t feel obligated to protect a company that has toyed with the lives of thousands while maintaining a hostile work environment.
Last week, PlayStation revealed it would stop producing physical discs for its games starting in 2028, sparking outrage so intense that its various branches struggle to post on social media without facing backlash. Yet, we still see think pieces attempting to downplay the significance of this decision, which could severely impact game preservation and access for low-income communities. If you’re willing to overlook the inconvenience to others to maintain your brand loyalty, how is that fundamentally different from a Swiftie justifying the disruption of New York City streets for a wedding because it doesn’t affect them?
As the video game industry faces consolidation and rising AI costs lead to increased prices across tech, justifying the actions of these corporations benefits no one. Xbox and Sony wouldn’t come to your defense if you were in trouble, nor would they care if you were gone tomorrow. If you genuinely want to advocate for the impact video games have had on your life or others, you don’t need to defend faceless corporations or idolize CEOs who don’t even create the games you love. Asha Sharma isn’t going to “save” Xbox; the Xbox you cherished is long gone. Under her leadership, Microsoft is dragging its legacy while trying to distract from the real harm it has caused. PlayStation has decimated its first-party offerings chasing trends that haven’t panned out and still hasn’t learned from the fallout.
What are we really defending here other than a distorted, idealized image of friends we’ve never met? You don’t have to hand it to them, no matter the circumstances.
