Publisher of Space Marine and Plague Tale Reports Legal Action Following Employee Threats

If you’ve spent any time online, you’re likely aware of how harsh and toxic some areas can be, especially within gaming communities. Recently, one company has decided to take a stand against the negativity and threats that have been directed at its team.

On September 15, the company shared a message with its players via social media and on various Discord servers, including the one for Space Marine II. The message serves as a reminder of the community’s conduct rules and emphasizes the importance of creating a space where everyone feels welcome, respected, and included. It also highlights a troubling rise in toxic messages aimed at its staff and developers, with a recent spike in threatening communications prompting the company to file formal legal complaints against certain players.

Here’s the full message shared:

Today we’d like to remind everyone about the rules of conduct of this community. We expect you to contribute to an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and included, be it fellow community members, moderators, dev teams, or Focus staff. Focus staff have sadly seen their share of toxic messages over the past years, but a recent escalation has led Focus Entertainment to file formal legal complaints against players directly threatening team members. Our networks and hubs are about passion, not hatred. We are proud of our team and will not tolerate violent or sexist comments. We reserve the right to take all necessary legal action to protect our staff. Thanks for your attention.

The message does not clarify what might have caused this recent surge in threats, nor does it provide additional context. Attempts to reach out for more information have not yet yielded a response.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first instance of a gaming company needing to address toxic behavior. Recently, another major player implemented new policies to safeguard its support staff, who have faced increased threats and negativity following a controversial decision regarding physical game production.