Infinity Ward Art Director Asks Fans to "Keep it Clean"

As you may or may not be aware, a brand-new Modern Warfare game is coming out soon, October 25th, although people have been playing it for a while via open betas and the like, and there has been a lot of excitement and anger in equal measure from the fans. Some, of course, are happy to see the return of a single-player mode and other long-absent features and modes from Modern Warfare games of the past. Others are upset about the PS4-exclusive survival mode, and the fact that the game’s loot boxes, called Supply Drops, may include guns and other gameplay-changing items rather than just cosmetics.

And as you may know, when people get upset on the internet, they tend to get… mean. And one Infinity Ward employee, the art director Joel Emslie, has gone to Reddit to plead for civility.
 

“We are a mixed bag of nerds, jocks, and everything in between. Its amazing but we all get along and come together every day to build something that we believe in. We've dedicated our careers to being the best at what we do and to making the best possible game we can make. That's corny but at the same time this is a job and if you work at a job and aren't successful then eventually there is no job…

…So yes...the current drama, you're all being heard, all of it. I don't know why but on my daily scans of the sub, where Im looking for useful feedback;), I even read the ultra dark toxic comments that tell me how incompetent and stupid I must be and how I should go away somewhere where I cant harm people with my bad ideas and artwork. We all have a pretty thick skin here but yeah it can kind of get to you. Believe me we keep it professional but of course people that pass by my office from time to time can hear me through the walls:)…

… keep it clean and maybe even a little creative. Get it out of your system but remember there's a team of human beings here at IW and we have crappy days just like you”

So far, reactions to the plea have been more or less positive and supportive – given how most people “get” that the real bad guys here aren’t the rank-and-file employees, but the decision makers up top – and that’s nice. If it will lead to substantial change, we have yet to see… but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that.