Young game development talent feels "cast aside" after being touted as a symbol of diversity and inclusion.
In 2020, Geoff Keighley, host and producer of The Game Awards, announced the Future Class programme, aimed at highlighting promising young developers from underrepresented communities. With an estimated 154 million livestreams last year, it seemed like a groundbreaking initiative. However, sources close to the programme claim that support for Future Class began to dwindle soon after its inception.
"It was like we were just props," said Dianna Lora, a game producer who was inducted into the first Future Class cohort in 2020. "Once we got to The Game Awards ceremony, it felt like we were pushed aside... We found out later that Keighley had a party in another room with all the influencers and industry people." Lora likened their experience to being cast aside.
Several members of the programme have expressed frustration that they were used for positive publicity but ultimately abandoned when diversity and inclusion initiatives fell out of favour. "It's sad that we were part of something great, that has amazing people, that was left by the wayside," said accessibility consultant Steve Saylor.
The Future Class programme received significant sponsorships, including a prominent spot during Keighley's 2024 summer games showcase. However, many members felt that they were "tokenised" to help boost the programme's profile and increase revenue. "They didn't mention us at the 2022 Game Awards, except for a huge sponsorship that they apparently got in the name of the Future Class, which none of us were told about, and certainly didn't see any money from," said Jes Negrón.
Not only has the programme been discontinued, but its members also no longer have an official archive to claim their induction. "Not only are they discontinuing the programme, but they've also eliminated any way for us to claim the honour that they provided," said Natalie Checo, a community manager who was part of the programme.
Despite the programme's demise, some members have maintained that it created a sense of camaraderie and community among its participants. "The camaraderie and community that was created by bringing nearly 200 developers and creatives from underrepresented communities together" was the best part of Future Class, according to Elaine Gómez, founder of Midnight Hour.
The official Future Class Discord server remains active, with members continuing to discuss their experiences and advocate for change within the industry. As game development talent looks ahead, it's clear that the struggle for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry is far from over.
In 2020, Geoff Keighley, host and producer of The Game Awards, announced the Future Class programme, aimed at highlighting promising young developers from underrepresented communities. With an estimated 154 million livestreams last year, it seemed like a groundbreaking initiative. However, sources close to the programme claim that support for Future Class began to dwindle soon after its inception.
"It was like we were just props," said Dianna Lora, a game producer who was inducted into the first Future Class cohort in 2020. "Once we got to The Game Awards ceremony, it felt like we were pushed aside... We found out later that Keighley had a party in another room with all the influencers and industry people." Lora likened their experience to being cast aside.
Several members of the programme have expressed frustration that they were used for positive publicity but ultimately abandoned when diversity and inclusion initiatives fell out of favour. "It's sad that we were part of something great, that has amazing people, that was left by the wayside," said accessibility consultant Steve Saylor.
The Future Class programme received significant sponsorships, including a prominent spot during Keighley's 2024 summer games showcase. However, many members felt that they were "tokenised" to help boost the programme's profile and increase revenue. "They didn't mention us at the 2022 Game Awards, except for a huge sponsorship that they apparently got in the name of the Future Class, which none of us were told about, and certainly didn't see any money from," said Jes Negrón.
Not only has the programme been discontinued, but its members also no longer have an official archive to claim their induction. "Not only are they discontinuing the programme, but they've also eliminated any way for us to claim the honour that they provided," said Natalie Checo, a community manager who was part of the programme.
Despite the programme's demise, some members have maintained that it created a sense of camaraderie and community among its participants. "The camaraderie and community that was created by bringing nearly 200 developers and creatives from underrepresented communities together" was the best part of Future Class, according to Elaine Gómez, founder of Midnight Hour.
The official Future Class Discord server remains active, with members continuing to discuss their experiences and advocate for change within the industry. As game development talent looks ahead, it's clear that the struggle for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry is far from over.
It's wild how a program meant to uplift underrepresented devs can be abandoned like this 
. These young talents were literally pushed aside while the main dude gets all the clout 
. Tokenism at its finest 
. They should've stuck it out and made sure these talented folks had actual resources behind them 
i'm literally so done with this whole situation. like, isn't it supposed to be about promoting diversity & inclusion but it sounds like they just used ppl from underrepresented communities as props 
and then ghosted them when it got old? it's not even like the ppl who were part of the program didn't do anything right...they actually brought some real change to the table. now it's all being taken away from them 
and they don't even get to keep the 'honor' that was supposed to be a big deal 
what a waste.
i was really excited about the Future Class programme when it first started 
but to hear that it was all just a publicity stunt 
its not cool at all
about the community and camaraderie that was created... that's real 
. we need more initiatives like that, not just tokenised ones 
its a start, right? 
️
I'm literally shook by this story... I mean what even happened? They tout this amazing initiative to support underrepresented devs, but then basically abandon them when things get tough. It's like they just used you for a cool PR stunt and forgot about you afterwards 
. And now the programme is just... gone 
. I mean, if you're gonna do something as cool as Future Class, don't forget about the people who made it happen 
. It's like, yeah, we did make a difference, but where are the real opportunities and support systems for these talented devs now? That's what I wanna know 
.