During a game’s development, narrative consultants will be hired by studios to help with fleshing out or tweaking narrative elements, Kenney said. “Narrative consultants do not get final say,” Kenney reiterated. "It doesn’t get into the game if we [as the developer] don’t approve it.
“They consult. They do research, pitch ideas, give feedback, and maybe even write scripts. But none of that gets into the game unless the core dev team agrees with it. I’m going to keep saying that, because it’s key. Sweet Baby is not, nor is any consulting group, coming in to wreck games. They’re helping smooth out plots and deepen characters. They ease the burden on the core narrative team. They’re additive in every way.”
A Sweet Baby Inc co-founder said at GDC that they rely on fear to force developers to bring in DEI consultants. One of their founders also has had some spicy things to say about white males.
Sweet Baby Inc is not likely responsible for AAA gaming largely being disappointing (I blame that on monetization and an unwillingness to innovate), but why would I want to support people who extort their way into business and hate me for my immutable characteristics?
That “rely on fear” thing was a joke that people looking to get mad are taking seriously.