Investigative Journalism Shaping Labor Culture of the Video Game Industry

This chapter examines how investigative journalism has become a decisive force in shaping labor culture within the video game industry, tracing its evolution from a promotion-oriented, enthusiast press into a more critical, watchdog-oriented field. Combining close reading of journalistic and audiovisual materials with interviews conducted among journalists between 2018 and 2024, the analysis follows this shift through three case studies rooted in distinct national and media contexts: French coverage of Quantic Dream, American journalist Jason Schreier's reporting on Rockstar Games, and UK outlet People Make Games's investigation into the independent studio ZA/UM and the production of Disco Elysium. Drawing on Consalvo's concept of paratexts and situating findings within broader debates on media coverage of labor conflicts, the chapter identifies recurring patterns across these cases: the exposure of "crunch" and toxic management, growing space given to salaried employees' testimonies alongside those of high-profile figures, and the way sustained scrutiny compels studios to adjust their public communication — sometimes prompting genuine reform, at other times only rhetorical damage control. The ZA/UM case in particular demonstrates that independent studios are not immune to the same labor and business-conduct issues associated with larger publishers, complicating the idealized narrative of the indie auteur. The chapter also traces a tension within the profession itself, as economic precarity and the slow pace of industry change lead some investigative journalists to leave reporting for roles within the industry they once covered. Together, these findings position investigative journalism as an informal regulatory force whose influence on production culture, while real, remains contingent on editorial commitment and audience reception.