Ben Starr just delivered the gaming industry speech everyone needed to hear. The Final Fantasy XVI star won Best Supporting Performer at the November 20, 2025 Golden Joystick Awards for his role as Verso in Clair Obscur Expedition 33, but instead of just thanking the studio and moving on, he used his platform to address the elephant in the room. This industry is hard, he said before pausing as someone in the audience shouted well said Ben. We are celebrating today, astonishing video games, but there are many people who should be here who aren’t because they are laid off from the industry.
The speech resonated because it came from a place of genuine empathy during gaming’s worst employment crisis in decades. Tens of thousands of developers have lost their jobs since 2023, with major publishers laying off entire studios despite record profits. Starr didn’t just acknowledge the crisis. He praised Sandfall Interactive, the French studio behind Expedition 33, for doing what should be basic decency but has become exceptional in modern gaming: respecting the people that work for them and respecting the people they’re making games for.
The Speech That Needed to Be Said
Starr’s acceptance speech began by discussing his character Verso, describing him as flawed and polarizing. I think that is what this industry does best, he said, it presents us with flawed characters that reflect the lives we have on the outside. Cause life, guys, as we know, and I’m gonna be the first one to swear, is fucking hard. The profanity felt appropriate given the subject matter, a moment of genuine emotion in an industry that often feels too polished and corporate.
Then he pivoted to the industry itself. This industry is hard. We are celebrating today, astonishing video games, but there are many people who should be here who aren’t because they are laid off from the industry. After the supportive shout from the audience, he continued with specific praise for Sandfall Interactive. The one thing that Sandfall do is respect the people that work for them, and respect the people they’re making games for. This game is great because they wanted to make it good for the people they’re making it for. They didn’t want it to be popular.
That final line cuts deep. In an era where publishers chase live service trends, battle passes, and engagement metrics over creative vision, Starr highlighted a studio that prioritized making a good game for players rather than engineering virality or maximizing monetization. The fact that Expedition 33 became popular despite not chasing popularity proves his point about what resonates with players.
Why It Matters Coming From Ben Starr
Starr has quickly become one of gaming’s most beloved figures since his breakthrough role as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI. He went viral during The Game Awards 2023, became the face of indie hit Balatro by playing its mascot Jimbo in absurd marketing campaigns, and consistently uses his platform to advocate for the industry. When he showed up to the BAFTA Games Awards dressed as Jimbo holding bananas, he told press he wants it to be cool to like games.
That advocacy gives his layoff speech weight. He’s not an outsider criticizing from afar. He’s someone who loves gaming, actively participates in the community, and uses his growing celebrity to highlight what’s broken. The Golden Joystick Awards should be pure celebration, but Starr refused to let the industry forget the human cost of its current trajectory. His willingness to risk seeming like a buzzkill at an awards show demonstrates genuine conviction.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s Historic Night
Starr’s speech came during a historic evening for Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and Sandfall Interactive. The turn-based RPG won seven Golden Joystick Awards, tying Baldur’s Gate 3’s record from 2023. The haul included Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Storytelling, Best Soundtrack, Best Visual Design, and Studio of the Year for Sandfall Interactive. Jennifer English won Best Lead Performer while Ben Starr took Best Supporting Performer.
For a debut game from a relatively unknown French studio to match Baldur’s Gate 3’s achievement is remarkable. Larian Studios’ Dungeons and Dragons RPG was a cultural phenomenon with years of early access feedback and massive marketing behind it. Expedition 33 came seemingly out of nowhere, announced and released with shocking speed compared to typical AAA development cycles. The success validates Starr’s praise for Sandfall’s approach.
Creative director Guillaume Broche echoed Starr’s sentiments in his own comments, stating the game is a success regardless of accolades because the studio has received so many beautiful messages from players around the world saying that the game changed their lives and helped them through tough times. This player-first philosophy contrasts sharply with publishers that ship broken games, implement aggressive monetization, then wonder why audiences feel exploited.
The Game Awards Nominations
The Golden Joystick wins position Expedition 33 strongly for The Game Awards on December 11, 2025. The game received a record-breaking 12 nominations, the most of any title this year. Categories include Game of the Year, Best RPG, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Music and Score, Best Audio Design, Best Performance for both Jennifer English and Ben Starr, Games for Impact, Best Debut Indie, and Best Indie Game.
Twelve nominations for a debut game from an indie studio is unprecedented. For context, major AAA titles typically compete in this range, not first-time efforts from teams without massive publisher backing. The nominations reflect genuine industry and player recognition of what Sandfall accomplished. Whether Expedition 33 converts nominations into wins at The Game Awards remains to be seen, but the achievement of reaching this level demonstrates the game’s impact.
The Layoff Crisis Context
Starr’s speech resonates because gaming’s layoff crisis shows no signs of slowing. Since 2023, over 23,000 game industry workers have lost their jobs across hundreds of companies. Major publishers including Microsoft [finance:Microsoft Corporation], Sony [finance:Sony Group Corporation], Electronic Arts [finance:Electronic Arts Inc.], Embracer Group, Unity, Epic Games, Riot Games, and countless others have conducted mass layoffs despite often reporting record revenues and profits.
The pattern is depressingly consistent. Companies overexpand during pandemic-era growth, make unrealistic projections about sustained engagement, then slash headcount when reality doesn’t match inflated expectations. Entire studios get shut down mid-project. Developers who shipped successful games get laid off immediately after launch. Long-tenured employees with institutional knowledge are dismissed alongside recent hires.
What makes the crisis particularly galling is the disconnect between executive compensation and worker treatment. CEOs receive multi-million dollar bonuses while announcing layoffs of hundreds or thousands of employees. Publishers report record earnings quarters while closing studios. The industry generates more revenue than ever before, yet treats creative talent as disposable rather than valuable.
Sandfall’s Alternative Model
Sandfall Interactive represents what’s possible when studios prioritize sustainability over explosive growth. The team developed Expedition 33 with shocking efficiency compared to typical AAA timelines. Ben Starr explained in interviews that the speed cannot be underestimated, with the game going from casting to release faster than most major projects complete pre-production. Yet the final product rivals or exceeds the quality of games with triple the development time and budget.
How did they accomplish this? By respecting their team and avoiding scope creep that plagues the industry. They knew what game they wanted to make, assembled talented people who shared that vision, and executed efficiently without endless pivots or mission drift. The studio focused on delivering a complete, polished experience rather than chasing trends or implementing monetization schemes that require ongoing live service support.
This approach allowed Sandfall to stay lean and avoid the bloat that makes other studios vulnerable to layoffs when economic conditions shift. They didn’t hire hundreds of contractors with the intention of cutting them post-launch. They built a sustainable team capable of supporting the game and creating future projects without constant workforce churn. It’s basic business sense that somehow became radical in modern gaming.
Ben Starr’s Industry Advocacy
This isn’t the first time Starr has used his platform for advocacy. Throughout 2025, he’s consistently championed gaming and its creators. At the BAFTA Games Awards where he appeared as Jimbo for Balatro, he told press he wants it to be cool to like games and praised how video games offer opportunities for performers to do stuff not just in those games but outside them.
During the Golden Joystick Awards before his acceptance speech, Starr presented the Best Indie Game award wearing a Balatro card costume with a face cutout. I am classically trained Golden Joystick winning actor Ben Starr, he announced. Isn’t independence empowering? You can do whatever you want. The bit was funny, but the underlying message about creative freedom and independent development resonated with his later comments about respecting workers.
Starr’s advocacy matters because he has the cultural capital to be heard. His Final Fantasy XVI performance made him a recognizable name in gaming circles. His Balatro marketing campaign expanded his reach to mainstream audiences. His genuine enthusiasm and willingness to look silly for the sake of promoting games he believes in has endeared him to players. When he speaks about industry issues, people listen because he’s earned trust through consistent authenticity.
The Power of Speaking Up
Voice actors and performers occupy unique positions in gaming. They’re contractors brought in relatively late in development, not full-time employees with the same vulnerabilities. That distance provides freedom to speak more openly about industry problems without risking their livelihoods the way developers must. When developers criticize their employers publicly, they often face retaliation or blacklisting. When actors like Starr speak up, the consequences are less severe.
This makes it especially important for performers with platforms to use them. SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2024 included protections for voice actors against AI replacement, demonstrating organized labor’s power when properly wielded. Individual advocacy from respected figures like Starr complements union organizing by keeping issues in public discourse. Awards speeches reach audiences that union press releases never will.
The supportive audience reaction when Starr mentioned layoffs, well said Ben, shows the industry community recognizes the problem. Developers, players, and adjacent professionals understand the current trajectory is unsustainable. What’s needed is more people in positions of influence saying it plainly rather than letting corporate PR obscure the human cost of endless restructuring.
What Happens Next
Expedition 33’s success and Starr’s speech won’t fix the industry’s structural problems overnight. Major publishers will continue prioritizing shareholder returns over worker stability. Live service chasing will persist despite numerous high-profile failures. Consolidation will accelerate as struggling companies get acquired and absorbed. The layoff cycle will repeat because the incentives driving it haven’t changed.
But moments like this matter for shifting culture and expectations. When a major awards ceremony gives a platform to someone who uses it to highlight systemic problems, it normalizes that conversation. When a debut studio demonstrates that respecting workers and focusing on quality can produce both critical acclaim and commercial success, it provides a counter-example to conventional wisdom. When players see the connection between how studios treat employees and the quality of games produced, it influences purchasing decisions.
Sandfall Interactive has already announced they’re working on their next project, promising it’s crazy and true to their DNA. More Clair Obscur content is coming because Expedition 33 is not the end of the franchise, just one story they wanted to tell. The studio’s ability to continue creating without mass layoffs or workforce churn will provide ongoing proof that alternative models work if companies prioritize sustainability.
FAQs
What did Ben Starr say about gaming industry layoffs?
At the Golden Joystick Awards, Starr said this industry is hard and there are many people who should be here who aren’t because they are laid off from the industry. He praised Sandfall Interactive for respecting their employees and making games for players rather than chasing popularity.
How many awards did Clair Obscur Expedition 33 win at Golden Joysticks?
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 won seven Golden Joystick Awards, tying Baldur’s Gate 3’s record from 2023. The wins included Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Storytelling, Best Soundtrack, Best Visual Design, Studio of the Year, Best Lead Performer for Jennifer English, and Best Supporting Performer for Ben Starr.
Who is Ben Starr?
Ben Starr is a British actor best known for voicing Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI and Verso in Clair Obscur Expedition 33. He’s become a beloved gaming advocate through his enthusiasm, humor, and willingness to address industry issues like layoffs and worker treatment.
How many Game Awards nominations did Expedition 33 receive?
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 received 12 nominations for The Game Awards 2025, the most of any game this year. Categories include Game of the Year, Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, and performance nominations for both lead actors.
Why is the gaming industry laying off so many people?
The gaming industry has laid off over 23,000 workers since 2023 due to overexpansion during the pandemic, unrealistic growth projections, publisher consolidation, failed live service bets, and prioritization of short-term profits over sustainable workforce planning.
What is Clair Obscur Expedition 33?
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with real-time combat mechanics developed by French studio Sandfall Interactive. It launched in April 2025 to critical acclaim, featuring performances by Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Charlie Cox.
What makes Sandfall Interactive different from other studios?
According to Ben Starr, Sandfall Interactive respects the people that work for them and makes games for players rather than chasing popularity or trends. The studio developed Expedition 33 efficiently without the workforce churn that plagues the industry.
Conclusion
Ben Starr’s Golden Joystick Awards speech represents exactly the kind of advocacy the gaming industry desperately needs. By using his acceptance speech to highlight layoffs and praise a studio that treats workers with respect, he brought uncomfortable truths to a celebration that could have ignored them. The fact that Clair Obscur Expedition 33 won seven awards while demonstrating sustainable development practices proves that alternative approaches work. You don’t need crunch culture, endless expansion, or treating employees as disposable to create critically acclaimed commercially successful games. You need talented people, clear vision, and respect for everyone involved in the creative process. Sandfall Interactive provided the proof. Ben Starr made sure everyone heard about it. Whether the industry’s biggest publishers learn from that example or continue their current trajectory of layoffs and consolidation remains to be seen. But speeches like this ensure the conversation continues, pressure builds, and maybe, eventually, something changes. Because as Starr said, life is fucking hard. The gaming industry shouldn’t make it harder for the people creating the art we all love.