Following a short tenure at Irrational Games, Rod Fergusson returned to Microsoft to head their Gears of War developer: The Coalition, which is on the Traitors of America master list. During his time as studio head, the Gears of War franchise became more known for woke identity politics and micro-transactions than it did for its original over the top masculine motifs. Long established lore would see significant revisions to the point where the Gears of War mythology became riddled with plot holes and ceased making cohesive sense.
Gears 5, the last game Fergusson would helm during his tenure, was intended to be Microsoft’s entry into the e-sports scene. To accomplish this, the developers removed all instances of smoking to allow them to virtue signal how they are promoting the right kind of social trends. In the end, the game became marred by identity politics and spent its runtime soiling any established male character it could get its hands on regardless of whether it made narrative sense or not.
The results were strong launch day sales, followed by series’ low total sales. Culminating in Fergusson’s apparent termination in February. Albeit one where he was allowed to leave gracefully rather than being publicly humiliated with a termination on his record.
Since his departure, the position of Studio Head remained vacant. Until Xbox Era discovered the studio’s director of operations, Mike Crump was promoted to studio head back in May. Crump has been with the company even before the Microsoft acquisition when it was known as Black Tusk Studios.
At present, it is unknown what his promotion means for the Gears of War series. Whether it will result in a return to form or if the series will continue to push feminist and identitarian politics in lieu of strong narrative directions and tight gameplay.
What can be said is the silent departure of Fergusson without the typical corporate acknowledgment of his service and wishes for a bright future. Combined with the silent promotion of Mike Crump to Studio Head is indicative of a troubled studio. It is the corporate equivalent attempting to sweep a problem under the rug and hope nobody notices until more positive news is ready to be delivered.
Going forward, Crump has his hands full picking up the mess Fergusson left him. At present, all male characters in the gears franchise are incompetent and/or evil, and the female leads being “strong female characters” of the Rey variety. Without a series reboot, it is a task perhaps too difficult to overcome.