About The Quiet Things

The Quiet Things is an upcoming game from Silver Script Games, set to release on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The game explores themes of childhood trauma and has generated interest for its narrative depth and unique storytelling approach. However, the team faced unexpected challenges leading up to a planned trailer reveal at the BAFTA awards.

Trailer Controversy

The Quiet Things was pulled just before its scheduled showing at the BAFTA awards due to concerns over sensitive content. According to developer Alyx Jones, the trailer included themes of childhood trauma, which raised red flags for the organization. Despite revising the trailer to remove specific imagery associated with violence, including a craft knife and a statue breaking out of a mirror, BAFTA decided to withdraw the trailer from the event.

Jones expressed her disappointment in a LinkedIn post, stating, "To have that pulled from under our feet the night before the show was devastating, especially after revising the trailer to remove imagery BAFTA flagged as potentially reading as 'weapons and violence.'" She had believed the revisions would satisfy BAFTA's concerns, making the last-minute cancellation particularly frustrating.

BAFTA's Decision

BAFTA explained their decision by stating, "We made a compliance decision not to show a trailer of an unreleased game that contains themes that may be a trigger for some, in consideration of our guests as we were not in a position to sufficiently warn them." This indicates a commitment to audience safety, though it left Jones feeling unheard and disheartened.

Jones also noted that despite offering to make further revisions to the trailer, her suggestions were ignored, with BAFTA citing a lack of time to implement appropriate warnings for the audience. This incident raises questions about how sensitive topics are handled in promotional materials within the industry.