Avowed, the highly anticipated first-person fantasy RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, is currently out in early access, and players have already discovered a major concession concerning pronoun features. Despite months of controversy and bold rhetoric from art director Matt Hansen, it’s now possible to disable pronoun display in the game’s settings. This discovery was first reported on X by former World of Warcraft team lead Mark Kern, also known as Grummz.
We win again.
Avowed forced to add option to disable pronouns in game.
Whatever Matt Hansen was threatening with “the default” and putting wokeness in the game, he’s been soundly rebuked.
He hasn’t posted to social media in 2 months. pic.twitter.com/R2ivzvgr1y
— Grummz (@Grummz) February 14, 2025
“We win again,” Kern declared. “Avowed forced to add option to disable pronouns in game. Whatever Matt Hansen was threatening with ‘the default’ and putting wokeness in the game, he’s been soundly rebuked. He hasn’t posted to social media in two months.”
Kern, a long-time critic of DEI initiatives in gaming, didn’t stop there. He doubled down, pointing out that while the option to remove pronouns is a victory for players, the larger issue of Hansen’s leadership and behavior remains unresolved.
Even if they added an option to remove pronouns, I can’t support a studio that does nothing when their Art Director espouses racist and illegal hiring practices and froths at the moth to basically “own Elon and the chuds.”
This attitude needs to be eliminated from AAA. Vote with… pic.twitter.com/0Qd7clxQdk
— Grummz (@Grummz) February 14, 2025
“Even if they added an option to remove pronouns, I can’t support a studio that does nothing when their art director espouses racist and illegal hiring practices and froths at the mouth to basically ‘own Elon,’” Kern stated. “This attitude needs to be eliminated from AAA. Vote with your wallets.”
Matt Hansen’s Big Talk Falls Apart
Hansen previously made waves with his aggressive social media campaign against Elon Musk, mocking the billionaire’s criticism of pronouns in video games. He boasted that his game would push players’ buttons and hinted at a provocative “default” setting.
Art Director for @Obsidian on Avowed @AvowedtheGame wants to piss gamers off on purpose, CONFIRMS game is woke:
Speaking of Elon, he says:
“Just wait until you see the default, you said little shit.” (sic, typo for “sad”).
He’s over on bluesky plugging the game to basically… pic.twitter.com/tre0KxAjdk
— Grummz (@Grummz) November 26, 2024
“I wanted so badly to make him mad with my game, and I can’t believe it actually worked,” Hansen bragged on Bluesky. “Just wait until you see the default, you sad little s***.”
However, with the early access release of Avowed, it’s clear Hansen’s posturing amounted to little. Players can easily disable the pronoun system he touted as a challenge to the gaming community. The promised defiance has crumbled under player pressure, and Hansen has vanished from social media, having not posted for two months.
Hansen Silent, but Still Employed
While Hansen may be off social media, he remains firmly in place at Obsidian, where his controversial hiring practices are still reportedly ongoing. His past comments, in which he prioritized hiring based on race and expressed open hostility toward White applicants, were widely condemned and flagged as potentially illegal under U.S. labor laws.
Matt Hansen, the arti director for Obsidian Entertainment and Avowed – YouTube, SmashJT
“We got too many crusty white dudes in this field,” Hansen said previously. “Please let me help you replace me one day.”
These admissions have sparked calls for legal action, with Obsidian co-founder Chris Avellone urging rejected applicants to pursue discrimination lawsuits. Even Elon Musk brought Hansen’s statements to the attention of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, highlighting the severity of the issue.
The Community Responds
The gaming community has been vocal, with many echoing Kern’s sentiment that Hansen’s behavior is emblematic of a deeper problem within AAA studios. Some players have decided to boycott Avowed, stating that simply adding a toggle for pronouns isn’t enough to undo Hansen’s harmful rhetoric and discriminatory practices.
A screenshot from the trailer for Avowed – YouTube, IGN
READ: Obsidian Whistlebower Tells All on ‘Avowed’ Art Director Matt Hansen Amid Racist Hiring Allegations
Others argue that the presence of a toggle is proof that studios are starting to listen to their player base. They view it as a win for consumer choice, even if it comes on the heels of controversy.
What Happens Next?
Despite Hansen’s social media disappearance, there has been no sign that Obsidian or Microsoft plan to take action against him. Hansen remains employed, and his ideological grip on the studio’s hiring practices appears unchecked. With Musk’s spotlight on the issue and a possible legal battle looming, however, the situation may yet escalate.
Avowed Art Director for Obsidian, Matt Hansen – YouTube, SmashJT
The saga of Avowed now stands as a cautionary tale of how hubris, ideology, and defiance of player sentiment can collide with market realities. While Hansen may have gone silent, the controversy surrounding him is far from over.
How do you feel about Avowed allowing players to toggle pronoun settings? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
