Are Sweet Baby Inc. employees stealing from books?
Sweet Baby Inc. (SBI), the narrative consulting firm known for its work on high-profile titles like “God of War: Ragnarök” and South of Midnight, has once again found itself at the center of heated debate. A recently surfaced video analysis from the Gothic Therapy YouTube channel claims that a former SBI employee openly admitted to “stealing” ideas from books during a public presentation at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).
This revelation, presented as evidence of unethical practices, has sparked discussions about creativity, inspiration, and intellectual property in gaming. The find was originally highlighted by the YouTube channel Gothic Therapy, hosted by MasterofTheTDS and Writing Raven, who dissected the talk in their video titled “SWEET BABY THEFT! Ex-SBI Member ADMITS They Steal Ideas from BOOKS!”
Full Disclosure: Writing Raven of Gothic Therapy is a writer for That Park Place under the name Raven Redgrave
Video Breakdown and Key Claims
Uploaded on July 28, 2025, the Gothic Therapy video provides critical commentary on what they describe as an “insane talk” where SBI’s practices are exposed without shame.
The video focuses on a 2022 GDC presentation by Amber-Leigh Blake, who identified herself as a project coordinator at Sweet Baby Inc. at the time.
A screenshot from a GDC talk by Sweet Baby Inc. employee Amber-Leigh Blake called “Let’s Steal From Books!” – YouTube, Gothic Therapy
The talk’s provocative title, “Let’s Steal from Books,” sets the tone, with Amber leigh introducing herself and the topic early on.
“Hi. My name is Amber-Leigh,” she said. “The Leigh is not optional and you’re listening to Let’s Steal from Books.”
She identifies as a published writer, poet, and dyslexic, making a repeated comment that laughing at her mistakes would be “ableist,” which the hosts mock as an overly serious attempt at humor or a deflection tactic.
Amber-Leigh argues that books are more imaginative, accessible, and better at risk-taking than video games, stating, “I feel no shame in saying I like books more than video games.”
A screenshot from a GDC talk by Sweet Baby Inc. employee Amber-Leigh Blake called “Let’s Steal From Books!” – YouTube, Gothic Therapy
The hosts question her role in the industry, with Raven quipping, “Then why do you work in video games?”
They also challenge her claim that books are “easier to consume,” pointing out the contradiction given her dyslexia and raising concerns about accessibility for illiterate audiences.
The core of the controversy lies in Amber-Leigh’s discussion of “stealing” ideas, inspired by Austin Kleon’s book Steal Like an Artist.
“So, I got this idea for this talk from the book Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon,” she said. “It’s about how to pull from multiple mediums to create something that’s truly your own.”
A screenshot from a GDC talk by Sweet Baby Inc. employee Amber-Leigh Blake called “Let’s Steal From Books!” – YouTube, Gothic Therapy
She contrasts “good theft” (honoring, studying, and crediting works) with “bad theft” (degrading, plagiarizing, or ripping off). The hosts dismiss this as a weak justification, arguing, “If you’re stealing ideas from books, it means you’re not talented and your games suck.”
They further mock her definition, with MasterofTheTDS sarcastically noting, “Did you know the definition of stealing is to credit them and honor them?”
Amber-Leigh provides book recommendations, such as A Declaration of the Red Magicians by H.G. Perry, a historical fantasy involving vampire kings and Haiti’s role in war, and Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, a Tang Dynasty-inspired sci-fi with mechs and a love triangle. She also mentions the manga Gray for its depiction of complex male friendships and suggests exploring “complicated relationships” in games.
A screenshot from a GDC talk by Sweet Baby Inc. employee Amber-Leigh Blake called “Let’s Steal From Books!” – YouTube, Gothic Therapy
However, her inclusion of horror as a genre is met with confusion, as she admits, “I will not provide examples. I am b**** made and cannot handle scary games already.”
This led the hosts to question the relevance and coherence of her presentation.
The talk concludes with Amber-Leigh urging developers to “steal more” from books to explore new ideas and perspectives.
A screenshot from a GDC talk by Sweet Baby Inc. employee Amber-Leigh Blake called “Let’s Steal From Books!” – YouTube, Gothic Therapy
“There are more ideas out there to explore than just looking at what your peers are doing,” she said. “Trope mashups or perspectives you didn’t even know you needed or wanted. I’m not saying you haven’t read books or been inspired by them. I’m just saying we should steal more.”
Gothic Therapy’s hosts react with incredulity, with MasterofTheTDS stating, “What did you tell us? I didn’t learn anything!”
Context: A Damning Admission or Misinterpreted Provocation?
The Gothic Therapy video frames Amber-Leigh’s talk as a shocking confession of intellectual theft, aligning with broader criticisms of SBI’s approach to game development. The hosts argue that advocating for “stealing” reflects a lack of creativity, especially from a company involved in high-profile games accused of uninspired narratives. MasterofTheTDS points to the Sweet Baby Inc. track record, suggesting that “the fact that you could steal from books and still not making good games says a lot about you guys.”
Sweet Baby Inc. CEO Kim Belair via InclusionFX YouTube
SBI has long been a lightning rod for controversy. The studio specializes in narrative design and diversity consulting, working on titles like Alan Wake 2 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Critics, particularly in online gaming communities, have accused SBI of pushing “woke” agendas, leading to movements like the 2024 “Sweet Baby Inc. Detected” Steam curator group, which boycotts games linked to the firm. The Sweet Baby Inc. “stealing from books” narrative fuels existing perceptions of SBI as lacking originality, with detractors arguing that their reliance on external sources—whether books or ideological frameworks—undermines authentic storytelling.
Sweet Baby Inc detected curator list – Steam
While Amber-Leigh references Steal Like an Artist, which promotes ethical inspiration through remixing and crediting sources, the hosts reject this as a flimsy excuse, insisting that any form of “stealing” is inherently lazy. They also criticize the presentation’s lack of focus, noting that Amber-Leigh spends much of the talk recommending books unrelated to gaming, such as love triangles and manga, without clear applications. Her admission of avoiding horror due to personal discomfort and the apparent disorganization of the talk—delivered in a hotel room with a messy bed visible—further erode her credibility in the hosts’ eyes.
Reactions and Broader Implications
The controversy has gained traction on platforms like X, with a post from @MasteroftheTDS on July 28, 2025, amplifying the video.
Sweet Baby Inc. is the gift that keeps on giving! In 2022, a now former SBI member gave a presentation telling devs to STEAL FROM BOOKS to make games.
Not hyperbole.
Not a joke.
Straight up theft.
They literally called it “good theft.”SBI somehow sinks even lower! (link below) pic.twitter.com/mVTfgl2I5h
— MasteroftheTDS (@MasteroftheTDS) July 28, 2025
“Sweet Baby Inc. is the gift that keeps on giving,” he said. “In 2022, a now former SBI member gave a presentation telling devs to STEAL FROM BOOKS to make games. Not hyperbole. Not a joke. Straight up theft.”
The sentiment reflects growing frustration among some gamers who view SBI as emblematic of broader industry issues, including perceived declines in narrative quality.
The allegations raise serious questions about intellectual property in gaming, especially as cross-media adaptations and AI tools blur ethical lines.
A screenshot from Sweet Baby Inc.’s website – SweetBabyInc.com
While drawing inspiration from literature is standard—seen in games like The Witcher adapting Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels—Amber-Leigh’s overt call to “steal more” while she was still an employee of Sweet Baby Inc. is seen by critics as an admission of creative bankruptcy within that organization.
The resurfacing of Amber-Leigh Blake’s “Let’s Steal from Books” presentation has added fuel to the ongoing backlash against Sweet Baby Inc., with critics citing it as evidence of unethical practices and a lack of originality.
A screenshot from a GDC talk by Sweet Baby Inc. employee Amber-Leigh Blake called “Let’s Steal From Books!” – YouTube, Gothic Therapy
Gothic Therapy’s MasterofTheTDS and Writing Raven deserve credit for bringing this talk to light, offering a raw and unfiltered critique that resonates with gamers skeptical of SBI’s influence. As the gaming industry grapples with evolving standards for creativity and intellectual property, this controversy underscores the risks of provocative rhetoric in a polarized landscape. The full video is available on YouTube for those seeking to judge the talk for themselves, but for many, it’s another strike against a company already under siege.
Do you think Sweet Baby Inc. is stealing from books? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
What’s she advocating for could cost people who take her advice up to $150k per violation. Plus she could be found liable in each of them, sharing in the fines. It’s one thing to take ideas from books, but it’s just copyright violation to steal them without permission from the holder. Publishers are *very* protective of “their” property and anyone trying to make a buck off of it without giving them a cut is just begging for their lawyers to tear them apart.
More fuel on the inevitable funeral pyre of SBI and their associates.
In general there’s nothing wrong with being inspired from books and adopt themes and ideas to incorporate in your own writing. The way this woke clown phrases it, makes her sound like she’s talentless. That being said I think her being an SJW cunt is much more of an issue than stealing plot points from better writers – that abelism nonsense in the slides is pure cringe.
This is DEI thieving from White men. Great example to set, there, woke Sweet Baby Inc. 🙄
DEI is incompetent, and the only thing it knows how to do, is to be criminal.
The fact that they invite these activists and fake writers who don’t know how to develop video games to this type of event already shows how bad this industry is. I was at GDC where Carmack demonstrated idtech 3, and at that time, we talked about technology, not ideologies.
Oh I’m so shocked that DEI hires are out there stealing from other people. Wonder if they’re overwhelmingly from a certain demographic to boot…