It appears that the THQ Nordic AMA is continuing to have repercussions for the company a whole week after the initial stunt. After their ill-advised and controversial decision to host an AMA on 8chan last week, almost the entire games industry came down hard on the studio for associating itself with a site that has a reputation for anti-semitic and pornographic content. While THQ Nordic attempted some damage control on the day of the incident, the official apology has come a whole week late from the CEO himself, Lars Wingefors.

As if the decision to have the THQ Nordic AMA on 8chan wasn't bad enough on its own, the PR response almost undoubtedly stoked the flames for the industry's horrified reaction. THQ Nordic has its fingers in a number of anticipated titles, including the upcoming Days Gone, which made the decision to host its AMA on a site that has engendered so much public hatred a rather confusing one. That being said, this latest apology issued by the company doesn't appear to add any clarity.

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THQ Nordic released its official apology as a statement aimed at partners of the corporate group, fans, and those working for the company. CEO Lars Wingefors noted that the company was one which is "working actively to combat discrimination, harassment, and misconduct" and that the incident has prompted THQ Nordic Group AB to develop more sustainable work standards to address that nexus of issues. Here's the apology in full:

"This letter is to offer my sincerest apologies and regret for THQ Nordic GmbH Vienna’s interaction with the controversial website 8chan last Tuesday, February 26. I condemn all unethical content this website stands for. Even if no one within the THQ Nordic Group would ever endorse such content, I realize simply appearing there gave an implicit impression that we did.

As Co-Founder and Group CEO of THQ Nordic AB, I take full responsibility for all of THQ Nordic GmbH‘s actions and communications. I have spent the past several days conducting an internal investigation into this matter. I assure you that every member of the organization has learned from this past week’s events. I take this matter very seriously and we will take appropriate action to make sure we have the right policies and systems in place to avoid similar mistakes in the future.

As a Swedish based, fast growing group, we firmly support equality and diversity. We are also working actively to combat discrimination, harassment, and misconduct. We are alreadyin the process of developing new work processes, based on the United Nations’ SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and using the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standards, and we will accelerate this work going forward.

Lars Wingefors

Co-founder and Group-CEO, THQ Nordic AB"

The official apology for the THQ Nordic AMA also mentions that the studio will ensure that it has the "right policies and systems in place to avoid similar mistakes in the future." Considering the way that the AMA was handled live, with all of its references to the objectionable content made available on 8chan, the framing of this incident as a 'mistake' is arguably abhorrent even though fans were hardly expecting a revelatory moment from the PR team.

Doubling down the way that the studio did on Twitter with a tacit acknowledgment that 8chan has "nasty stuff" on it before tweeting out a lukewarm apology from their PR Director was maligned for being insufficient. It's difficult for this latest official apology with its clear focus on corporate repercussions to strike any meaningful note with those in the community who see the THQ Nordic AMA as an attempt at nudge-wink marketing designed to capitalize off controversy. It looks like BioMutant may well be released before a meaningful admission from the company in the wake of this matter.

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Source: THQ Nordic