WTF is going on over at GameXplain?
The Departure of a Key Team Member
In a candid and heartfelt message, Jake, a former member of the GameXplain team, a popular YouTube gaming channel with nearly 1.5 million subscribers, has revealed the reasons behind his departure.
Jake cites issues ranging from work dissatisfaction to feeling underappreciated, and his message paints a picture of a work environment fraught with challenges and miscommunication throughout the entire organization:
Jake's Perspective: A Struggle for Balance and Recognition
Jake’s statement sheds light on his experience at GameXplain, highlighting a deep sense of frustration. Despite his dedication and efficient work ethic, he felt that his efforts were used against him, leading to an unrelenting demand for more content production. This constant push, combined with what he describes as a lack of appreciation, contributed to his decision to leave.
He speaks of long hours, working past midnight for events like Mario Kart DLC launches, and sacrificing weekends to cover big releases. Despite these efforts, he felt his work wasn't adequately recognized or valued. Jake’s desire for clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to define his workload went unfulfilled, adding to his discontent. He has since started his own YouTube channel instead of continuing with GameExplain.
Management's Response: A Different Perspective
On the other side of this issue is Andre, the founder and Editor-In-Chief of GameXplain. Addressing Jake's concerns, Andre expresses regret that Jake felt overworked and underappreciated. He outlines his efforts to check in on Jake's well-being and contends that he was often assured by Jake that he was managing well.
Addressing the issue of workload imbalance, Andre explains the challenges in balancing tasks within a small team, especially when roles and output types differ. He notes an audit was conducted to assess workload balance and found no significant imbalance. Andre also highlights the challenges of remote work, suggesting it might have contributed to a lack of transparency and understanding about team members' efforts.
First to Jake, I feel horrible that you felt overworked or underappreciated. From your very first application, you always went above and beyond my expectations for work, even when I tried to reign in your effort at times, and I want you to know that I tried my best to ensure you didn’t end up feeling how you did.
~Andre Segers, Game Explain
Andre mentions steps taken to prevent burnout, such as suggesting a more manageable schedule for a news show and adjusting work hours. He also points out opportunities for creative work were provided to Jake, reflecting a failed attempt to accommodate his interests. It feels like this just wasn't meant to be.
The Complexity of Running a Gaming YouTube Channel
Both perspectives underline the complex nature of content creation in the gaming industry, particularly within a YouTube framework. The pressure to constantly produce content, the challenges of remote work, and the difficulties in managing a team with diverse roles and expectations are evident in this case. Combine this with the potential for making it on your own with your own YouTube channel and business, many people, like Jake, feel that they don't need to be stuck under the thumb of a big corporation or large YouTube channel to succeed in their journey.
In an effort to gain further insight into the situation at GameXplain, I reached out to my friend Joey Ferris, a current member of the GameXplain team, for his perspective on Jake's departure and the issues raised. Understanding that Joey's view could provide a valuable, insider angle to this evolving story, I hoped his response would offer additional context or perhaps a different viewpoint on the work environment and team dynamics at GameXplain.
...Joey has stated that he has no comment.
The Path Forward...?
As Jake Steinberg quits GameXplain and moves on to new opportunities (and his own YouTube channel), and Andre contemplates the future of GameXplain, this situation serves as a reflective moment for the gaming content creation industry. It highlights the need for clear communication, balanced workloads, and the recognition of individual efforts in a demanding and ever-evolving field.
In the end, while the split may seem amicable on the surface, it's a good reminder of the challenges faced in the digital content creation space, especially in an industry as dynamic and demanding as gaming. And Andre once again is being called out by employees for a poor work environment.
~Smash
