Freeplay removes game developer sponsor over alleged Zionist links

Wren Brier was dropped as a sponsor for the Parallels event last Thursday. This show is part of Melbourne International Games Week, which is the biggest week for video games in Australia. Brier posted a statement on her Bluesky account just before the show started to explain what happened.

A speaker at the event accused her of being a Zionist. Brier had never expressed anti-Palestinian views and did not serve in the military. She said she was Jewish and born in Israel but emigrated to Australia when she was 18.

The accusation seemed linked to an article where her game Unpacking appeared on a list. Brier noted that the game included three Jewish items five years ago. This placement led to the entry on a Jewish Australian publication online last week.

Freeplay told Brier her name created an untenable environment for speakers. She said she did not realize donating made her a sponsor until that morning. Her only involvement was sending a logo and contributing to the crowdfunding campaign earlier this year.

The organization said they were seeking advice on the matter due to the seriousness of the situation. They told Aftermath they could not comment further while reviewing the issue. This included questions about whether any board members had resigned over the decision.

Other indie developers expressed shock at the removal in comments on Brier's post. Rami Ismail stated he had strongly objected to describing her as Zionist and vouched for her person several times. He described the outcome as deeply distressing for those watching.

Brier claims that at least one Freeplay board member has quit the board over this move. She stated she will not be able to support the event or organization again in the future. She called the decision discrimination and said no one bothered to check if the accusation was true.