In a recent conversation with PC Gamer’s associate editor Ted Litchfield at GDC, Elias Toufexis, the actor known for his role as Adam Jensen, shared his experiences navigating the tumultuous waters of social media discourse. Despite his willingness to engage in discussions that might be deemed controversial, he expressed a growing fatigue with the vitriol that often surfaces on platforms like X.
Reflecting on his work, Toufexis mentioned a moment of self-reflection while developing Marathon. He candidly admitted, “I was like, ‘Guys, tell me to stop engaging on X,’ because I keep engaging and I really shouldn’t.” This admission underscores the challenges faced by public figures in the digital age, where every comment can spark a wave of backlash.
Confronting Outrage Culture
Toufexis specifically addressed a strain of outrage that he finds perplexing, particularly comments directed at Bungie, the studio behind Destiny 2. He recounted a particularly striking remark he encountered: “I hope Bungie fails because of the woke leftist ideology.” In response, he noted the irony of such statements, pointing out, “I’m working with four white guys and two white women. I don’t understand this. Where are you getting this?”
While he welcomes constructive critique of his performances and the projects he is involved in, Toufexis believes that some reactions cross a line. He acknowledged the disappointment from fans regarding Bungie’s decision to shift focus from Destiny 2 to Marathon, stating, “Cool, don’t play Marathon. That’s fine, speak with your wallet, that’s fine.” However, he expressed concern over accounts that seem dedicated to fostering outrage rather than meaningful discussion. “Life is so short, man. Just stop tweeting memes under things for six hours,” he remarked.
He further elaborated on the nature of online criticism, noting that while he is open to feedback, the relentless negativity can be disheartening. “Critique the game? Critique my work? Totally acceptable. But there are people that go on Twitter and post memes: ‘This is Concord 2, this is Concord 2.’ Why are you spending hours doing this?”
Toufexis also reflected on his experiences with other projects, such as Starfield and Star Trek: Discovery, both of which faced scrutiny for their perceived alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He described the political angle of some criticisms as “boring” and even amusing in the context of Star Trek, a franchise known for its political commentary. “People just want to hate. I don’t really understand it,” he said, adding, “It’s sad more than anything.”
Despite the challenges, Toufexis remains optimistic about the future of online discourse. He noted a shift in the tone of comments on reviews, observing, “I saw a review this morning from one of your fellow magazines, and it was a great review. And then under it—it used to be like nine out of 10 [comments were] hate—now it’s nine out of 10 is positive.” He expressed hope that this trend of positivity would continue, suggesting a potential turning tide in the landscape of online engagement.
Deus Ex, Marathon actor Elias Toufexis doesn’t get why people root for games to fail: ‘Life is so short, man’
In a recent conversation with PC Gamer’s associate editor Ted Litchfield at GDC, Elias Toufexis, the actor known for his role as Adam Jensen, shared his experiences navigating the tumultuous waters of social media discourse. Despite his willingness to engage in discussions that might be deemed controversial, he expressed a growing fatigue with the vitriol that often surfaces on platforms like X.
Reflecting on his work, Toufexis mentioned a moment of self-reflection while developing Marathon. He candidly admitted, “I was like, ‘Guys, tell me to stop engaging on X,’ because I keep engaging and I really shouldn’t.” This admission underscores the challenges faced by public figures in the digital age, where every comment can spark a wave of backlash.
Confronting Outrage Culture
Toufexis specifically addressed a strain of outrage that he finds perplexing, particularly comments directed at Bungie, the studio behind Destiny 2. He recounted a particularly striking remark he encountered: “I hope Bungie fails because of the woke leftist ideology.” In response, he noted the irony of such statements, pointing out, “I’m working with four white guys and two white women. I don’t understand this. Where are you getting this?”
While he welcomes constructive critique of his performances and the projects he is involved in, Toufexis believes that some reactions cross a line. He acknowledged the disappointment from fans regarding Bungie’s decision to shift focus from Destiny 2 to Marathon, stating, “Cool, don’t play Marathon. That’s fine, speak with your wallet, that’s fine.” However, he expressed concern over accounts that seem dedicated to fostering outrage rather than meaningful discussion. “Life is so short, man. Just stop tweeting memes under things for six hours,” he remarked.
He further elaborated on the nature of online criticism, noting that while he is open to feedback, the relentless negativity can be disheartening. “Critique the game? Critique my work? Totally acceptable. But there are people that go on Twitter and post memes: ‘This is Concord 2, this is Concord 2.’ Why are you spending hours doing this?”
Toufexis also reflected on his experiences with other projects, such as Starfield and Star Trek: Discovery, both of which faced scrutiny for their perceived alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He described the political angle of some criticisms as “boring” and even amusing in the context of Star Trek, a franchise known for its political commentary. “People just want to hate. I don’t really understand it,” he said, adding, “It’s sad more than anything.”
Despite the challenges, Toufexis remains optimistic about the future of online discourse. He noted a shift in the tone of comments on reviews, observing, “I saw a review this morning from one of your fellow magazines, and it was a great review. And then under it—it used to be like nine out of 10 [comments were] hate—now it’s nine out of 10 is positive.” He expressed hope that this trend of positivity would continue, suggesting a potential turning tide in the landscape of online engagement.