Gearbox Softwaredirector of intuitional partnerships David Najjab testified in front of the Texas House of Representatives yesterday, opposed to Texas House Bill 4042. The bill would ban transgender athletes from competing on sports teams for the gender in which they identify, and in his testimony representingGearbox Software, Najjab says the bill is unnecessary, would negatively affect business, and would further hurt the image of Texas.
Gearboxoperates out of Fresno, Texas, with over 500 employees working on the development of video games such asBorderlandsandDuke Nukem. In 2015, Gearbox opened a development studio in Quebec and launched a publishing company that has recently been involved in the publishing of AAA titles likeBulletstormandGodfall. Now, according to Najjab’s testimony, Gearbox could consider finding a new home if the bill is passed.
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Najjab starts his argument against the bill talking about the impact it will have on businesses. “These bills hurt businesses,” Najjab said. “There’s a reason why there is so many businesses opposing this. It negatively affects our ability to keep and recruit the best and the brightest to Texas.”
The bill has been opposed by the NCAA and anumber of technology companies in Texas, including TechNet, a network of technology industry CEOs and executives. Many of the companies are calling for the bill to not be passed because it will deter talented, educated workers from either moving or staying in Texas due to the bill’s discriminatory nature. Najjab goes on to let the Texas House of Representatives know that Gearbox could move its headquarters if the bill prevents the company from competing effectively.
Najjab says, “Our game company’s in competition worldwide. We sell more to Asia than we do in the United States. We bring a lot of money into this state. We’re headquartered here. Don’t drive us to where we have to start expanding outside of Texas and outside of the country. We want to keep doing business here.”
Gearbox has been involved in Texas politics in the past. In 2017,Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchfordpublicly opposed a Texas bill that would ban transgender people from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with. Pitchford wrote a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott opposing the bill. This bill was later struck down.
In his testimony, Najjab also brings up the need to focus on other problems in Texas besides what sports teams children and teens can play for. Najjab references the pandemic and the recent electrical grid failure that left many Texans without power and necessary supplies. Businesses includingvideo game developers were forced to closefor extended periods of time during the winter storms, and many businesses are still recovering.
The bill is seen as highly discriminatory by many businesses and individuals in Texas. As companies continue to oppose the bill, many are hoping the bill is struck down. However, Gearbox has made its stance very clear and the future of the company’s residence in Texas is on the line.Gearbox Softwareis still busy with both development and publishing of video game titles, as it just releasedBorderlands 3: Director’s Cut, and isplanning to releaseHomeworld 3next year.
