John Garvin, the former creative director of the video game “Days Gone,” has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the portrayal of Deacon St. John, the game’s protagonist, in the recently released “Astro Bot.”
Astro Bot, a critically acclaimed game, features cameos and nods to numerous PlayStation titles from the brand’s history. However, Garvin took issue with the inclusion of Deacon St.
John, who appears as a robot wearing a baseball hat and a beard, along with his motorbike as a collectible item. In a series of posts on social media, Garvin stated that he finds it “sad” to see what the Days Gone franchise has been turned into. He criticized his former company, Bend Studio, for using Deacon to promote “some small game,” adding that this move doesn’t protect the legacy of Bend Studio and reduces Deacon “to a cartoon shill.”
Garvin’s discontent may be linked to the way his relationship with PlayStation ended.
He and many former team members at Bend Studio pitched Sony on creating a sequel to Days Gone, but the idea was turned down by those in charge.
Days Gone franchise legacy debated
This decision led to Garvin’s departure from Bend Studio and potentially marked the end of the Days Gone franchise.
While Garvin is against this representation, those currently at Bend Studio seem to feel differently. Kevin McAllister, the current community manager at Bend, thanked Team Asobi for featuring Deacon St. John in the platforming title.
McAllister spoke on behalf of the entire team at Bend Studio, saying that they are “incredibly honored” to see the franchise represented in this capacity. The situation highlights the contrasting perspectives between former and current members of Bend Studio regarding the legacy and representation of Days Gone in other PlayStation projects. It also reflects Garvin’s ongoing struggles with the industry’s reception of his work, particularly the mixed critical reception and the cancellation of a Days Gone sequel.
Despite the controversy, Astro Bot’s inclusion of over 170 PlayStation-themed bots, including Deacon and his motorcycle, is intended as a lighthearted tribute to PlayStation’s history and the diverse characters that have defined the brand over the years.
