Organizers of the Australian independent games showcase Parallels, run by Freeplay, have refuted claims of "prejudice" and stated that they have received "violent threats" following the decision to refund a Jewish developer's sponsorship. Wren Brier, creative director at Unpacking developer Witch Beam, claims an unnamed speaker at the event accused her of being a "Zionist" due to her game's inclusion in an article by The Jewish Independent, which highlighted Jewish and Israeli-made video games.
Brier, who was born in Israel but emigrated to Australia as a teenager and does not identify as Zionist, stated that she was informed of the refund and delisting on the day of the event. She reportedly learned of the accusation that she was a "Zionist" after Unpacking was featured in the publication, a placement she believes was due to the game containing Jewish cultural items such as a dreidel, a menorah, and a hamsa. Brier expressed disappointment, calling the situation "discrimination, pure and simple," and stated she would no longer be able to support Freeplay or Parallels.
Other industry figures, including former Vlambeer co-founder Rami Ismail and former Splash Damage writer Ed Stern, have publicly supported Brier, condemning the accusation and the event's decision.
Parallels organizers initially informed Brier via email that her sponsorship had created an "untenable environment" for speakers and that the decision was made under significant time pressure to ensure the event could proceed. According to reports, at least two members of the Freeplay board have resigned over the decision.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), which partners with Melbourne International Games Week, has paused its support for Freeplay, stating that Brier's delisting was a "clear breach of the Games Week code of conduct." ACMI indicated that Freeplay did not consult with them before removing Brier's sponsorship.
Freeplay later issued a statement acknowledging the "very difficult decision" and regretting the "upset this has caused." They firmly rejected suggestions of prejudice, stating the decision was made under "significant time pressure" with the understanding that the event was at risk. The organization also noted that board members have received violent threats, which have been reported to the police, and urged for respectful online engagement.
The statement did not identify the individual who made the "Zionism" claim. Freeplay indicated they would be seeking further discussions with affected parties to find a resolution, while declining to comment on private communications or specific claims made publicly due to the situation's sensitivities.