Adam Williams (writer)

Adam Williams
Adam Williams in 2018
OccupationVideo game writer
Years active2017–present
EmployerQuantic Dream
Known forDetroit: Become Human

Adam Williams is a video game writer and a lead writer for Quantic Dream.[1][2] His credits include lead writer of Detroit: Become Human, an award-winning game and the company's best-selling title in 2022, and the upcoming Star Wars: Eclipse.[3][4][5][6]

Williams’ background is in television writing but was interested in the interactive storytelling and choice-based narrative of video games, and the numerous outcomes that arise from those decisions as opposed to linear narratives.[7][8] He communicated with Quantic Dreams’ founder David Cage to ask questions about the video game industry. The correspondences developed into a formal job offering, which Williams accepted.[1] The biggest challenge for Williams in shifting from TV to video games was transitioning from writing storylines for a viewer to passively observe to the viewer being an active participant in the outcome.[8]

Williams said the themes he and Cage explored in Detroit: Become Human were anxieties revolving around technology replacing human labor and identity, if technology could become more than a tool and the changing relationship between humans and technology.[3] He defended the depictions of domestic violence and violence against children in the game when a trailer was shown at Paris Games Week in 2017, and said the depictions explored real problems within society and to tell a meaningful story, not to glorify violence and there's no reason why these themes can't be discussed in games when it is in other mediums like movies and books. He said: “I can still assure you that we continue to remain true to our vision, and to David Cage’s vision, of telling an honest story with real impact. We won’t shy away from where the story takes us, as long as it’s consistent with our values as game creators. We would never tell a story that glorifies any kind of violence or social issue, but we believe the game would not have the same impact if something uncomfortable never happened, or there were no serious consequences to the player’s choices.”[9]

  1. ^ a b Dream, Quantic (August 28, 2020). "QD & ME – ADAM WILLIAMS, Lead Writer". Quantic Dream. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Baetens, Melody. "Dystopian 'Detroit' video game coming in May". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  3. ^ a b MacDonald, Keza (June 27, 2018). "Being human: how realistic do we want robots to be?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Williams, Demi (October 22, 2022). "'Star Wars Eclipse' will reportedly feature a brand new race". NME. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "Detroit: Become Human Sells 6 Million Copies, Becomes Quantic Dream's Best-Selling Game". GameSpot. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Esteves, Ricardo C. (November 22, 2017). "Detroit: Becoming Human with lead writer Adam Williams". Gamereactor UK. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Iwaniuk, Phil (April 23, 2018). "Why Detroit's lead writer quit TV for interactive storytelling's "extra weapons"". VG247. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Detroit: Become Human has 'a thousand different endings'". NZ Herald. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Castillo, Erin (December 4, 2017). "The Lead Writer for Detroit: Become Human Defends the Use of Violence to Depict A "Meaningful and Impactful Story"". COGconnected. Retrieved March 13, 2024.