Oh, Activision.
I hope the irony of releasing a game with the tagline, “Know your history or be doomed to repeat it,” isn’t lost on you in this situation. I’m sure it’s not and, if I can say anything positive about this, I understand the reasoning behind this latest controversy. You’re a business, I get that. You need to make as much money as possible and certain markets are far more lucrative than others. Yet that doesn’t take away from the fact that removing real-life footage of Tiananmen Square just to have the trailer for Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War shown in China is more than a little spineless.
So to catch everyone up, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War was both confirmed and teased last week. The brief trailer for the game focused on the Soviet policy of “Active Measures” which was a real life strategy for unsettling and destabilising nations it thought to be too powerful. Now, the trailer itself was pretty cool actually and used an abundance of actual footage from during the Cold War to lend some credentials for their game inspired by real world events.
One such clip was of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, which saw hundreds, potentially thousands, of Chinese protestors gunned down by the military. It was a horrific event, one that is largely censored in China because I have to imagine they have to be pretty embarrassed by the whole “killing citizens in cold blood” situation.
Once the Black Ops: Cold War trailer got out there, China was quick to ban it with some Chinese users accusing Activision of “exporting ideology” and placing “politics in video games”, according to PC Gamer. Can you imagine? A game set during the Cold War having politics? Really, game designers. Stay in your lane, this is just outrageous.
Activision was quick to respond to the ban, releasing a “censored” version of the trailer for China, according to Vice, which really just blacked the footage of Tiananmen Square. Fine, fair enough. Play by Chinese rules in China, even if they’re not all that great. Yet where it gets super shady is when you realize Activision quietly took down the original trailer and uploaded the new version that’s edited out the Tiananmen Square footage entirely. You can still find the original video on YouTube channels like Gamespot and IGN but the only version on the official Call of Duty channel is now the edited down one.
It’s just one of those disappointing cases of irony. A game that’s pushing the mantra of “Know Your History” has had its message, one that’s seemingly more relevant to this particular incident than anything, pushed aside for the sake of, presumably, making more money. Poor form, Activision. Let’s please not have another Blitzchung debacle?
Last Updated: August 26, 2020
cloudzn
August 26, 2020 at 13:08
They have to keep their CCP overlords happy
Son of Potassium
August 26, 2020 at 13:23
Simping for China, how lovely
Mark Treloar
August 26, 2020 at 18:22
Who isn’t?
Son of Potassium
August 27, 2020 at 08:32
So if everyone does it’s okay?
Mark Treloar
August 27, 2020 at 08:42
Its not ok for anyone, but it is an unfortunate reality. Problem is Blizzard has become the Whipping Boy even though there are companies doing far worse.
Son of Potassium
August 27, 2020 at 10:43
You’re right, money speaks and China has invested a lot so that they can throw their toys around. So much so that they’ll control freedom of speech one day. Even in the land of the so called free. Wanna make a movie or game. Better check with China first if the idea doesn’t offend. This needs to change.
cloudzn
August 27, 2020 at 15:02
Lol was that a south park reference?
Gavin Mannion
August 26, 2020 at 13:56
To be fair at least we can all see now who is the more important market for American videogame developers…. Who cares about freedom or accuracy when that Chinese Yuan is just oh so tasty
cloudzn
August 27, 2020 at 15:01
Dude not only the game devs but a lot of American companies bend over to get that sweet Chinese money
Jbumi
August 26, 2020 at 14:38
I’d have much to say, but I must get packing. Moving out into the woods with other liked-minded souls. My part will be reciting the (true) History of the 20th & early 21st centuries (over & over).
Original Heretic
August 26, 2020 at 18:22
In the years to come, many shall seek you and your followers out.
They will wish to hear your tales of the terrible things men did to one another, all in the name of power and control.
HairyEwok
August 27, 2020 at 09:33
Know your history, but not that history, no no that affects our profits so leave that out.
cloudzn
August 27, 2020 at 13:16
It’s not surprising really, it’s not the first time they have simped for China
Son of Banana Jim
August 27, 2020 at 13:53
Activision Blizzard love to bend the knee for Jinping the Pooh and those lovable scamps in the CCP! https://media4.giphy.com/media/777Aby0ZetYE8/giphy.gif