Home Gaming Bethesda disturbed by controversy over Wolfenstein’s #NoMoreNazis marketing

Bethesda disturbed by controversy over Wolfenstein’s #NoMoreNazis marketing

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Wolf2

Bethesda has serendipitously stepped into the best marketing campaign imaginable for its upcoming Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. With the rising tide of right wing extremism in the US, where actual Nazis are emboldened enough to walk through the streets without fear of consequence or repercussion, Wolfenstein’s alternate history where the Nazis won the Second World War makes our own reality seem like a disturbing convergence of timelines.

Last week, the official Wolfenstein Twitter account tweeted out a simple message saying “Make America Nazi-Free Again.”

Somehow, because this is the world we live in now, this was seen as a controversial statement. Somehow, a game series that has always been about ridding the world of Nazis is pandering to a leftist agenda. Obviously, that’s a load of codswallop.

Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, Bethesda marketing guy Pete Hines quite rightly said that “it’s disturbing that the game can be considered a controversial political statement at all.”

“We’re certainly aware of current events in America and how they relate to some of the themes in Wolfenstein II,” he told GamesIndustry.biz.

“Wolfenstein has been a decidedly anti-Nazi series since the first release more than 20 years ago. We aren’t going to shy away from what the game is about. We don’t feel it’s a reach for us to say Nazis are bad and in-American, and we’re not worried about being on the right side of history here.”

Of course, the current Wolfenstein run and its story arc existed before the current US political climate, so those claiming that the series is pandering to an agenda – or are somehow upset about messaging that considers Nazism as bad – probably need a little introspection.

“At the time none of us expected that the game would be seen as a comment on current issues, but here we are,” Hines says. “Bethesda doesn’t develop games to make specific statements or incite political discussions. We make games that we think are fun, meaningful, and immersive for a mature audience.”

“In Wolfenstein’s case, it’s pure coincidence that Nazis are marching in the streets of America this year. And it’s disturbing that the game can be considered a controversial political statement at all.”

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is out on October 27. I can’t wait to shoot some Nazis.

Last Updated: October 9, 2017

33 Comments

  1. Umar

    October 9, 2017 at 09:04

    They’re not the only ones disturbed by it.

    Reply

  2. Raptor Rants

    October 9, 2017 at 09:05

    Don’t games come with the same disclaimers as movies? Any characters or events that match to RL are coincidental or something like that?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      October 9, 2017 at 09:11

      Some do, seen them.

      Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      October 9, 2017 at 09:21

      Well, since Americans need labels like “Warning, water from a boiling kettle can be hot and cause burns”, I cannot see how any warning or disclaimer here would have helped 🙂

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants

        October 9, 2017 at 09:22

        Warning: Games made before a political issue are not foretelling the future, neither can the creators, so please don’t get angry at us for future coincidences.

        How’s that for a warning label?

        Reply

        • For the Emperor!

          October 9, 2017 at 09:24

          I think you will need to dumb it down a bit for the ‘Muricans 😛

          Reply

  3. For the Emperor!

    October 9, 2017 at 09:16

    Really? Seriously? Look, those of that particular affiliation regularly (sometimes correctly) complain about the leftist “triggered” mentality where everything is an “outrage”, but now they are being “triggered” by this? All I have to say about that:

    http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/07/laughter.gif

    Reply

  4. jimz0r

    October 9, 2017 at 09:21

    Remember when killing Nazi’s in video games wasn’t a political statement.

    Reply

  5. Gavin Mannion

    October 9, 2017 at 09:27

    What fresh hell do we live in where white supremacists are being triggered by anti-nazi advertising…

    This is crazy

    Reply

    • Raptor Rants

      October 9, 2017 at 09:31

      Minority idjits

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      October 9, 2017 at 10:13

      Pure as the driven snowflakes 😀

      Reply

    • BradeLunner

      October 9, 2017 at 14:20

      Good way to put it

      Reply

  6. Original Heretic

    October 9, 2017 at 09:40

    So, once again, a few morons with big mouths and colossal chips on their shoulders are trying to ruin something awesome for everyone else.
    Wait, I feel the need to correct myself. They’re not morons, they’re fucking morons.

    Reply

  7. Cathal

    October 9, 2017 at 10:02

    Honestly, if people made a Western game like RDR and made a campaign about killing all Native Americans, everyone would be in upheaval about that as well. Chastising the so called White Supremacy for shouting out like all of the other movements, i.e. BLM and Feminism, is hardly fair.

    That being said, being “triggered” by everything one doesn’t agree with is nonsense as well. Unfortunately society set a precedent with the other movements and this is what resulted from it. You can’t allow one and in the same breath discourage the other.

    Reply

    • ReverendFunk

      October 9, 2017 at 10:05

      To ask for equal rights for a race or gender is asking the bare minimum. Getting butt hurt because people don’t like it when you support a philosophy of racial superiority and mass murder is whole other thing.

      Reply

      • Cathal

        October 9, 2017 at 10:55

        Getting butt hurt over someone who has a different world view than oneself isn’t fair or right, regardless of their world view.

        By your logic, some religions should be disallowed certain opinions because they believe stoning is an okay punishment or being homosexual or in a mixed relationship is a sin. People are entitled to an opinion.

        My point is that we can’t discriminate against one opinion when we allow another to go out and about yelling theirs.

        Reply

        • ReverendFunk

          October 9, 2017 at 11:04

          Because religion and nazism is exactly the same thing

          Reply

          • Cathal

            October 9, 2017 at 11:32

            Both are philosophies followed by groups of people who share similar beliefs regarding specific things.

          • ReverendFunk

            October 9, 2017 at 12:10

            You just stick with your straw man

    • Sageville

      October 9, 2017 at 10:22

      Wait, are you defending Nazi sympathizers?

      Reply

      • Cathal

        October 9, 2017 at 10:51

        No, I am saying everyone is suppose to be treated equally. If you don’t want to allow these people to protest against something they disagree with, you shouldn’t allow other movements to do so either, or vice versa, if you allow it for one it’s fair game.

        I’m saying it’s wrong to blame one group for their opinion but not the other. Far Cry 5 has the same issues.

        Reply

        • Sageville

          October 9, 2017 at 11:13

          I don’t think it always works like that…

          Not everything gets the “Free speech / Right of assembly” pass, sure they can try, but there are always consequences, the “Fair game” argument doesn’t always stand.

          For instance, Pedophiles, should we allow them their right to protest for age of consent to be dropped? Should we allow them to protest? Nah, we, as society won’t permit that and frankly there are just some groupings that should be shunned and not given a fair shake.

          Reply

          • Cathal

            October 9, 2017 at 11:46

            It doesn’t work like that, and that’s the point. We don’t treat everyone fairly.

            Once upon a time it was fine for Americans to discriminate against Indians. That changed. There was once Apartheid, that changed. Time period has a massive effect on such things.

            In biblical or even medieval times it wasn’t uncommon for people to be married off once puberty set in, what’s that 11? Yes, today’s society doesn’t condone paedophilia or hebephilia. Does that give you the right to murder said person if he doesn’t act on those feelings? No. These people have an opinion and, unless they affect others with it (read that as kidnapping or rape), they should be free to hold their opinion.

            If a racist doesn’t go out shouting derogatory stuff, or beating and killing the race he dislikes, let him be. If a feminist doesn’t curse all men on forums or plot their demise by fake rape accusations, then let them be.

            I might not agree with someone, but as long as they respect my opinion and doesn’t influence others, why should it matter? I don’t condone acting on any philosophy or urge that affects others. I do promote mutual understanding however, and that’s the point.

            You obviously feel strongly about this and that, and that’s good and right. You aren’t holding a gun to my head or insulting me, so why shouldn’t I hear out your opinion. That’s all I think it should water down to.

        • ReverendFunk

          October 9, 2017 at 14:09

          They are allowed to protest, no one is stopping them. But the fact that anyone would protest is what inspires incredulity.

          Reply

    • AfricanTime

      October 9, 2017 at 11:50

      You are not a real person…

      Reply

  8. Sageville

    October 9, 2017 at 10:18

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f28aa84c9b987fac8b34000ef1ddc9277989c41c4232c01e96b995e715271f07.gif

    But…but…

    Seem like yanks are pushing to normalize the white supremacy / Nazism in 2017…

    I just typed that, and it even looks ridiculous… I feel they should all be forced to watch American History X or like literally any historical WWII literature. How did the hell did this happen?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      October 9, 2017 at 11:20

      Because we took responsibility & consequences out of freedom.

      Reply

  9. konfab

    October 9, 2017 at 10:26

    The problem, is you have people changing the definition of Nazi to fit their world view. Anyone who doesn’t subscribe to the far-left ideology is literally a Nazi.

    As for the snowflakes who are making themselves look like idiots: this is why you need freedom of speech.

    Reply

  10. Magoo

    October 9, 2017 at 10:32

    Pretty much agree with everything here. It’s worth pointing out though that they DID bring politics into it when tweeting “Make America Nazi-Free Again.”

    Reply

  11. Admiral Chief

    October 9, 2017 at 10:47

    Hmmmm, almost 2 hours later and no “did Nazi that coming” comment?

    Reply

  12. Deceased

    October 9, 2017 at 19:44

    ROFL!!! XD
    Man this is rich ( not reich )

    On a more serious note ( and something that’s been bothering me for a while )
    What’s the chances the person/persons that started the rumor that Wolfenstein follows a leftest-agenda are not even neo-nazis themselves, but rather just a bunch of keyboard-warriors who enjoy stirring the pot?

    ( I’ve had this thought on sooo many topics where people get triggered )
    I mean – you can’t be a nazi and get offended, that does not even make any sense 😐
    Isn’t the whole idea behind being a nazi that you think you’re superior to everyone?
    ( I know it’s a bit more complex than that, obviously )
    If so, why do you care what the “shit” below you smells like?

    Reply

  13. Ryan Dean

    October 9, 2017 at 23:48

    The game might not be a political statement. But the dumbass tweet which is doing like the hard left and trying to equate Trump to Hitler by using his slogan then durr ppl are gunna get offended.

    Reply

  14. Peter Pan

    October 10, 2017 at 09:26

    Hmmm…I fear Wolfenstein won’t do as well as expected, simply because it is releasing at the same time as the new Assassin’s Creed.

    Reply

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