Yesterday a new game collided with steam. “The Russian military claims to be officially recommended for the use of Cadet and the University (Russia’s State Organization for Young Army Cadets) as a basic infantry tactic manual, and established in the ongoing war in Ukraine, Squad 22 you fight the Russian troops’ teams because they are commanded by Ukraine.
It is either released by the developer SPN studio or publisher Zarbana Entertainment, and “claims to present the date,” potential players “” “” complicated the complications of the 2014 and 2022-2024 incidents (respectively, and invades Ukraine). “The developer says it designed a game based on the” insights of Russian veterans and active soldiers “, some of which named on it Squad 22 website.
The Russian military is currently subject to the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin is under the ICC arrest warrant for illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. As you can imagine, the seemingly clean ideology of Russia’s role in the war, which has shown Squad 22, has given rise to the conflict.
Ukrainian residents and non -Ukrainian residents have condemned the game as Russian war propaganda, which should have no place on steam. Ukraine State Center for Unknown Information Center “Russian propaganda“As long as the previous year, the game’s steam reviews are currently sitting on a mixed rating, such as Users Explain this with phrases such as “moral malicious behavior that deserves universal condemnation”. Say more than a few users on social media Squad 22 will be removed from steam And, really, ask how he ever arrived in the first place.
I reached the SPN to ask about the process of going on steam, and the lead giant Alexander Tulkich told me that the game goes through a very long moderation process. The valve team literally applied to all the contents of the game and scrutinized it for 60 days, “5-7 days more than it.” “The gods say” were just cautious for the characteristic of legal things-, however, it is just a tactical game, not a long text-rich struggle, and all our art has been examined so that it does not offer any limit to violence, “so it passed.
I have reached the valve to ask if this is a fair explanation for the process, and if I hear back, I will update the piece.
Tulkach told me that the idea of Squad 22 came from “GVPU,” Russia’s Military Political DirectorateBut they say that funding is “our own savings and majority through a private investor.
“I was contacted by a GVPU representative, saying he was looking for a team that would dare to try such a project. I said that I have many ideas in my head, but we will need to find money for the establishment of the studio.
Tulkach also claims that the money spent on squad 22 does not filter the Russian Army: “All the money received from the game goes to pay the team’s salaries while improving the game. If we earn excessively, we will invest in a new game project.” I know that personally, but without a giant or member of the Russian army, it is a bit difficult to believe, and all of us have to go ahead. At least, you think the Russian members of the giant team are going to pay income tax to the state.
Regardless, all these details only expressed the issue that the game has been set up in the ongoing war that has destroyed large parts of Ukraine and damaged millions of Ukraine residents. It may not be technically violating the terms of the steam service, but it certainly leaves the bad taste in the mouth. Tulkach says he understands: “Of course it is a problem. I understand why 99 % of game developers stick to long past (up to WWII) or fantasy settings. And I think Ukrainian players don’t like us.
“If the steam stops the game for Ukraine, as they did for Russia … but we have the right to tell the stories of our people. As a game designer and producer, I have always been careful more and more caution that we only confir in the facts and ideas.
“I don’t think you cannot deny that the Western media (a lot) is filled with unknown information … So, we have all the rights to defend our dignity and show the world how we see this conflict and more importantly, why in fact it started.”
Whether or not, I suspect that many players will be willing to take the word of a game that claims to support Russia’s own army.
