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Top 8 Craziest Video Game Controversies

Top 8 Craziest Video Game Controversies

It’s funny to see what sorts of things can spark controversy. Things that we might consider totally benign can lead to shouting matches between people who once considered each other friends. (Anyone who’s played Monopoly can attest to this!) The video game industry has suffered its fair share of scandals and drama. We’re going to delve into those moments in the history of our favorite medium now! What were some of the worst controversies in video game history?

ButtGate

ButtGate

Let’s start out with something rather silly, but memorable. Those familiar with the phrase “ButtGate,” will know that it’s in reference to the character Tracer in Overwatch . Some promotional material released featuring her best asset in prime view. A public outcry ensued, leading creator Blizzard to alter the promotional image after the fact to a “more generally appealing” pose. ButtGate might have a funny name, but it did start a rather heated dialogue between parties concerned (or not) about the depiction of women in video games. Personally, I think Tracer (and any other video game gal) should wave that booty around all she darn well pleases.

Image Credit: NeoArtCorE

No Man’s Sky Pre-Release Hype Disaster

No Man’s Sky Pre-Release Hype Disaster

Even two years after its release, the name No Man’s Sky comes with a certain connotation. It was  overly hyped, only to ultimately fail. A lot of time, effort, and almost certainly money went into making No Man’s Sky the most anticipated game of the year in 2016. My friends and I who were active in the video game development community at the time even fell sway to the tactics. I remember seeing a co-worker playing it, at which point I went home and immediately bought it myself. He felt awful afterward, thinking he’d mislead me into a poor buying decision, but No Man’s Sky has improved of the years.

Nevertheless, it has become the title people reference when they warn themselves and others not to give into pre-release hype.

Incomplete Game Releases

Incomplete Game Releases

There’s one major controversy in the video game industry that has reared its ugly, buggy, horrifying head over and over, and that’s incomplete titles. Some games have bugs in them when they release, and this is fairly understandable depending on the complexity of the title. But when a game comes out that’s nigh unplayable, it starts to cause a problem. We’ve seen all kinds of examples of this, like Mass Effect Andromeda , the PC port of Batman: Arkham Knight . But probably the most memorable was the release of Assassin’s Creed: Unity . This game that was so bad, Ubisoft even gave out a free game to anyone who pre-ordered as an apology. If you can’t remember exactly why it sucked so much, you need look no further than the terrifying screenshot above.

YouTube/Twitch Streamer Fails

YouTube/Twitch Streamer Fails

As video game streaming has gotten more popular over the years, so have the various scandals. None are so prevalent and widely reported on than that of racial slur slip-ups. Just looking at a quick Google search for 2018, I can see a report on Matthew “Sadokist” Trivett and Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. No matter whose side you’re on in the debate, it’s clear that these instances are a major video game controversy. Not only do the rounds of apologies afterwards make the news, but they also spark conversations about negativity in the gaming community. Twitch and YouTube streams and streamers never fail to bring the drama.

Kickstarter Bombs

Kickstarter Bombs

What’s worse than a AAA title releasing that doesn’t live up to expectations or that sucks? It is a game releasing that doesn’t live up to expectations that gamers invested in. Kickstarter is a fantastic opportunity for game developers and consumers alike. Projects that might otherwise not have seen the light of day are allowed to live, thanks to crowd-funding. That makes it all the worse when they fail.

Some of the worst Kickstarter failures in the history of video games are Peter Molyneux’s Godus , and the Ouya. Godus raised around $746,000 and went on to become incredibly poorly reviewed ( just check Steam ). Meanwhile, the Ouya amassed a horrifying $8,596,474, only to become a massive hardware failure. These controversial Kickstarter campaigns have made gamers wary of a system that really helps a lot of people.

Violence in Video Games – No Russian

Violence in Video Games – No Russian

There’s one phrase that gets brought up a lot to this day in the gaming community, “No Russian.” It’s a level from the popular Call of Duty: Modern Warfare that released back in 2009. The game caused all kinds of controversies when it first released. But even in 2018, it’s used as an example by fear mongers who think video game violence creates violent people. This may have just been one level in a Call of Duty game, but it’s had lasting effects on the video game community.

Most Downvoted Reddit Comment Ever

Most Downvoted Reddit Comment Ever

Electronic Arts found themselves in incredibly hot water over Star Wars: Battlefront II . The inclusion of microtransactions and loot boxes marked the beginning of all kinds of serious debates. It also lead to the most downvoted Reddit comment in the history of the site. Players were lamenting having to purchase characters for exorbitant amounts of money, after which the memorable quote was written by an EA rep, “The intent is to provide players with a sense of pride and accomplishment for unlocking different heroes.” The rest of the comment is much of the same.

This post was enough controversy on its own, but it didn’t stop there. The Star Wars: Battlefront II controversy went on to be the reason why the ESRB now labels games with “in-game purchases.” This is meant to allow parents to better decide which games to put in their childrens’ hands, especially when they include additional funds past the purchase price.

Creation of the ESRB

Creation of the ESRB

Our top two spot belongs to a controversy that sparked an ESRB change, so it only makes sense that our top slot is the creation of the system entirely. The greatest video game controversy in the history of the industry lead to an entire system being created. Flash back to 1992. Two games were released during this year that sent society reeling. The original Mortal Kombat was heralded as the most violent video game ever, followed closely by DOOM in 1993, and Night Trap was considered atrocious for its depictions of violence against women. These titles took center stage during a 1993 Senate hearing in which violent video games were discussed. This lead to the 1994 creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). This organization has become a crucial part of the video game development industry. It guides video game purchases and sometimes even development. If it hadn’t been for the scandal surrounding Mortal Kombat and Night Trap , the ESRB as we know it wouldn’t exist.

What do you think of these video game controversies? Have any you can recall that were more memorable for you? Share in the comments if you like!

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