This reminds me of similar questions around both Atomic Heart and Hogwarts: Legacy, and I think there are a couple differences in both cases.
In the case of Atomic Heart, part of the controversy was related to the sexualized robots that bear a traditional Ukranian hairstyle, and how subservient they are towards the player, as well as the way the USSR was depicted in general in the game. Taken together, a lot of people saw that as reflective of the current and common attitude of Ukraine being a subject state of Russia. So the monetary support for the devs were potentially directly benefiting people with questionable views.
In the case of Hogwarts: Legacy, the connection to a bad actor is even more clear cut, wrt JKR. Abstaining from purchasing it was roundly discussed as a boycott of her and her views, even if she had minimal connection to the game itself (we know she did financially benefit from it, as she stated it herself on Xitter).
I think this is one too many steps removed for me to condemn it in the same vein. Yes, Russia will benefit in tax revenue from it, but the studio isn’t state-owned or something; it’s no different than buying something made (in whole or part) in China giving tax money to the CCP to further Uighur genocide in Xinjiang, or tax money in the US going towards genocide in Gaza via military aid.
I’m not saying you’re a hypocrite if you choose to not buy this but still pay US taxes, because ultimately the consequences that you face for those 2 actions is very different. I might say it’s hypocritical to buy Chinese goods though, given they are still trading with Russia and supplying them materials.
Personally, I’m not going to treat all people as proxies for their government; that’s too close to collective punishment.
This debate had been brought up back when Atomic Heart was bound to be released. Many people argued back then that it’s fine buying the game since the dev team had completely relocated to Cyprus (very popular country for Russians to move to next to Kazakhstan and numerous European countries), thus not funding the Russian government through taxes.
However, given that the dev team still lives in Russia this time, there’s not much to debate. The figures the author mentions check out and there’s no other way to put it, really, that gamers are, in part at least, funding Russia.
Sure, the company might have opposing views to Russia, but firstly, they haven’t moved to a different country, which is at least a little concerning, and secondly, are a legal entity in Russia, so they pay them regardless of motivation.
It’s interesting to compare to the Israel-Palestine debate, too. By the same logic, one should avoid buying any games from US-based developers, because those taxes are going to fund the genocide in Gaza. But of course, when you follow the logic to that end, one starts to consider their own income taxes in that debate.
Just because there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism doesn’t mean that we have zero control over what we consume. It’s perfectly fine to hold a viewpoint of trying to minimize harm where you can and when you’re aware of it. Where you draw your lines doesn’t have to be perfect either (after all, we’re human).
I appreciate that perspective, thank you
The difference with Atomic Heart is that it wasn’t just made by a Russian developer, but that it also promoted a questionable outlook on the Soviet Union that closely mirrors the one the current Russian government is promoting.
This is a ridiculous article. People are not their government. The fact that Russia is a non-democratic government even makes it even worse. The russian people still deserve to earn a wage, to pay for their necessities, even if their taxes - unfortunately - support a warmongering dictator, and they’re suffering through a draft. How is this any worse than the US government that not only builds itself on constant foreign interference as well as flat out invasions? And their soldiers willingly enlist. Should we ask that every american citizen starve themselves because their taxes support the military? Should we call that companies stop employing US citizens and drive them into poverty because of the countless atrocities the United States support?
To call out a foreign country on not standing up against their leaders is absurd. They control the policemen and the army, they have the weapons, the finances, and the policies. Why didn’t americans - the supposedly defenders of democracy - not easily depose Trump if that’s all it takes? Why are they struggling with a bipartisan system in which both candidates openly support the Palestinian genocide? Why not make a call for the rest of the world to abandon them and just let them die out? Its almost like its not that easy to change your entire nation, huh?
technically the article never goes as far as arguing that people should boycott the game, though that is obviously the implied thesis. I don’t exactly disagree with you, I just think it’s a conversation worth having.
The russian people still deserve to earn a wage, to pay for their necessities
While I can’t say that Saber for sure works this way, but every studio I know of pays a salary, and the sales of the game don’t factor in (with the exception of bonuses and maybe shady practices around contracted QA). The article even states they are busy working on their next game, so those people are currently being paid.
I don’t believe anyone is calling out the employees in this situation. I think the difference is agency. I can choose whether or not to spend money on the game, thereby choosing whether or not to send money to the Russian government. A Russian employee does not have that choice, much like people in the US don’t have a choice to pay taxes that fund a genocide. People buying leisure items do have that choice, though.
Nope.
wow what a thoughtful reply thank you, you really read that article and brought a lot of good points to the table for us to discuss
Ok I read the article… Answer is still nope.
Russian game companies are not our enemy. The leadership of the country may be, but so what? You going to try and influence that by choosing non-russian games? That’s ridiculous… :)
This is not about the politics of the company or whether or not the people support the government. Influence is not the point. This is about material support to the Russian government. Money spent on the game goes to the Russian government in the form of taxes. This blurb says it in plain text:
To put it crudely, an average gamer, who buys Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 for $59.99, helps the company to fund the Russian army with almost $12
Ok? And buying literally any game by EA, Activision, Microsoft, Sony, 2K, Devolver, Epic and countless other companies helps fund the war on Gaza and America’s neo-colonialism and imperialism. Notice I didn’t even mention European companies, because that’s another whole can of worms.
Whataboutism isn’t a good look, but it’s consistently the only defense that people who defend autocratic hellholes like Russia and China come up with. You know it’s not even remotely the same.
I have excellent news: you can also not buy games from those companies too.
Well yea, it’s another motivator for people to actively go against the Russian government in one way or another. The more discontent people are with the situation that’s been ongoing for 2+ years, the more likely something’s to happen, I’d wager
I think it’s silly. You can’t fight dictators with gaming choices. That stuff is real life.
I would argue we should. I win the argument! 👑
