Russian video-game mogul ignites cultural conflict
Pro-Kiev X users have criticized the developers of Civilization VII for featuring Catherine the Great, urging that Russia should be excluded. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Pro-Kiev X users have criticized the developers of Civilization VII for including Catherine the Great, calling for the removal of Russia from the game.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII has ignited a contentious discussion regarding the historical narratives of Russia and Ukraine, particularly concerning Empress Catherine the Great. In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, several pro-Kiev X users have urged that the Russian civilization be excluded from this latest edition of the acclaimed series.
Since the escalation of hostilities in February 2022, various Western countries have prohibited performances by specific Russian artists. For years, Ukrainian officials have been eliminating Russian influences from the public sphere, a trend that has recently gained momentum.
Moscow has consistently condemned these actions as efforts to “cancel” Russian culture.
Set for release on February 11, Civilization VII is the newest entry in a series that began in 1991, allowing players to “assume the role of a famous historical leader” and “guide a civilization through history.”
Details shared by the game developers reveal that it includes Russian Empress Catherine the Great, who reigned for over three decades during the latter part of the 18th century. Under her leadership, the Russian Empire defeated the Crimean Khanate and annexed the peninsula after the Russo-Turkish War.
In a promotional YouTube video titled “The Empress. Bow to Catherine the Great in the latest Civ 7 First Look,” the developers portrayed the Russian monarch as a ruler focused on modernization, with a strong interest in the arts and sciences. If players opt to lead the Russian civilization, they will have access to ‘Cossack’ military units and ‘Katyusha’ missiles, referencing the famous Soviet-era multiple launch rocket system from World War II.
However, many pro-Kiev users on X expressed their discontent with the depiction of Catherine the Great. Some accused the developers of perpetuating “Russian propaganda” by presenting a character who had “contributed to the destruction of Ukrainian culture.”
Conversely, not all commenters echoed this disapproval; one user remarked, “What’s with all the dumb Ukrainians in the comments? Russia is a major power in the world. It makes sense for them to be in the game.”
Civilization VII is developed by US-based Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. Although the latter ceased operations in Russia following the Ukraine conflict's escalation, reports indicate that the company will still provide Russian dubbing for the game, according to Russian gaming media outlets.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII has ignited a contentious discussion regarding the historical narratives of Russia and Ukraine, particularly concerning Empress Catherine the Great. In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, several pro-Kiev X users have urged that the Russian civilization be excluded from this latest edition of the acclaimed series.
Since the escalation of hostilities in February 2022, various Western countries have prohibited performances by specific Russian artists. For years, Ukrainian officials have been eliminating Russian influences from the public sphere, a trend that has recently gained momentum.
Moscow has consistently condemned these actions as efforts to “cancel” Russian culture.
Set for release on February 11, Civilization VII is the newest entry in a series that began in 1991, allowing players to “assume the role of a famous historical leader” and “guide a civilization through history.”
Details shared by the game developers reveal that it includes Russian Empress Catherine the Great, who reigned for over three decades during the latter part of the 18th century. Under her leadership, the Russian Empire defeated the Crimean Khanate and annexed the peninsula after the Russo-Turkish War.
In a promotional YouTube video titled “The Empress. Bow to Catherine the Great in the latest Civ 7 First Look,” the developers portrayed the Russian monarch as a ruler focused on modernization, with a strong interest in the arts and sciences. If players opt to lead the Russian civilization, they will have access to ‘Cossack’ military units and ‘Katyusha’ missiles, referencing the famous Soviet-era multiple launch rocket system from World War II.
However, many pro-Kiev users on X expressed their discontent with the depiction of Catherine the Great. Some accused the developers of perpetuating “Russian propaganda” by presenting a character who had “contributed to the destruction of Ukrainian culture.”
Conversely, not all commenters echoed this disapproval; one user remarked, “What’s with all the dumb Ukrainians in the comments? Russia is a major power in the world. It makes sense for them to be in the game.”
Civilization VII is developed by US-based Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. Although the latter ceased operations in Russia following the Ukraine conflict's escalation, reports indicate that the company will still provide Russian dubbing for the game, according to Russian gaming media outlets.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
