The Atomic Heart controversy and boycott, explained

gamepur.com:

Coming out on February 21, Atomic Heart is a Soviet-inspired video game a la Bioshock or Dishonored. Instead of retro America or England, though, Atomic Heart is a science fiction version of the Soviet Union, where you play a secret agent from this alternate future. Announced in 2018, Atomic Heart and its creators Mundfish made a big name for themselves by revealing their visually beautiful game.

However, the game faces heated controversy because of more current events. In 2022, Russia escalated its war on Ukraine under the guise of the “reunification” of nations previously part of the Soviet Union. Since Russia began its aggressive assault, thousands of Ukrainians have died. Because of their game’s roots in Russian history and the Soviet Union, Atomic Heart has become steeped in controversy over how the game represents Russian history. Hopeful players and critics alike have questioned if it glorifies the Soviet Union’s past, if it glamorizes the infamous KGB, and if it helps platform an uncomfortably supportive perspective on Russia’s current actions.

Mundfish as a company has tried to distance itself from the conflict, relocating to Croatia since Russia’s assault worsened and trying to play up the anti-war stance of their game. They’ve also publicly insisted their game has absolutely no Russian investors and one of the game’s composers, Mick Gordon, has chosen to donate his composer’s fee to aid Ukraine. However, many fans have been dissatisfied with Mundfish’s otherwise very vague public statements about Russia and the war.

There are a few possible ways to interpret Mundfish’s disinterest in taking a hard stance. They could either be Russian-sympathizing,