Ubisoft has officially responded to complaints regarding the opening cinematic for the mobile gameTom Clancy’s Elite Squadwith an apology. The video depicts a violent, organized uprising plotted by the game’s villains using a fist symbol commonly associated in modern times with the Black Panther Party and Black Lives Matter movements.Ubisoftstates that its inclusion of this symbol in the video “was insensitive and harmful” and is promising that the symbol will be removed by Tuesday, September 1 on Android with an iOS update to follow.
The full apology from Ubisoft starts by acknowledging the specific issue with the video. Namely, the use of what Ubisoft calls the “raised fist” symbol. This term is commonly associated with longstanding revolutionary imagery, including the modernBlack Lives Matterlogo. Ubisoft’s apology says the use of this imagery was insensitive and harmful in two different ways. First, Ubisoft acknowledges that even using the image was the wrong decision, and second, Ubisoft says that the context of its use was the wrong decision, too.
RELATED:Ubisoft Confirms New Ubisoft Forward for Later This Year
Suffice to say, Ubisoft is apologizing for the entire situation. While it’s unlikely to be met with much empathy given Ubisoft still allowed the situation to happen in the first place, it’s still acting on the response quickly and doing what’s necessary to changeTom Clancy’s Elite Squadas soon as it’s able.
Of course, the criticism ofTom Clancy’s Elite Squaddoesn’t end with just the inclusion of a logo used by Black Lives Matter. The game also involves a story involving the planned usage of a weaponized pandemic, as well as a group ofspecial forces and criminal protagonistsfighting against these anti-government villains. At this point, with years of development likely behind the project, it’s difficult to argue that Ubisoft wasn’t familiar and approving of the themes being presented inTom Clancy’s Elite Squad.
The argument that Ubisoft may not have known better, given that it’s a company based out of France, also doesn’t make much sense. In early June, Ubisoft sent out an official statement via social media stating solidarity with the Black community following thekilling of George Floyd. In that statement, Ubisoft says, “We believe in liberty and equality,” “Discrimination, exclusion, and prejudice are things we should all work to change.”
The next step is Ubisoft removing the “raised fist” imagery fromTom Clancy’s Elite Squadstarting next Tuesday. It’s possible that will be the end of the issue from Ubisoft’s point of view, but it’s clearly not going to be the end from a portion ofUbisoft’s fansor the greater gaming community.
