This February 21, PC, PlayStation and Xbox players were able to discover atomic hearta game available at 70 euros and that is currently among the best sellers on Amazon.
In this video game, the player takes on the role of tormented Major Sergei Nechaev, nicknamed P-3, who must fight against an army of robots that have become uncontrollable. The context? An alternate reality in the Soviet Union in the 1930s where robots, artificial intelligence and the Internet already exist. The action game is thus based on a subjective vision where it is about confrontations of all kinds against robots, but also dialogues accused of being sexist.
vulgar refrigerator
To upgrade their powers and equipment, the player can turn to Nora, a refrigerator equipped with artificial intelligence. Except that the appliances turn out to be much more sexualized than imagined. Because when the player invites Nora to speak, she finds a soft voice and some very suggestive dialogues.
As journalist Pierre Crochart points out on Twitter, we can hear the fridge whispering “You’ve got a big sword, so put it in the slot to make it harder and sharper. You can fill me with anything you want, my cutie.” “Exchanges that continue for much of the game.
The sexualized aspect of the game is also highlighted by the systematic depiction of vulvas on the sets, especially on the doors. A choice that could have remained purely graphic if the developers hadn’t decided that to unlock these doors, you had to insert your glove wires into these locks.
The main character is not left out as he continues throughout the game uttering insults and violent comments every time an interlocutor exchanges with him, the journalist Gauthier Andres indicates on Twitter.
A game that finances the war?
And if the writing already lays the foundations for a controversial game, its launch context has made Internet users react. Available almost a year after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, atomic heart He is criticized for his ties to Russia.
Indeed, the Munfish studio is Russian, although it has established its offices in Cyprus (known as the tax haven of more than 40,000 Russian oligarchs). Among Mundfish’s investors is the Russian investment fund Gem Capital, linked to the gas company Gazprom, which is 50.2% owned by the Russian government.
In addition, the Russian distributor ofatomic heart, VKPlay (equivalent to the Steam platform) is also owned by Gazprom. For some netizens, buying the game is indirectly equivalent to participating in the financing of the war in Ukraine.
However, anticipating this criticism, Mundfish insisted on not taking sides and not being in favor of the war. On its Twitter account, the studio recently assured that it is “unquestionably an organization for peace and against violence against people.” However, refraining from mentioning the specific case of Ukraine.
Source: BFM TV
