The MOBA SMITE uses gods from ancient myths as heroes: But the name of an Egyptian goddess is causing trouble. Isis apparently cannot be used anymore in 2021, as the YouTube algorithm has issues and demonetizes videos due to suspected terrorism. Therefore, the name is being changed in the English version.
Which goddess is it about? Isis is an ancient Egyptian deity that was worshiped as far back as the “Kingdom of Egypt,” approximately 2500 years before Christ. Isis is a mother goddess in ancient Egypt, the wife of Osiris and mother of the sky god Horus.
In SMITE, Isis is also one of the oldest deities in the game. She was introduced to the MOBA in May 2013, where she is known as the “Goddess of Magic.”
Isis has become a controversial name
Why does SMITE need to change the name? Apparently, the YouTube algorithm confuses the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis with the Islamic terrorist organization IS, which is known as the “Islamic State.” In English-speaking countries, they are also referred to as “ISIS,” which stands for “Islamic State of Iran and Syria.”
As SMITE writes in the new patch notes, Isis will now be called “Es-set,” which is an alternative spelling of the name that also appears in the “Encyclopedia Britannica.”
The goddess has been renamed to prevent “demonetization of content” and to avoid “algorithm confusion.”
The name is set to change with the patch on March 23rd.
Does this also apply to the German version: No, in Germany the name remains Isis. It states: “The problems mainly affected English-speaking content.”
In Germany, the algorithm still seems to differentiate between Isis and ISIS. Phew.
YouTube targets “sensitive videos”
What this is about: The problem here is a change at YouTube known as the “Adpocalypse”: In 2017, major advertisers complained to YouTube that their ads were shown in “violent contexts,” such as an ad before videos that glorify violence.
As a result, the YouTube algorithm was adjusted so that “sensitive” topics, which have something to do with violence or appear controversial, are less attractive for advertising. So when the YouTube algorithm detects: “The video is about terrorism,” different conditions apply to the video than to a video about a harmless video game where gods burn each other with magical flames.
On the other hand, players of SMITE had also noticed that the name “Isis” has become controversial (via reddit). Already in January 2020, a proposal circulated on reddit to give Isis a different name. People did not feel good about the name anymore. Streamers and YouTubers expressed concerns about saying the name, it was said back then.
SMITE experienced a surge on Steam in February 2021:
Action-LoL SMITE attracts more players on Steam than ever before – What makes it so good?
