In Blade & Soul a shitstorm is brewing – serious censorship allegations are in the air.
Where does censorship begin and where does localization end?
Blade & Soul is currently experiencing a significant shitstorm on Reddit and in the forums. The localization of the game is currently underway, as the release is scheduled for the beginning of next year. However, it seems more is being done than just translating – entire passages are likely being cut, and even plotlines of quests are being completely replaced if they do not meet moral standards.
The necessity for adjustments
Before we get into the critical points, we should say a few words about localization in general. It is not – as often assumed – simply the direct translation of texts in a game, but often involves a high degree of adjustments. For example, there are certain word plays in Japanese or Korean that have no suitable counterpart in German. Instead of leaving a quest completely humorless, a slightly modified joke is incorporated that works better in the respective language.
Certain cultural differences, such as “general knowledge” on certain topics can vary widely from country to country. While a Chinese person might immediately understand the deep meaning of a “Lotus Warrior of the 52nd Quick Cut Unit” (completely made up), we are left with only question marks above our heads. To ensure that players do not lose interest due to a lack of prior knowledge, sections or simplifications can also take place in such cases. In general, it can be said: Localization often means adjustment, not just translation.
The Good and the Bad – No Shades of Gray Allowed
Exactly here lies the root of the issue. According to a user in the official forum, quoting a member of the localization team, parts of the story are being rewritten. The villains are portrayed as “stereotypical comic book villains” and lose all shades of gray in order to conform to a stereotypical antagonist.
In the same way, the actions of the player characters have been adjusted, who are now supposed to feel much more like a “hero” without flaws or even moral doubts. Some cutscenes, which are supposed to be dramatic or sad, are lightened up with additional memes, giving them a more humorous character.
The accusations in this area sound particularly harsh, as tinkering with the personalities of the main characters can easily scratch at the “soul” of a game and ruin it.
No Peeping, No Viagra!
The changes become even clearer in a questline that is unmistakably considered “problematic”. The quest “A Scholarly Path” revolves around a misogynistic skirt chaser who has spent many years in prison for continued adultery and has also lost his lust in the process. He offers the player a quest where they are to help him restore his virility. To that end, the player is to steal women’s clothing and indulge a group of ladies at the bathhouse (a very typical Asian scenario …).
The reason for this is that the quest giver thinks the women are nymphs, and according to a legend, a nymph must marry the man who steals her clothing. Exactly that happens, the guy is unhappy with his wife, finds her unattractive, and complains to the player that they have ruined his life.
This questline is undoubtedly questionable in several areas, but contains essentially nothing we wouldn’t expect from “Game of Thrones” or similar.
In the English version, not much of this is left. Instead of forcing a woman into marriage, the NPC there just wants to explore the Lycandi (that’s what these women are called) better. The peeping scene has been completely cut.
Criticism Forbidden, Sexy Underwear Too!
But the problems do not end there. According to first images, the game is also being cut in other places. While Koreans can assess the ladies in sexy outfits during character creation, the English version opted for more modest sports underwear (which ironically shows even more skin). But as there is always room for more, the black lingerie has been banished to the cash shop. Well, the community is thrilled …
Anyone who voices criticism of the localization in the official forum is – according to the allegations – having their posts deleted. This does not earn a game any points.
Whether these massive cuts occur only in the American version or also in the European version remains to be seen.
Mein-MMO Cortyn says: Censorship is always terrible because it gives players the impression of being patronized. My opinion on the topic is quite clear; if these “adjustments” really come in this form, it would be an absolute pity.
Even if a game includes sexism, misogyny, or even forms of forced marriage, that is absolutely no reason to fanatically cut them out. After all, we are playing a fantasy game where it can get a bit tougher – moreover, Blade & Soul is a game with many strong women, which makes this even more ridiculous. Even worse is the stereotyping of the main characters – I can have one-dimensional characters in afternoon programming, I don’t need an MMO to play for that.
What do you think of these adjustments? Is this all just usual work within the framework of localization or is it blatant censorship?
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