In Far Cry 5 things get pretty rough. In the battle against a crazy cult, no stone is left unturned in Hope County. Amid all the violence, the animal rights organization PETA is particularly upset about fishing. PETA appeals to Ubisoft to refrain from marketing video games in Germany that glorify and trivialize the hunting and killing of fish or other animals.
The latest open-world game from Ubisoft, Far Cry 5, does not hold back on violence. Players fight with all sorts of weapons and vehicles against a fanatic cult. They brutalize weapons, abduct people, and perform forced baptisms.
The first live event of the game, called “Gut durch”, even wanted as many animals as possible to be killed with fire, without using Molotovs or flamethrowers.
However, this does not upset PETA as much as the fishing in the game. Even though it is just an optional side quest that is not needed to complete the game, PETA appeals to Ubisoft to refrain from marketing video games in Germany that glorify and trivialize the hunting and killing of fish or other animals.
Fish as someone, not something
In a statement from PETA, Dr. Tanja Breining, a marine biologist and expert on fish and marine animals at the organization, condemns fishing in Far Cry 5 as unethical and promoting violence.
“Fishing means luring fish into a trap, exposing them to fear and suffocation for minutes to hours, and often a painful struggle before they are finally killed or often cut open while still alive. Today we know that a fish is a someone and not a something, making it a disgrace to promote fishing. Fish are curious vertebrates with individual personalities.”
Fish also perform better than chimpanzees, orangutans, and capuchin monkeys in some intelligence tests and have a complex social life. The animal rights organization suggests that Ubisoft develop games with free-roaming animals in the future that do not glorify killing as a pastime.
Ubisoft responds in classic Far Cry fashion
GameStar then requested a statement from Ubisoft, which they received. The company responds to the criticism in classic Far Cry fashion and also addresses the danger posed by the overly powerful shovels in the game.
“Far Cry 5 takes place in the vast fictional open world of Hope County, Montana. The talented developers of this open world have made great efforts to create an immersive experience. This experience is meant to faithfully reflect the breathtaking beauty of real Montana, its inhabitants, and of course, its wildlife. In Far Cry 5, you can hunt, fish, throw dynamite, or hit each other with shovels. We at Ubisoft have great respect for all living beings. That’s why Far Cry 5 offers a safe alternative to hunting, fishing, throwing dynamite, and hitting each other with shovels.”
Is fishing or hunting in Far Cry 5 also a thorn in your side, or do you prefer to spend your time in the game eliminating the Eden’s Gate cult?
