American media want to attach a political message to The Division 2. They would prefer it to be against Trump. The developers strongly oppose this. However, The Division already played with societal explosives.
Gaming media in the USA are more political: Unlike Germany, there are two major gaming sites in the USA that set political topics on the agenda. They mainly address the conflicts between “rich and poor”, between “men and women” and between “white and non-white”.
The journalists of these sites approach gaming topics from a left, liberal perspective:
- The US site Polygon often tries to find political references in games, preferably focusing on women, minorities, and their issues.
- The US site Kotaku also does not shy away from addressing such sensitive topics.
That’s why Ubisoft is often in focus: The gaming sites particularly focus on Ubisoft. Because Ubisoft’s games frequently use the real world as a backdrop. This is the case with The Division 1, Ghost Recon Wildlands, or Far Cry 5. Now also with The Division 2.
Tom Clancy as a “right-conservative suspense author”: Ubisoft publishes the games under the license of “Tom Clancy.” Clancy was a suspense author who used militaristic-political scenarios as a backdrop for his thrillers. Therefore, they repeatedly touch on social conflicts. Clancy was considered right-conservative. He passed away in 2013.
There was trouble even in The Division 1
This conflict in a game set in the real world already arose in The Division 1.
The scenario: The Division 1 is set in New York – a deadly virus was spread via dollar bills, and an armed conflict erupts between paramilitary forces and civilians. The player is a trained and well-armed government agent.
The accusations: An author from Kotaku accused the game of lacking sensitivity. The Division plays with the struggle between “rich and poor” and the conflict between “black and white”, which is raging in the USA:
- Agents eliminate civilians who just want to survive. With their “hoodies”, shabby pistols, and baseball bats, they are depicted as part of the underclass.
- The “Rikers” are inmates. In real life, the prison “Rikers Island” is known as a place where the problems of the US justice system are fully evident.
- Additionally, there is a scene in which the Rikers’ boss, LaRae Bennett, a black woman, shouts at the agents: “Just one more black corpse on your pile, right?”
More shades of gray: The author from Kotaku wished at the time that The Division would deal with the conflicts behind the characters instead of portraying them as enemies to be shot. He wanted more shades of gray.
Ubisoft’s reaction: Let’s make the enemies worse
Fewer shades of gray: In response to the criticism, Ubisoft attempted to eliminate these shades of gray in The Division 1. They changed voice-overs and animations to make the villains “more evil”. They wanted to make it clear: These are the villains. They are insane.
Now for “The Division 2,” they have decided: We will be clearer. The enemies in “The Division 2” are supposed to behave more villainously than in The Division 1, it is said.
Conflict in The Division 2: Armed groups head to Washington – against Trump?
The accusation in The Division 2: However, The Division 2 now also faces criticism from US sites for using political imagery.
The scenario: The Division 2 is supposed to take place in Washington, DC, on the brink of a civil war. This is for the writers of Polygon a “thoroughly” political scenario. After all, the real America under Trump also appears to be on the brink of a civil war. Now armed agents are heading to Washington, DC. A clear message.
No political statement – absolutely none
Ubisoft defends itself: Ubisoft vehemently denies making a political statement. Even though Terry Spier from Red Storm Entertainment admits that a politically charged scenario exists in the USA, they insist that The Division 2 has no “political statement”. Absolutely none. No one is picking up a weapon to bring down a corrupt regime. No one is heading to Washington with a weapon.
Unity instead of division
Southern studio – there was something about division: Spier comes from “Red Storm Entertainment.” The studio is based in North Carolina, one of the southern states involved in the American Civil War. However, Spier also dismisses all parallels. The Division 2 takes place in Washington because:
- Everyone knows what Washington is
- and everyone knows the major iconic buildings of the city, such as the Capitol or the Lincoln Memorial
The main theme of The Division 2 is “Unity.” The agents go to Washington, DC, to regroup, help, and rebuild.
Simply deny everything with a grin: In an interview with Polygon, it becomes clear that the Ubisoft employee says “We have no statement” with a “grin”. This gives the impression that Ubisoft is indeed playing with these political provocative topics and images but does not want to take a stand. After all, everyone buys video games, regardless of what political views they hold. Ubisoft was already accused of playing with such provocative themes and imagery in Far Cry 5 while insisting on not taking a political stance.
