PQube Responds To Malaysian Government's Decision To Block off Steam Due To 'Fight of Gods'

Fight of Gods, a 2nd fighting game developed by Digital Crafter and published by PQube, launched on Steam Early Access just four days ago to very positive user reception (88%).

The game allows Gods and various mythological characters to fight amongst each other. Some of the "fighters" include Odin, Zeus, Amaterasu, Anubis, Moses, Athena, just also Jesus and Buddha.

Needless to say, controversy ensued in a rather major fashion. In fact, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) decided to block off Steam entirely in their country as a means to prevent access to Fight of Gods.

Co-ordinate to Government minister Salleh Said Keruak, the game "degraded religions and religious leaders, posing a huge threat to racial unity and harmony". After citing that this is an crime nether Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Deed 1998, he added that Malaysians respect all cultural and religious sensitivities, and the auction and distribution of the religiously insensitive and blasphemous games must be stopped immediately.

PQube, the game's publisher, just sent out a printing release addressing the whole situation.

We never received any communications from Malaysian officials here at PQube, nonetheless reports seem to bespeak that Malaysia has now blocked access to all of Steam in society to prevent access to Fight of Gods.

What follows is a short argument on the situation on behalf of Digital Crafter and us here at PQube.

Fight of Gods is a video game that takes a humorous approach to religion in the same style that other entertainment formats have – across tv, picture show, books and theatre.

The game is not promoting any religious agenda and is not designed to offend. The clarification of the game on the digital platforms through which information technology is distributed provide clear guidance on the nature of the game and its content so that people can freely choose whether or not to play information technology. Nosotros fully respect the choice of those who would not wish to play it.

We are disappointed that such liberty of choice is not given to everyone and in particular that the game has been forcibly removed from sale in Malaysia, although no direct communication has been received by the states equally to the reasons for this. Nevertheless we respect any rules and censorship imposed in any given territory.

We have reached out to Steam and are working with them to resolve the situation every bit presently as possible.

What do you think? Was this an excessive decision of the Malaysian government or is the game truly offensive?