Civilization VII game caught in scandal over Tsarina Catherine II and the “Russian soul”

Gamers criticized this decision, in particular because Sid Meier’s Civilization VII does not have Ukrainian localization.

Firaxis Games has introduced a “modern Russian civilization” in its game Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, which is released next month. In the game, the Russians will have such factions as Dusha, Prosveshchenie, Samoderzhaviye, and General Moroz, and they will be led by Empress Catherine II, who destroyed the Hetmanate and the Sich. Ukrainian gamers criticized this decision on social networks. This is reported by DEV.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII Game Trailer

“Empress. Bow down to Catherine the Great!”, — the developers announce the new game. According to them, Russia during the time of Catherine II is known for “vast territories in Europe and Asia, luxury and inequality, art and culture”.

Catherine II, who will be the leader of Russia in Civilization VII, will have a mysterious Russian Dushu, thanks to which she will like leaders who have few “Great Works” (unique cultural artifacts), and will not like leaders who own many Works.

Among the unique units for the faction are Cossacks and the Katyusha rocket launcher.

Players, along with Catherine II, are offered to “modernize Russia.” The developers also note that players should build “something you believe in yourself.”

The game will cost from 2,999 UAH for the standard edition to 5,599 UAH on Steam. But the game does not have Ukrainian localization, instead it has Russian (including voice acting), although Civilization VII is not available in the Russian Federation. Previously, Ukrainian players have repeatedly called on the developers of the Civilization series to add Ukraine to the game, but so far they have not achieved their goal.

“Civilization is sliding into absurdity. After decades of moronic behavior in the form of perestroika and maskirovka, a couple of weeks ago we got peredishka. And now we have a concentrated form of this nonsense — prosveshchenie, general moroz, dusha, obshchina. What is wrong with you people?”, — wrote Ukrainian indie developer Dmytro Yarynych.

Many Ukrainian players have called on the developers to consider the context of the time in which they are releasing the game: a full-scale war with Ukraine is underway.

Recall that Catherine II — is a Russian empress, known in particular for finally absorbing Ukraine. She abolished the Hetmanate in 1764 and the Sich in 1775, and also introduced serfdom. A princess from Prussia, she came to power as a result of a coup d'état and the assassination of her husband, Peter III. In particular, she is known for her numerous favorite lovers, among whom were Prince Grigory Potemkin, Count Platon Zubov, and Senator Pyotr Zavadovsky. Under Catherine, the colonization of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands began.