Just weeks ago it was confirmed that American military bases would no longer be selling the upcoming Medal of Honor title due to the inclusion of playable Taliban units. As a result, EA’s hand was pushed to remove playable Taliban from the game in order to appease the military crowd. Unfortunately, it simply wasn’t enough as the American military has chosen to remain absent from the release of Medal of Honor.
Despite the removal of the Taliban from Medal of Honor‘s multiplayer component, Judd Anstey from Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs has confirmed that GameStop retailers located at military bases will not be selling the upcoming first-person shooter. When speaking to the press, Judd stated the following in response to why the American military has chosen such an action:
“Out of respect to those touched by the ongoing, real-life events presented as a game, Exchanges will not be carrying this product. While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, our position is consistent with the direction stated a month ago. I expect the military families who are authorized to shop the Exchange are aware, and understanding, of the decision not to carry this particular offering.”
This comes as a bit of a surprise to many including myself. Why is it okay to show American soldiers killing Middle Eastern soldiers, but not the other way around? Are they not human? In any case, this will indubitably impact sales and the game’s image, and hopefully EA can pull through this speedbump in the game’s release.
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