Ubisoft Claims Far Cry 6 'Is Political' Following Mixed Reception
Image: Ubisoft

There's been a lot of backlash over the past few days following an interview at The Gamer with narrative director Navid Khavari about Far Cry 6's political undertones. During the interview, Khavari stated that Ubisoft "doesn’t want to make a political statement about what’s happening in Cuba specifically", but has now expanded on what that means.

Khavari published a statement via Ubisoft's official social media channels, which claims that Far Cry 6 "is political". Khavari added that "a story about a modern revolution must be", and as a result, "there are hard, relevant discussions in Far Cry 6."

"A story about a modern revolution must be. There are hard, relevant discussions in Far Cry 6 about the conditions that lead to the rise of fascism in a nation, the costs of imperialism, forced labor, the need for free-and-fair elections, LGBTQ+ rights, and more within the context of Yara, a fictional island in the Caribbean.

My goal was to empower our team to be fearless in the story we were telling, and we worked incredibly hard to do this over the last five years. We also tried to be very careful about how we approached our inspirations, which include Cuba, but also other countries around the world that have experienced political revolutions in their histories."

To tackle these subjects, the team is said to have sought out "creators and collaborators for our team who can speak personally to the history and cultures of the regions [they] were inspired by". Additionally, experts and consultants were also reportedly brought in to "examine the game's story multiple times over the course of the project to make sure it was being told with sensitivity."

"The conversations and research done on the perspectives of those who fought revolutions in the late 1950s, early 1960s, and beyond are absolutely reflected in our story and characters. But if anyone is seeking a simplified, binary political statement specifically on the current political climate in Cuba, they won’t find it.

I am from a family that has endured the consequences of revolution. I have debated revolution over the dinner table my entire life. I can only speak for myself, but it is a complex subject that should never be boiled down to one quote."

Khavari finished by adding that the team has attempted to "tell a story with action, adventure, and heart, but that also isn’t afraid to ask hard questions", while also hoping that players "are willing to let the story speak for itself first before forming hard opinions on its political reflections".

It remains to be seen how the politics in Far Cry 6 will play. Last week we got our first look at gameplay, but for the most part it was strictly confined to the explosive action fans of the series are used to. The full game launches this October, where players will be able to judge for themselves how Ubisoft has handled the project.

What do you think about Khavari's comments? Let us know in the comments below.

[source news.ubisoft.com]