Call Of Duty: WWII Dev Slams Fan That Wants Swastikas In Multiplayer

Sledgehammer is marketing Call Of Duty: WWII on its historical accuracy in relation to the 1940s European theater, but co-studio head Michael Condrey strongly defends his team’s decision to scrap swastika iconography from multiplayer. In a recent tweet, he called out a fan for wanting more.

The conversation began Friday when Twitter’s @King_BHawk suggested the controversial symbol was used as a medal by the Nazi regime for decades and had been featured in past Call Of Duty titles in most regions. In reply, Condrey tweeted “this reads to me as ‘I want a more racist and hateful symbol that helps me better associate with mass murder,’” asking the fan if that was his true position.

While the recipient never answered Condrey’s question directly, quite a few others did. The main argument against his mindset is, of course, that censoring swastikas from the game might be seen as the developer’s attempt to alter history. In other words, because Germans actually wore the symbol on their uniforms during that time period, it should be featured in the game whenever historically appropriate. This would include appearances in multiplayer as well as Nazi Zombies.

Sledgehammer won’t be censoring swastikas from all modes of Call Of Duty: WWII. As Condrey told Eurogamer in June, “you will see the swastika in the campaign, using our military historian to make sure it's authentic, tasteful and respectful.” However, because multiplayer is a more avatar-focused, non-canon representation of the conflict, the studio took some “creative liberties” with design choices in those modes. “Frankly, it's a dark symbol with a lot of emotion behind it we don't feel matches our multiplayer experience,” Condrey concluded.

While German versions of Call Of Duty games have censored swastikas for years in accord with that country’s laws, Call Of Duty: WWII marks the first time that policy has been implemented on a global level for a major franchise entry.

In addition to cutting swastikas from online, multiplayer will also feature a few additions that aren’t historically accurate as well. Namely, female and racially diverse avatars will be featured throughout the entire suite, even during battles where that wouldn’t otherwise make sense. Players will indeed see, for example, women and people of color fighting for the Nazi cause.

In multiplayer, “it's important for us to allow you to choose to be you, and to have a hero that represents who you are, whomever you choose that to be,” Condrey said. As such, a diverse character set was specifically added to online.

This lean towards representation applies to Nazi Zombies mode too. The creepy co-op experience features male and female characters of varying nationalities in an attempt to widen storytelling elements and the gamut of available perspectives.

Call Of Duty: WWII comes to PS4, Xbox One and PC Nov. 3. It’s available for pre-order now.

Are you OK with Sledgehammer’s swastika position for Call Of Duty: WWII? Did you find Condrey’s reply a tad too salty? Tell us in the comments section!