Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, Sims 3, and many other popular games may be getting banned in Russia over LGBTQ propaganda.
On October 27, 2022, the lawmakers of Russia approved a bill against the expansion of an existing ban on promoting “LGBT propaganda” among children to include people of all ages. This new act aims to toughen the previous 2013 laws against promoting LGBTQ to children.
According to a report from gazeta.ru, “The first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Yana Lantratova, listed dozens of computer games in which “there are gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals.”
Lantratova stated the reason for banning these games as “presenting a non-traditional relationship as something attractive to children.” Massively popular games such as Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, Sims 3, and Assassin’s Creed are on this proposed ban list.
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Russia to Potentially Ban Apex Legends and Overwatch 2 Over “LGBTQ Propaganda“
“Any event or act that is thought to encourage homosexuality, whether it be online, in a movie, in a book, in advertising, or in public, might result in a hefty fine under the new law, which was unanimously approved on its first reading by the lower house State Duma.”, Reuter’s report states.
Under this condition, Lantrova listed 16 games that might get banned in Russia. More games might get banned, provided any promotion of LGBTQ behavior is present.
The mentioned games are:
- Assassin’s Creed
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
- Assassin’s Creed: Rogue
- Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Borderlands
- Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Dragon Age: Origins
- Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Life Is Strange
- The Last of Us
- The Last of Us: Part 2
- Fallout
- Apex Legends
- RimWorld
- Overwatch
- The Sims 3
However, the deputy also clarifies that it won’t be illegal/ forbidden to play with a character of the opposite gender in a video game. So, a boy can play with a female character, and a girl can play with a male character in a video game without any restrictions.
Lantratova said in this matter, “No, this should not be banned. We are talking about the promotion of non-traditional relationships when they are presented as the norm, something attractive.”
Apex Legends and Overwatch 2 both have LGBTQ characters in the game. So, judging by the current situation in Russia, Apex Legends and Overwatch 2 along with many other popular games might get banned for good.
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