Released on Steam Early Access this week, Fight of Gods is a fighting game that features deities like Moses, Jesus, Zeus, Buddha and even Anubis!

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If you thought it couldn't get even more intense, then you were wrong! The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission have called for a ban on the game and asked for it to be disabled within 24 hours or face further actions. And then Steam was entirely banned.

In a press release, PQube, the game's publisher, noted that "we never received any communications from Malaysian officials here at PQube, however reports seem to indicate that Malaysia has now blocked access to all of Steam in order to prevent access to Fight of Gods."

Talking to The Star about their actions, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had the following to say: "Malaysians respect all cultural and religious sensitivities, and the sale and distribution of the religiously insensitive and blasphemous games must be stopped immediately."

Below is a short statement on the matter from Digital Crafter and PQube:

Fight of Gods is a video game that takes a humorous approach to religion in the same way that other entertainment formats have – across television, film, books and theatre.

The game is not promoting any religious agenda and is not designed to offend. The description of the game on the digital platforms through which it is distributed provide clear guidance on the nature of the game and its content so that people can freely choose whether or not to play it. We fully respect the choice of those who would not wish to play it.

We are disappointed that such freedom of choice is not given to everyone and in particular that the game has been forcibly removed from sale in Malaysia, although no direct communication has been received by us as to the reasons for this. Nevertheless we respect any rules and censorship imposed in any given territory.


We have reached out to Steam and are working with them to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

Kotaku reached out to Valve and they replied with the following statement:

Right now players in Malaysia can access the games they own on Steam, but the Steam Store is being blocked by some local telcos in Malaysia. From reports we are reading, this is due to a single game that conflicts with local laws. We have contacted the developer, removed the game, and are attempting to make contact with the officials in Malaysia to remove the block. We apologize for any inconvenience.

So what do you think of this ban? Somewhat reminiscent of the Russian Pokémon GO player who was recently jailed for playing the game in a church, no?

UPDATE:

It seems like Steam has been unblocked in Malaysia while Fight of Gods has been removed from the digital game distribution platform in the country.

SOURCE: GBAtemp Inbox

 

[H1B1Esquire]

I guess in some places, when you have an infected toe nail, cut off both legs so you don't get another toe infection, even if it means you'll die.

I think it would have been easier to block the game from Steam in Malaysia. Although, if you really wanted to play, you could pirate it elsewhere.

As for the Pokemon bro, I think that's a different issue--you can play the game, just not in churches, which seems like a fair trade for being able to legally own an Ursaring without a pokeball or special licenses. In contrast, Niantic can still make money in Russia, but Steam and everyone associated with Steam are losing business in an entire country.

 

[DinohScene]

Religious fools...

Edit: The UN should ban religion on the base of war and hate mongering.

 

[Windaga]

I mean... Is it good? I hope it's good. It's pretty easy to get things on Steam now. Seems silly to block all of Steam when Smite has been up for a while.

Edit
Just watched the trailer. Looks bad, man. Ever since SMT II I've wanted a God fighting game. This doesn't do the idea justice.

 

[VitaType]

The UN should ban religion on the base of war and hate mongering.

If they would do that it would render the UN obsolete for many many countries and that isn't in the intresst of the UN.

 

[sp3off]

there was plenty of contorversy arround gta, but heh. it's the one of the most sold games now..

they are games... they are fantasy, only poor brained would mix fantasy with real life and being offended by games...

Not even GTA, since warnings are before the game start, France accepted it.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

i wanted to see what happened if someone made a a game "race killer" and you would get very high payout for killing muslims and penalties for killing Nazis


i mean with the ammount of anime girls full of sexual content games.. steam is already filled with trash games, so i wanted to see someone testing the waters of "offendingness"

I mean, that would be incredibly insensitive, just like this game...

 

[Gourmet]

Not sure if overreaction or the publisher of this game paying some government official to have it featured in headlines, I'd guess probably the latter.

 

[VitaType]

I mean, that would be incredibly insensitive, just like this game...

How is it insensitive to make a game where the gods get drawn in a normal way, where they get normal not slap-sticky movesets and should be balanced to be roughly equal powerful due to the nature of the game?
There is nothing insensitive about this game... If they would make childish jokes with them or show them as incredible stupid I would agree, but this way? It's not more insensitive then e.g. the battle of civilizations in the Sid Meir's Civilization computergame series...

Since the game also features gods from various cultures it maybe even can teach us a little bit about other gods and belives. This way the game could even be seen as a game of tolerance. I don't see where the developers tried to ridiculo a god or a whole religion.
If you don't like the idea, just don't play it. I won't play it myself, but mainly because it looks very boring.

 

[Bubsy Bobcat]

Ah well. I only download my games if they're DRM free (or cracked if it's only on Steam so I have to pirate it). This game looks generic as fuck.

 

[Subtle Demise]

i wanted to see what happened if someone made a a game "race killer" and you would get very high payout for killing muslims and penalties for killing Nazis


i mean with the ammount of anime girls full of sexual content games.. steam is already filled with trash games, so i wanted to see someone testing the waters of "offendingness"

There are already games like that. One that comes to mind is called Ethnic Cleansing.

 

[TVL]

Religious fools...

Edit: The UN should ban religion on the base of war and hate mongering.

You think the UN should send angry letters about it?

Forbidding things like that is stupid (it almost always is), religion I think will die out on it's own, just not right now, and nobody can change that so just accept it, and I for one think it does people more good than bad overall. Also when was the last time a war was about religion? Even the crusades were to get valubles by killing and plundering.

OnTopic: Game doesn't look good, looked like N64 visuals the first ones, and by the looks of it gameplay didn't seem good. But I could be totally wrong about that, but I wont play it so it's if someone quotes me and tells me it's awesome.

 

[mikey420]

I don't want to live on this planet anymore....

 

[osaka35]

this is where a lack of separation of church and state will getcha. no steam.

 

[Abu_Senpai]

Update, September 8: Valve have removed Fight of Gods from sale in Malaysia, and Steam has returned in that region, though some ISPs are still blocking the store.

Source:https://pcgamesn.com/fight-of-gods/steam-blocked-malaysia-fight-of-gods

So steam is back but that game is gone for good apparently, now here is the problem. If SMT and GOW were allowed to be released without any issues then this game itself SHOULD have been released in that country too.

I personally wont be playing the game as it looks meh and i mainly play Tekken when it comes to fighting games.

UPDATE: Seems like it was banned by government officials. In that case , there was no reason to ban it since there wasnt a public outcry.

So i am against what the Malaysian government have done here.

 

[Pluupy]

Update, September 8: Valve have removed Fight of Gods from sale in Malaysia, and Steam has returned in that region, though some ISPs are still blocking the store.

Source:https://pcgamesn.com/fight-of-gods/steam-blocked-malaysia-fight-of-gods

So steam is back but that game is gone for good apparently, now here is the problem. If SMT and GOW were allowed to be released without any issues then this game itself SHOULD have been released in that country too. However, from what i can see the main issue with this game seems to be that "you get to beat up Jesus" and i get why that would piss off alot of people. Gods like Zeus,Posidon and Hades also may not seem relevant in the modern world. But from what i know there are quite a few "Hellenists"living in Malaya which again contributes to another reason as to why this game would be banned there. So from what i have seen this game seems to have offended religion groups like Catholics and Hellenists which therefore led to its ban.

Now, whether or not this game should have been banned is disputable because well from what i recollect there was no Jesus is smt or GOW and there were no scenes during any of those games where you beat him up. So i get why the game was banned. Do i agree with it? Kind of to be honest.

In Shin Megami Tensei IV you literally kill god with your best friends who can fuse into Satan but smacking Jesus is bad?

Priorities.

 

[Abu_Senpai]

In Shin Megami Tensei IV you literally kill god with your best friends who can fuse into Satan but smacking Jesus is bad?

Priorities.

But are there any real world depictions of God for every religion? exactly i dont think so. Nor was it specifically stated that the God in that game was the one from a certain religion.

So because Atlus did specify WHICH god it was, no one cared. Even i bested SMT IV Final and felt great beating God because it was one they literally made up.

Regardless of my facts you have your opinion and i have mine. That is the beauty of the internet.

Oh and regarding Satan. i dont think anyone would really care if he was put into any game.

 

[chrisrlink]

I don't want to live on this planet anymore....

*gives him a loaded shotgun*

 

[call me Ken or Accel]

This why our government are stupid assholes
Im really ashamed of them

 

[Kioku]

Meh. Malaysian officials need a safe space.

 

[supergamer368]

Hey somebody put a bad game on our site what do we do?
Block the entire store and don't let anybody on?