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

 

[0100100001001001]

@aykay55

Sorry for offending you, I know its very hard when a few "bad apples" give a religion a bad name. I'm Christian, and Christianity has gotten a bad rap from things it has done in the past ( and now ) just like Islam has due to extremist fighting a Jihad.

I was merely joking about the short fat ugly thing, personally I don't take offence to Christ and Moses being in this game. Its not a game I will play, but to those who will find it fun, good for them, none of my business. Just like GTA and Carmageddon, both don't appeal to me so I don't play them,but to some they are fun, there just games and its none of my business what they find pleasure in.

 

[Deleted member 377734]

well, I guess the only reason SMT isn't banned in every other country is because no one knows about it. seriously, it depicts God as the main villain, sure if you dig REALLY deep into the story YHVH is a pretender, not the true God, but still. the religious community would have a field day if it ever went big.

 

[Yil]

That would be deep, if it wasn't so stupid and short sighted.
Given how religion has existed basically since the beginning of civilization, it's unlikely for any of that to happen. Not before we blow up earth and humanity goes extinct.

Well, maybe we just start invading other planets and realms and try to wipe out other aliens instead of more infighting. Either way it won't end peacefully useless the population reduce to 1%.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

well, I guess the only reason SMT isn't banned in every other country is because no one knows about it. seriously, it depicts God as the main villain, sure if you dig REALLY deep into the story YHVH is a pretender, not the true God, but still. the religious community would have a field day if it ever went big.

But I definitely believe that. By bible feats YHVH is far less powerful than primodial deities let alone the initial void that exist in almost every religion.

 

[aykay55]

@aykay55

Sorry for offending you, I know its very hard when a few "bad apples" give a religion a bad name. I'm Christian, and Christianity has gotten a bad rap from things it has done in the past ( and now ) just like Islam has due to extremist fighting a Jihad.

I was merely joking about the short fat ugly thing, personally I don't take offence to Christ and Moses being in this game. Its not a game I will play, but to those who will find it fun, good for them, none of my business. Just like GTA and Carmageddon, both don't appeal to me so I don't play them,but to some they are fun, there just games and its none of my business what they find pleasure in.

It's okay, you didn't know what you were saying. You're lucky you hadn't said that to another person, they would have gotten seriously angry at you. Just so you know, I could care less if they put Muhammad in the game, but what offended me was when you said that he would be short, fat, and ugly and would fight with body odor. I assume you would also be offended if I said the same thing about Jesus, 'The Father', and the Holy Ghost. But I forgive you, just remember to think before you post

 

[Deleted member 377734]

Well, maybe we just start invading other planets and realms and try to wipe out other aliens instead of more infighting. Either way it won't end peacefully useless the population reduce to 1%.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


But I definitely believe that. By bible feats YHVH is far less powerful than primodial deities let alone the initial void that exist in almost every religion.

just a quick point, according to SMT lore, YHVH is a pretender, an infestimally small fragment of the True God, The Axiom. but since you have to dig really deep to find this, most people who play it see it as the series making God the main villain, not a pretender.

 

[Yil]

just a quick point, according to SMT lore, YHVH is a pretender, an infestimally small fragment of the True God, The Axiom. but since you have to dig really deep to find this, most people who play it see it as the series making God the main villain, not a pretender.

In some form of Pantheism everything is a sub gradient of the creator (that has individuality). Like both a drop of water and the ocean are both bodies of water and both are enough to demonstrate the macroscopic properties of water. It just that YHVH trying to pretend to be the actual creator and its "love me or die" attitude make it evil. And at the same time there is also the deistic aspect of the actual creator who either has the wisdom to know none interference or actually die after creation. Also, since existence is a prerequisite of logic we cannot understand what truly lies beyond.
Edit: I really should stop talking to myself.

 

[0100100001001001]

It's okay, you didn't know what you were saying. You're lucky you hadn't said that to another person, they would have gotten seriously angry at you. Just so you know, I could care less if they put Muhammad in the game, but what offended me was when you said that he would be short, fat, and ugly and would fight with body odor. I assume you would also be offended if I said the same thing about Jesus, 'The Father', and the Holy Ghost. But I forgive you, just remember to think before you post

I wouldn't of got offended, I just wouldn't play the game. Throwing a fit about it, and making the developer stop is a sure way to put up a wall between you and the people your trying to reach. Its important not to "force" beliefs on others, you will never truly reach them if you do.

 

[Arithmatics]

Welcome to my country.

No wonder I left. smh

 

[Yil]

I wouldn't of got offended, I just wouldn't play the game. Throwing a fit about it, and making the developer stop is a sure way to put up a wall between you and the people your trying to reach. Its important not to "force" beliefs on others, you will never truly reach them if you do.

But masculinity is short, fat, and ugly and would fight with body odor. That's why those who lack femininity are stupid, lustful, weak-minded and worthless.

 

[air2004]

Buddha isn't God nor had he ever claimed to be God.

 

[cearp]

Why would it be funny to provoke a negative response from a group that makes up a significant amount of the global population?...

Edit: you know what, scratch that. Why would it be funny to provoke a negative response from anyone?

Because islam is weird and bad, it's not a good thing to circumcise, to have all these strange meaningless rules like don't eat pigs, like pray 5 times a day, sharia, hating people who happen to be born gay, life shouldn't be lived like that.

The sooner people can drop religion, the better.

 

[gamesquest1]

great work Malaysia, great to see the fight of gods was averted thanks to your swift action, shame of the rest of the world for doing nothing to prevent such a potentially world devistating event /s

 

[EthanAddict]

Where is my Satan??!?!??! /s

Sorry 0/10 Don't believe in divine powers, the lack of Satan ruined it

 

[Yil]

Because islam is weird and bad, it's not a good thing to circumcise, to have all these strange meaningless rules like don't eat pigs, like pray 5 times a day, sharia, hating people who happen to be born gay, life shouldn't be lived like that.

The sooner people can drop religion, the better.

And how do you convince them to drop it?

Where is my Satan??!?!??! /s

Sorry 0/10 Don't believe in divine powers, the lack of Satan ruined it

Actually Satan means enemy and that in a sense every other god is part of Satan. Also in that sense hell means realm that does not belong to God, but since God is evil, I consider his afterlife eternal damnation.

 

[cearp]

And how do you convince them to drop it?

Easy, dlc islam characters!
Seriously, no idea. It will take centuries.

 

[Sliter]

Nothing better than some mess to help something to be more known ...
At least this is legit, not made up like that movie and histories about north korea hacking sony

 

[Yil]

Easy, dlc islam characters!
Seriously, no idea. It will take centuries.

I once had a vision where countless angels descended upon earth and killed everyone. Then wiping out entire religious order might become an necessity to weaken christian God, but then most Christians are not fanatics and are good people, as are Muslims.

 

[EthanAddict]

And how do you convince them to drop it?

Actually Satan means enemy and that in a sense every other god is part of Satan. Also in that sense hell means realm that does not belong to God, but since God is evil, I consider his afterlife eternal damnation.

I won't. Do whatever you want

I consider everything divine non-existant, because noone can show me God

 

[Angely]

*sigh* This is so sad... What about being sensitive towards the ones that religiously & culturally believe there're no deities etc.? So, much for hypocrisy. Lol, the funny & sad thing is they don't seem to realize their own behavior is also blasemy, insensitive etc...


"Malaysians respect all cultural and religious sensitivities, and the sale and distribution of the religiously insensitive and blasphemous games must be stopped immediately."


No there's no respect for all cultures and religions there..., not even respect for any deity as apparently they seem to think deities are so weakminded they'd feel offended by something like this. I wouldn't want to be a deity with such "followers" I'd feel like hiding forever too. xD

Congratulations Malaysian government for showing the world & all gamers how you don't respect all religions (believes) & cultures for making a fool of yourselves. Your actions & words don't match!I wish the Malaysian people would tell them that they shouldn't speak for all Malaysians like that. Don't they have anything better to do?

 

[Yil]

I won't. Do whatever you want

I consider everything divine non-existant, because noone can show me God

Considering the deistic nature of the actual creator, I cannot. Also I am pretty sure everyone's concept of divinity is different cause I consider Jesus's feat legit but also not worthy of worship.