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[chaobreaker]

Paradox pulls Stellaris mod that makes all humans "European"

Game mods are great, but sometimes they're used to do not-so-great things. The “European Phenotype and Names Only” mod for Stellaris is one such example: As the title implies, it changes the game so that all humans are European—which is to say, “white”—and have only European names. If that strikes you as a little sketchy, well, you're probably not wrong—and Paradox agrees.

It wasn't the mod itself that led to its removal, though, but a change to its description that was made after it was posted. “We saw the mod, thought it wasn't in very good taste, but let it remain. Then the creator of the mod decided to update the description of the mod to promote an 'agenda' not related to computer games at all, and this was being clearly displayed on our product page,” Community Manager Paradoxal Bear wrote on Reddit. “We decided it was a step too far and removed it.”

And if your wondering what the added description was:

Paradox didn't specify how the description had changed, but several Redditors state that it was the addition of “No multiculturalism here!” that triggered the decision to remove the mod. Interestingly, the description of the mod on ModDB (where it remains available) doesn't contain the phrase. The first comment, however, is a request to eliminate women from the game as well.

Us gamers, am I right?

 

[The-Bean]

Looks like they were successful in what they set out to do. The fact that I don't even play the game and now know about this is proof of that. Seriously, why do people keep paying attention to these morons? Ignore them, don't write articles on them, stop giving them the attention they crave.

 

[The Technomancer]

A fair number of people's space empire building fantasy doesn't include black people

That's somehow...fitting

 

[Sou Da]

Seems pretty reasonable on Paradox's end. I can't believe a future with non-whites is something that bothers people so much but this happens to every PC game with a brown person in it.

 

[chaobreaker]

Looks like they were successful in what they set out to do. The fact that I don't even play the game and now know about this is proof of that. Seriously, why do people keep paying attention to these morons? Ignore them, don't write articles on them, stop giving them the attention they crave.

No. We need to call out their bullshit and make it known that mods like this are not acceptable. Ignoring them only enables them to continue spreading their hateful shit and harming others. See: Gamergate.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

Good. How tacky (& racist)

 

[Kandrick]

Last time i played one of their games (unmodded), i expelled jews from my realm and confiscated their gold. If people want to make a mod to make everyone european, or chinese, or be dogs or dragons, then whatever.

 

[Any Questions]

Idiot mod for bigger idiots

 

[lazygecko]

This is all so bizarre and the description change makes it almost feels like some kind of deliberate bait attempt to martyr themselves for "the cause".

 

[Crayon]

They did the right thing. If someone feels the need for a mod that makes it white people/men only they have other avenues to distribute that.

 

[jay]

Last time i played one of their games, i expelled jews from my realm and confiscated their gold. If people want to make a mod to make everyone european, or chinese, or dogs, then whatever.

I liked this post a lot more before the second sentence was edited in.

 

[The-Bean]

No. We need to call out their bullshit and make it known that mods like this are not acceptable. Ignoring them only enables them to continue spreading their hateful shit and harming others. See: Gamergate.

... They're fully aware it's not acceptable, as is everyone else. It's the entire reason they do it. Not saying the mod should be left up, but giving it this kind of attention will ensure that it will happen again.

And again... and again.

I could be wrong, and probably am though so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

Last time i played one of their games, i expelled jews from my realm and confiscated their gold.

If people want to make a mod to make everyone european, or chinese, or be dogs or dragons, then whatever.

ah yes, the old "cats, dogs, and black people" argument

 

[Crayon]

This is all so bizarre and the description change makes it almost feels like some kind of deliberate bait attempt to martyr themselves for "the cause".

I can see that possibility.

 

[Tacitus_]

Last time i played one of their games (unmodded), i expelled jews from my realm and confiscated their gold. If people want to make a mod to make everyone european, or chinese, or be dogs or dragons, then whatever.

Paradox was "fine" with the mod until they put in that "no multiculturalism" bit to their mod description.

I haven't read all the comments here, but I want to make a comment on this nonetheless. There are several mods that will allow you to role-play in most of the different ways I've seen you suggest in here. This particular mod had several disturbing elements in it's public description which we do not want to have clearly displayed on our product page however.

You are right of course. Our job is to make computer games, not push political agendas. This is why we removed some political proclamations being made in the description field on our workshop page. Eurogamer left out several details on what it actually was that we removed.

 

[Jebusman]

I mean, it's a videogame. If I wanted to create some sort of weird all white utopia in space somewhere I should feel free to do so.

At the same time I get why Paradox doesn't want that kind of stuff advertised directly via their own distribution (which I gather is the case since it's still available via ModDB), so I'm not really against this at all. So long as they don't take the step further to try and stop the mod from working at all.

Mods like this have existed for games forever and will continue to do so.

 

[L Thammy]

... They're fully aware it's not acceptable, as is everyone else. It's the entire reason they do it. Not saying the mod should be left up, but give it this attention and it will happen again.

And again... and again.

I could be wrong, and probably am though.

I think it's rather naive to assume that white supremacists and misogynists are just desperate for attention, but that's just me. If they aren't just desperate for attention, though, trying to starve them of it probably isn't going to change too much.

 

[Tigress]

... They're fully aware it's not acceptable, as is everyone else. It's the entire reason they do it. Not saying the mod should be left up, but give it this attention and it will happen again.

And again... and again.

I could be wrong, and probably am though.

They are fully aware a certain group doesn't like it but they are also catering to a group they think does exist who will cheer their actions. By being silent all we do is give the illusion that we are not the majority. If they get several people condemning them and see how many people dislike to those that condone it, it does create a peer pressure affect. Especially if our voices are much louder than the ones condoning it. If we stay silent, it enables more people who would condone it to feel free to speak out and endorse it when it seems they'll get less condemnation. Which makes them sound louder and once again, peer pressure affect.

Staying silent does not help. The only people it helps are those that it doesn't affect and don't care so they can continue to ignore a problem that exists and those that would endorse such things.

 

[Kandrick]

Paradox was "fine" with the mod until they put in that "no multiculturalism" bit to their mod description.

it's public description which we do not want to have clearly displayed on our product page however.

So i guess they just don't want it on display ( especially with the controversial description ) on their official steam workshop. Fair enough.

 

[Metrotab]

What they should have done was make a mod where you could fiddle around with the "race generation parameters" (or whatever the underlying mechanism is) for complete user costumisation. Then people could use it for roleplaying purposes. Dumb racists!

 

[Envelope]

I mean, it's a videogame. If I wanted to create some sort of weird all white utopia in space somewhere I should feel free to do so.

At the same time I get why Paradox doesn't want that kind of stuff advertised directly via their own distribution (which I gather is the case since it's still available via ModDB), so I'm not really against this at all. So long as they don't take the step further to try and stop the mod from working at all.

Mods like this have existed for games forever and will continue to do so.

That's pretty much what happened tho

Paradox were like yeah it's distasteful but we'll let it slide but after the modders updated the description it was promoting a message that was unacceptable so they pulled it

Seems fair

 

[Moonstone]

While I think that an "european only" mod shouldn't be a problem at all, I fully support and understand their decision after this agenda was posted.

 

[Lilalaunebaer]

At first i was like, huh, doesn´t sound too bad. Like a scenario where Europe took over or whatever. Maybe some other mods have it with China or the US as well.

But then i read the OP and was like, oh, oh no, ohhhhh no....

Yeah, good on Paradox.

 

[Stilton Disco]

I'm honestly most confused by the idea that having just Europeans means a lack of multiculturalism.

I mean I know, shock horror, an obvious racist bigot is displaying an astonishing lack of knowledge, but still, what a total plonker.

 

[Black Republican]

yeah the mod thing is whatever but that description....

you aint slick sir.

Pretty much "i dont see race" but not in my videogames!

 

[Crayon]

You know she doesn't look too thrilled to be a new ruler. Is there a mod to add a little enthusiasm?

 

[Lister]

Whatevs, where's my full Star Trek conversion mod?!

 

[Hari Seldon]

I can still enslave and commit genocide in game so all is well.

 

[hobblygobbly]

I posted about this before but the same crowd were also whining about the premade empire United Nations of Earth's first leader being a black woman.

 

[Lister]

You know she doesn't look too thrilled to be a new ruler. Is there a mod to add a little enthusiasm?

That head looks better with the military haircut. She looks bad ass that way.

 

[UrbanRats]

yeah the mod thing is whatever but that description....

you aint slick sir.

Pretty much "i dont see race" but not in my videogames!

I don't think they were trying to be slick.
It's not like some people have any problems showing their "flag" openly, at least on the internet.

Anyway, i don't see a problem with this, they pulled it from their specific service, if i understand this correctly, the mod is still usable, just not hosted on their page, which is subject to editorializing, like any other privately owned web page.

 

[petghost]

Its a slightly offensive concept for a mod but I don't really see the point in pulling it. It's existence is not threatening imo

 

[chaobreaker]

I posted about this before but the same crowd were also whining about the premade empire United Nations of Earth's first leader being a black woman.

I assume the line between of people like that and those who lost their shit over the non-white leaders in Civilization Beyond Earth is thinner than we think.

Part of me feels like these grand strategy and 4x games are attractive to the worst kind of gamers.

 

[EloquentM]

Its a slightly offensive concept for a mod but I don't really see the point in pulling it. It's existence is not threatening imo

Yeah I don't see the point in pulling an overtly racist mod either. It's not like it's completely discriminatory or anything.

 

[Crayon]

Its a slightly offensive concept for a mod but I don't really see the point in pulling it. It's existence is not threatening imo

Mmm. Too tacky with the description putting a point on the racist angle. I would take it down off my site, too.

 

[petghost]

Mmm. Too tacky with the description putting a point on the racist angle. I would take it down off my site, too.

Yeah now I see why paradox wouldn't want anything to do with it

 

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Happy Paradox did this, but not surprised it was made.

Seems like every game I like has some shit like this. IE: Mount and Blade having the anglo zulu war, which I think only recently allowed you to use the Zulu side.

 

[Gen.Grievous]

Well it's their game, they can do what they want with it but I'm not a fan of thought police or the political correctness that is taking over Europe. It's the little things that are starting to annoy me. Comedians that can't joke about certain ethnicities any more, games that have to be censored because of hurt feelings or people actually being prosecuted for speaking the truth.

 

[Gurthang]

What if there was a mod that turned everyone black?
Would that be allowed?

 

[Armaros]

Yeah I don't see the point in pulling an overtly racist mod either. It's not like it's completely discriminatory or anything.

The mod page had a link to a youtube video titled "An Argument for the Continued Existence of Europeans".

Yeah. Sure, not discriminatory or political at all. *rolls eyes*

What if there was a mod that turned everyone black?
Would that be allowed?

Did you even read the article that stated it was because of the political nature of its description?

 

[Lilalaunebaer]

What if there was a mod that turned everyone black?
Would that be allowed?

Yes, just as this all white mod was allowed.

But if it was, no whities allowed in the description, probably not. Like this one.

 

[User 73706]

Well it's their game, they can do what they want with it but I'm not a fan of thought police or the political correctness that is taking over Europe. It's the little things that are starting to annoy me. Comedians that can't joke about certain ethnicities any more, games that have to be censored because of hurt feelings or people actually being prosecuted for speaking the truth.

i bet you the good old days will come back if you cry about it hard enough

 

[EloquentM]

i bet you the good old days will come back if you cry about it hard enough

I posted a sarcastic comment and even my meter is broken from that gen.grevous' post.

 

[afternoon delight]

Happy Paradox did this, but not surprised it was made.

Seems like every game I like has some shit like this. IE: Mount and Blade having the anglo zulu war, which I think only recently allowed you to use the Zulu side.

Totally frank and anecdotal, but I believe computer war sims attract a fairly interesting and diverse crowd... That sometimes overlaps with fascist sympathizers and archaic dynasty worship. Hyper conservative History majors are strange like that sometimes, I mean, these are the same kind that attend gun conventions for WW2 "memorabilia". Years of Civilization mods featuring slave rule and exploitation systems modded in "for the lulz" or "historical accuracy" kind of desensitized me, but then again, a lot of these games are allowing the use of some really heinous shit for the means of entertainment.

I agree with their reasoning of letting it be until the messaging became caustic. I like my virulent racists in the open, exposed, with their names attached to their work.

 

[TheFlow]

What if there was a mod that turned everyone black?
Would that be allowed?

Did you even read the opening post of course you didn't. It is not about the mod but was said under the mod

from the opening post
It wasn't the mod itself that led to its removal, though, but a change to its description that was made after it was posted. “We saw the mod, thought it wasn't in very good taste, but let it remain. Then the creator of the mod decided to update the description of the mod to promote an 'agenda' not related to computer games at all, and this was being clearly displayed on our product page,” Community Manager Paradoxal Bear wrote on Reddit. “We decided it was a step too far and removed it.”
And if your wondering what the added description was:

 

[Crayon]

Well it's their game, they can do what they want with it but I'm not a fan of thought police or the political correctness that is taking over Europe. It's the little things that are starting to annoy me. Comedians that can't joke about certain ethnicities any more, games that have to be censored because of hurt feelings or people actually being prosecuted for speaking the truth.

 

[szaromir]

Its a slightly offensive concept for a mod but I don't really see the point in pulling it. It's existence is not threatening imo

Paradox did not like their commercial product to be used as a platform to propagate someone's political/social views they're not comfortable with.

 

[Baron von Loathsome]

There's merit to having an all-white mod for role-playing purposes - there's another still up, along all-African and all-Asian mods - but I get the feeling that the creator and their audience aren't using it for that reason.

Paradox made the right call here, I wouldn't want my game potentially associated with white supremacists, either.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

Looks like they were successful in what they set out to do. The fact that I don't even play the game and now know about this is proof of that. Seriously, why do people keep paying attention to these morons? Ignore them, don't write articles on them, stop giving them the attention they crave.

I think we should draw attention to these morons. I think we should write articles on them, expose them, and shame them. I think their behavior should be openly discouraged and criticized and it should be made known by players and developers alike that they will not be allowed to promote their prejudices within our hobby.

If you don't expose them, then they just operate under the radar and fill their echo chamber with unchallenged garbage. This fosters their growth. It feeds their delusions of influence.

That's why I don't think we should ignore them. I think we should put them right at the forefront and make it the responsibility of everyone to counteract them. If somebody makes it their meek little mission to obstruct multiculturalism, it should be our mission to dismantle their influences, however small.

 

[SchrodingerC]

The first comment, however, is a request to eliminate women from the game as well.

Some people really love (white)sausage fests.