EA has announced that the Taliban will no longer be a playable faction in its upcoming Medal of Honor reboot due out this month. The insurgent team in the game will now be known simply as the “opposing force.”
“In the past few months, we have received feedback from all over the world regarding the multiplayer portion of Medal of Honor,” said Greg Goodrich, the game’s Executive producer in an official statement. “We’ve received notes from gamers, active military, and friends and family of servicemen and women currently deployed overseas. The majority of this feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. For this, the Medal of Honor team is deeply appreciative. However, we have also received feedback from friends and families of fallen soldiers who have expressed concern over the inclusion of the Taliban in the multiplayer portion of our game. This is a very important voice to the Medal of Honor team. This is a voice that has earned the right to be listened to. It is a voice that we care deeply about. Because of this, and because the heartbeat of Medal of Honor has always resided in the reverence for American and Allied soldiers, we have decided to rename the opposing team in Medal of Honor multiplayer from Taliban to Opposing Force.”
Though Goodrich doesn’t mention the mounting political and social pressure that has been building up since the unveiling of the game, it’s an obvious factor as well. Networks like Fox News condemned the game, while stores on Military bases refused to stock the game with the content.
“To all who serve – we appreciate you, we thank you, and we do not take you for granted,” Goodrich said at the end of his press release. “And to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines currently serving overseas, stay safe and come home soon.”
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