Mundfish, the studio behind Atomic Coronary heart, has apologised for the inclusion of a brief, racially-insensitive clip within the cartoons that play within the sport’s save rooms, and promised to edit out the offending components in a future replace to the sport. Final week, we reported that Atomic Coronary heart had drawn criticism on-line (opens in new tab) for that includes a 1978 episode of the basic Soviet cartoon Nu, Pogodi! by which a quick, racist depiction of an African tribesman will be seen.
“The Mundfish crew thanks the PCGamer contributor for bringing this lack of sensitivity to our consideration,” the studio mentioned in a press release launched, oddly sufficient, to IGN (opens in new tab), and added that it “[apologised] if utilizing the classic cartoon or music has brought on damage or insult”. Mundfish concluded its assertion with a pledge to “edit the components in query”.
I am curious to know what type that modifying will take. The clip in query was extremely brief—maybe lower than a second lengthy—that means it could be very straightforward to snip out. However given what a beloved basic Nu, Pogodi! is (opens in new tab), tampering with may appear to be an act of sacrilege to some, and may simply find yourself ticking individuals off in an entire new manner. I would not be stunned if the related episode was simply faraway from the sport altogether.
Given how brief and easy-to-miss the clip in query is, Mundfish most likely may have inserted some sort of content material warning concerning the 45-year-old cartoon and left it at that, however it’s doubtless the studio is keen to keep away from controversy proper now. Arguments have swirled round Mundfish’s Russian roots ever since Russia invaded Ukraine a yr in the past, with some individuals boycotting the sport solely over the matter. You may learn our breakdown of the controversy surrounding Atomic Coronary heart proper right here (opens in new tab).
As for the sport itself, PCG’s Wealthy Stanton scored it 78% in his Atomic Coronary heart evaluation (opens in new tab), praising it as a “stunning, formidable, deeply flawed sport that at instances feels near greatness”. From its excessive peaks to its low valleys, it is a baffling and distinctive factor.
