EU Politician Muddies Waters On “Stop Killing Games” With Rant On Wokeness
The European Union Parliament held a debate on the “Stop Killing Games” movement, which advocates for game publishers to maintain online access to previously purchased titles. However, Slovakian politician Milan Uhrik derailed the discussion to voice his grievances about the gaming industry, specifically targeting what he characterized as “wokeness” and “aggressive monetization.”
During his remarks, Uhrik complained about being forced to play as a Black samurai character in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, citing the game’s representation of diverse characters—including Black individuals and queer people—as an example of “crazy, woke ideology and political correctness” that he believes is destroying video games. Rather than engaging with the substantive debate about game preservation and publisher responsibilities, Uhrik used his parliamentary platform to air cultural grievances about the industry’s approach to diversity.
The episode highlights how the Stop Killing Games conversation, which centers on consumer rights and game preservation, became intersected with broader debates about representation and political ideology within gaming. Uhrik’s comments drew criticism from outlets covering the event, with his statements framed as an attempt to pivot the debate away from its original focus on digital preservation toward culture war rhetoric.