Gamers need no introduction to the Forza series on Xbox. The racing games are a staple of Microsoft’s console platforms, and they’ve always had a great reputation. Throughout the years, Forza has taken gamers to interesting, beautiful locales via its race tracks. For most players, the Forza games don’t equate to much more than being enjoyable virtual driving experiences.
The latest title in the series, Forza Horizon 3, takes players to Australia and presents the best-looking parts of the continent in all of their glory. The race tracks span vast stretches of countryside and suburban areas with all the authenticity anyone who’s played a Forza game would expect. Like the two previous Forza Horizon titles, it’s based around a car and music festival. It’s presented beautifully, and by the accounts of anyone who’s already playing it, it’s also fun.
The authenticity is, however, now the subject of some controversy, courtesy of VICE Gaming writer James O’Connor. The writer cobbled together a thinkpiece tying the game’s Australian setting to the nation’s political scene. I can’t think of a less apolitical game on which to base the foundations of social commentary.
To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with criticizing video games, or even discussing and debating the politics of the ones that revolve around weightier subjects—like Bioshock Infinite, Metal Gear Solid 5, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. But there’s a fine line between having a discussion and accusing its developers of various bigotries, and “culture critics” often cross that line. It’s even worse when the game in question—like Forza Horizon 3—has nothing to do with politics.
After praising the authenticity and aesthetics of Forza Horizon 3, the article immediately goes into a rant about the country’s former prime minister, Tony Abbott, same-sex marriage legislation, and bigotry in Australia.
“Australia is, to be blunt, a hateful country in a lot of ways right now,” writes O’Connor, as if that has any bearing whatsoever on a game about racing quad buggies on sandy beaches. The rest of the article consists of a tirade against Australian politician Pauline Hanson and her party’s opposition to widespread immigration from underdeveloped countries.
“There are plenty of people who argue that you should leave politics out of games that aren’t explicitly political, and the developers have done that, which is perfectly reasonable,” he explains. “But our own personal politics can’t always simply be switched off, and I feel like Forza Horizon 3 is showing a better Australia than what we deserve.”
To reiterate, none of his complaints have anything to do with Forza Horizon 3. It’s like using Tekken 7 to talk about politics in the Philippines just because it has a Filipino fighter on its roster, and arguing that it’s impossible to stop thinking about politics when people ask you what your deal is. To quote Filthy Frank, “It’s time to stop.”
Many of the article’s readers were not enthused by what he had to say, and it’s not because they disagreed with his personal politics. They questioned why anyone would even bother writing such a piece.
“Its. A. Video. Game,” wrote one Australian gamer on NeoGAF. “Yes we have some serious political and social issues in Australia right now, but this is a video game based on a car and music festival.”
Another reader asked: “The game shouldn’t be a political statement… why isn’t this applied to every game set in America or any other country for that matter. What does politics have to do with the game?”
“As an Australian who is deeply ashamed of some of the current policies our government has or is trying to instate, this article is reaching,” wrote another Australian gamer. “It’s a game. About racing. Can we please just let some things stand alone without over analysing or attaching meaning to something that really doesn’t warrant it.”
Many of the comments on the VICE Gaming article carried the same sentiment. One in particular, by Georgi Mishkov, was particularly savage if absolutely blunt. “Piggybacking on the biggest entertainment industry in the world is the only way for this useless man to feel relevant, to get people to read his views.”
The same could be said of any “culture critic” who attempts to promote their political views through video game criticism. After all, it’s the only way they’ll get to feel relevant.
