Turn 10 Studios has released a statement banning the use of the Confederate flag in any of theForzagames. Previously, players were able to use the Confederate flag as a decal on cars. It was often used to recreate the popular General Lee car fromThe Dukes of Hazzard, which infamously displayed the Confederate flag on the top.
The ban stems from the removal of many symbols with racist undertones in a time of social justice reform. The event of George Floyd’s murder has caused protests worldwide and many companies are participating by releasing statements and cracking down on racism. Many gaming developers have taken a stand against racism byramping up bans for racist comments or actionsand have even had in-game events and messages in support.
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NASCAR recently banned all Confederate flags at live events so the ban fromForzais no surprise. As one of the top racing games,Forzatook a similar stance as NASCAR by trying to eliminate the use of Confederate flags as a racist symbol. NASCAR has not always been the most inclusive sport, butsteps have been taken to eliminate racismand to let fans enjoy the sport without worrying about their place in the racing environment.
The Confederate flag ban spans across everyForzagame and use of the flag will result in a player ban. Part of Turn 10’s statement categorizes the Confederate flag as “Notorious iconography,” which is a direct violation of the user-generated content guidelines.Racist symbols and actionshave been an issue in online games with user-generated content, but are sometimes hard to catch or not paid attention to enough. With the ban inForza, it is expected that the game will start handing out bans a much higher rate if players continue to use the flag.
Forza Horizon 4is the latest titlein theForzafranchise, but was released in September of 2018. Although it is still a popular game today,Forzais looking forward to next generation consoles for the release ofForza Motorsport 8, which is expected to release later this year on the new Xbox Series X. With the Confederate flag ban in effect,Forzais taking steps forward to ensure that all players are able to enjoy the games without racist imagery.
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