Mature Content Warning
Seriously, what is the point of a Mature Content Warning in gaming? Especially when they pop up when you boot up Call of Duty. Now I fully get the need for “Streamer Modes” that tone down the blood, gore, potential nudity and licensed music so that streamers, specifically on YouTube, can monetise their videos, that’s fine. But the idea of having mature content warning that can often be turned off is quite frankly, dumb.
Quick writers note before we start – I am going to do my best to make this a coherent “article” rather than a rant.
Toggling Mature Content Is a Slippery Slope
“Player discretion is advised. Some scenes include graphic or intense content including violence.”
Lets break down the above mature content warning notice.
- “Player discretion is advised” – That’s literally the point of age ratings
- “Some scenes include graphic or intense content” – Again, this information is why age ratings exist
- “Including violence” – Its a FUC**** Call of Duty game! What the hell else is there supposed to be?!? It’s like being warned that there are vampires in Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.
Seriously now, why is this a thing. Yes, I am sure the comments are saying “its just a pop up, ignore it” but I ask, do you not feel patronised? A game series that has shown off the true horrors of wars throughout history. The massacre of Stalingrad, the attack on Pearl Harbour, POW torture, CIA black sites, chemical weapons, terrorist attacks and more.
In Elden Ring you kill grotesque monsters, in Gears of War you have a chainsaw bayonet and in Fallout you can hit a radioactive dog with a nuke. No one bats an eye at these, so why do they in games surrounding war? Terror cells in the Middle East, Russia invading other countries, the US conducting off-the-books missions and civilians being caught in the crossfire. Are these Call of Duty storylines or news headlines from anytime in the past 60 years?
If the issue is that the mature themes of Call of Duty are too realistic and touch a nerve, then why is that a bad thing? The news itself has starting issuing these warnings too, why? This is real life, its reality, these issues should be met with knowledge. Censorship of this kind is dangerous. It breeds ignorance, doubt and pulverises the option of making your own decisions.
I understand that some people will struggle to see certain themes, like me, I love Resident Evil, but I am terrified of spiders so Requiem has been nearly impossible for me. But are you really telling me that after spending potentially £60 (~$80) on a video game you are going to stop playing after seeing that helpful notice? And for the games that allow you to turn off those sections entirely, that is simply censorship, which shouldn’t be allowed in any kind of art form.
For instance, if Animal Farm was being taught in schools but with choice of having the final chapters that show the corrupting influence of power removed – are you getting the full story? No. Does that lead to ignorance of the issue? Yes. Is it basically a choice to brainwash yourself? Potentially. The only way that awful events, like in the events of Black Hawk Down for instance, can stop is if there is a “world-view” understanding of it. Which cannot happen with this attitude.
“Our 18 rated game wants to issue you this mature content warning”, OK so what? That’s literally what the rating is for! And quite frankly there are few games that portray scenes that are worse than what is going on in real life. If you want escapism from the world, play something fantasy based.
Rant over – let me know down below what you think about these mature content warnings, yes they are just a quick button to ignore, but the potential ramifications are serious.
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