Medieval Sim 1348 Sparks Anti-Woke Conspiracy Theories
▼ Summary
– The game *1348 Ex Voto* has a low Metacritic score of 54 and an extremely low user score of 1.1, with the disparity attributed to online backlash over its inclusion of a lesbian romance.
– Critics falsely claim the game’s Italian government tax credits, totaling roughly €656,131, were granted to fund “propaganda” due to this LGBTQ+ content.
– The official criteria for the Italian tax relief program are based on cultural value, like European heritage themes or originality, with no mention of specific narrative content like romance.
– Other unrelated games, such as a *Star Wars* title and a motorcycle racing game, have also received grants, demonstrating the program’s broad support for game development in Italy.
– The article argues the real purpose of the tax program is economic, aiming to create jobs and grow the industry, and that the conspiracy theory is baseless outrage farming.
The recent release of the medieval action-sim 1348 Ex Voto has ignited a bizarre online controversy, overshadowing its actual critical reception. While the game earned a low Metacritic score, its user rating plummeted to an astonishing 1.1, a disparity largely fueled by a manufactured outrage campaign. The source of this anger? The mere suggestion of a lesbian romance within the game’s narrative, which certain online factions have bizarrely labeled as “propaganda” funded by Italian taxpayers.
This conspiracy theory gained traction when it was revealed the game’s developer, Sedleo, received approximately €656,131 in tax credits and grants from the Italian Ministry of Culture between 2021 and 2024. Critics quickly framed this standard government support as evidence of a secret agenda. In reality, the funding came from Italy’s Video Games Tax Relief program, a common economic initiative designed to stimulate local game development and create jobs, not to mandate specific story content.
The argument that this represents “forced DEI” is historically ignorant and factually weak. The game’s LGBTQ+ elements are reportedly minimal, with one reviewer noting a distinct lack of overt romantic scenes. Furthermore, the criteria for the Italian tax relief program are publicly available and focus on cultural value, not social messaging. Points are awarded for elements like being based on European heritage, featuring European themes, or demonstrating originality. The inclusion of diverse characters is not a listed requirement.
The conspiracy falls apart completely when examining other games that have benefited from the same fund. For instance, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 received over €300,000. The Isle of Man is not in Italy. Star Wars Outlaws was granted €463,045, and its galactic setting is hardly specific to Italian culture. The idea that the government is using these grants to push a narrow social agenda is laughable when the funded projects are this diverse.
The genuine purpose of such programs is straightforward economic development. Governments provide incentives to attract and retain creative industries. Video game studios create taxable jobs and stimulate local economies, making them valuable investments. Italy, like many nations, wants a piece of the lucrative gaming market and uses these grants as a tool to foster a domestic industry.
Despite the flimsy evidence, this narrative has spread across social media, demonstrating how easily misinformation can gain a foothold. It distracts from the game’s legitimate flaws, which are well-documented in player reviews citing technical issues and gameplay problems. As development costs soar and studio layoffs increase, public funding mechanisms for games are more crucial than ever for supporting creative risks and sustainable growth. The manufactured controversy surrounding 1348 Ex Voto is a clear example of how bad-faith arguments can pollute reasonable discussion about art, funding, and culture.
(Source: Kotaku)
