Video game issues grovelling apology after Pride challenge asked players to beat up LGBT+ character
Warner Bros.
Fighting game Injustice 2 Mobile has come under fire for its Pride Global Challenge, which asked its players to beat up popular LGBT+ character Poison Ivy.
Unless you live in a cave, you’ll probably be aware that June is Pride Month, which sees a lot of brands and companies attempting to engage with the LGBT+ community – with varying degrees of success. In the case of Injustice 2 Mobile, that success was non-existent.
On 3 June, TechRaptor publicly called out the mobile game after spotting a serious flaw in one of its ongoing challenges for Pride Month. In the Pride Global Challenge, players were asked to defeat DC Universe character Poison Ivy in order to unlock the first reward tier.
DC fans will already know that Poison Ivy is bisexual. Back in 2015, Harley Quinn TV show writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Connor confirmed in a tweet from the official DC Comics account that Poison Ivy is bi and that she and Harley are in a romantic relationship.
Taking to the site to express their frustration and anger at a challenge that pretty much asks you to beat up an LGBT+ character during Pride month, TechRaptor’s news editor downloaded the game himself to see if it was real; unfortunately it was.
TechRaptor
In a hand-wringing apology, Injustice 2 Mobile stated: “We recognise associating our latest Global Challenge with Pride was insensitive and inappropriate. Real-life violence against the LGBTQIA+ community and women within that community in particular is all too common and we should actively engage in efforts to end LGBTQIA+ violence, not normalise it. We apologise to the greater community, but especially LGBTQIA+ members. We are committed to listening and doing better”.
— Injustice 2 Mobile (@Injustice2Go) June 4, 2021
The other two Pride-related events in-game were much less tone deaf. The first challenge is a Pride Celebration Gift for Injustice 2 Mobile with new gifts launching every day of the week. Starting yesterday and ending on 6 June it offers a Champion Bundle – which lets you get hero shards to unlock new characters.
The second event sees a sale in the games store, giving fans the chance to purchase the Batman Ninja Team Chest, and (until 7 June) the Entangling Poison Ivy Hero Chest.
For more gaming news, follow Gaymeo on Facebook. You can also email us with any news or tips on [email protected]
