Ukrainian Officials Push to Ban Atomic Heart on Major Platforms
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Development, Mikhail Fedorov, publicly urged platform holders to restrict the sale of Atomic Heart, a video game developed by Mundfish, a Russian studio. The request appeared on his official social media feed, gaining widespread attention among gaming communities and industry observers.
Following his statements, Steam, the world’s largest game store, circulated copies of letters in which Fedorov addressed Microsoft and Sony with the aim of stopping the game’s sale on their platforms.
Fedorov argued that no platform should support the regime he described as violent and repressive. He asserted that the game’s popularity would enable Russian propaganda by channeling earnings toward the Russian budget and potentially financing the war against Ukraine.
One of the letters addressed to Gabe Newell, the founder and head of Valve, emphasized concerns about Atomic Heart. The Ukrainian minister claimed that Mundfish operates under Russian jurisdiction and maintains offices within Russia, creating a risk that purchase proceeds could augment the Russian state budget and fund ongoing conflicts in Ukraine.
The minister also cited the game’s thematic content and its use of Soviet imagery as grounds for a ban. He suggested that Valve, viewed as a prominent platform in the industry, would not want to be perceived as endorsing communism, even within a futuristic setting. He reminded readers of historical events tied to Soviet Russia and its past confrontations with neighboring nations, arguing that these histories resulted in immense civilian suffering.
Fedorov called on Valve Corporation to prohibit the sale of digital copies on Steam, stating that the developers had not clearly expressed their stance on the Russian authorities or the military operation in Ukraine.
Atomic Heart debuted as a first-person shooter on February 21, 2023. The game unfolds in an alternate 1950s setting where the Soviet Union experiences a technological surge in robotics. Players encounter an environment replete with Soviet-era equipment and numerous allusions to literature, cinema, and music from that era.
Upon release, Atomic Heart received generally favorable feedback from critics and players alike. In Russia, distribution occurred primarily through the VK Play store, with ownership attributed to Sogaz and Gazprombank. Elsewhere, Steam and the PlayStation Store offered access to the game, including its availability through Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription for PC and Xbox.
Even before launch, the game faced attempts at cancellation in several countries. The initial wave of opposition in August 2022 originated with Ukrainian internet users, pro-Ukrainian media, and Telegram channels, who questioned Mundfish’s position on the military operation in Ukraine. In some online spaces, Mundfish was portrayed as producing propaganda supportive of the conflict, with commentators leveraging phrases linked to the Russian energy sector to criticize the game’s funding sources.
Another round of scrutiny emerged in January 2023, ahead of the game’s release. Pro-Ukrainian activists urged people to cancel pre-orders and pressured Microsoft to halt funding for Atomic Heart. Critics also scrutinized the game’s on-screen imagery, including a scene featuring a drone displaying a geranium and jars painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, which some interpreted as references to real-world weapons and conflicts associated with the ongoing war.
Some detractors complained that the game objectified female characters, and debates arose around the portrayal of diverse skin tones and hairstyles among characters. Ukrainian commentators drew comparisons to public figures and observed how character designs could be perceived as political symbols. Russian authorities also weighed in, with observers noting that Western discourse sometimes targets cultural products seen as uplifting Russian or Soviet ties.
These discussions illustrate how a single title can become a focal point for broader geopolitical tensions. The controversy surrounding Atomic Heart highlights how entertainment media can intersect with national narratives, wartime memory, and the ongoing struggle over cultural influence in a divided international landscape.