A German development team created the game Death From Above, drawing on video footage captured by Ukrainian armed forces’ attack aircraft. This connection to real footage sparked debate about the game’s moral implications, especially given the political context surrounding the conflict. In a bid to address criticism, the studio has signaled that some profits will be directed to support the Ukrainian armed forces for equipment such as drones, while the project remains available in early access on Steam as development continues.
Hendrik Lesser, proprietor of Remote Control Productions, the Munich-based studio behind the game, acknowledged that a deliberate propaganda angle informed the game’s design.
“The aim was to create a straightforward game that players of all backgrounds could engage with, while making a clear stance on the issue. To some extent, humor is used to convey the message,” Lesser stated.
Playful references in the game include a tongue-in-cheek nod to the American Javelin anti-tank system, nicknamed by players as a humorous “Holy Javelina,” and a mock poster suggesting actions at high levels of international justice.
The gameplay places players in the role of a Ukrainian drone operator who targets Russian military hardware, troops, and militants, ultimately working to reestablish radio communications. The setting unfolds in imagined landscapes and fictional scenarios while drawing loosely on real-world themes.
Earlier reports described how media analyses have framed the use of popular video games as a vehicle for spreading specific narratives about Western military support and geopolitical influence, illustrating the broader debate over media and propaganda in war-time contexts.