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After 24 years, Return to Castle Wolfenstein is finally distributed uncut in Germany — game was censored due to strict laws regarding Nazi symbolism (www.tomshardware.com)
submitted 3 days ago by sanitation@lemmy.today to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[-] NessD@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago

So a quick rundown about that: Germany has strict laws when it comes to nazi symbolism and their glorification. It's strictly forbidden to show or present these symbols. There are a few exceptions though: It's allowed in a historical context (museums, documentaries, etc..) and in art (books, movies...). Everything else could land on a list of banned media or you could get sued for showing those symbols, if it's not in these contexts. Video Games weren't considered art up until 2018, when our ratings board, the usk, updated their policies. From now on, you could submit games with nazi symbolism and be rated by the board. (If it's not glorifying nazis). Many developers and publisher reacted by changing those symbols to something that was legal at that time in their games so that they could be sold. If they want to publish the original version, they basically have to apply for an evaluation of the original game. So technically, in most cases, they submit their original game for the first time, as RTCW did now.

[-] boboliosisjones@feddit.nu 7 points 2 days ago

I loved this game. Still remember my CD key, which is impressive because I can't remember shit.

The multiplayer was excellent.

[-] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

24 years. Fuck, I'm old

[-] zerofk@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago

Isn’t that one of the new games? I mean it’s called “Return”! I remember when Wolfenstein was 2D sprites and paper thin walls.

[-] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

It’s the first modern 3D game in the series (Quake 3 engine). The one before that being the shooter that predates Doom.

[-] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Oh, I played the original, too

[-] highrfrequenc@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

And also everyone's favorite windows screensaver

[-] SnoringEarthworm@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 days ago

What changed that they can release it now?

[-] Chronographs@lemmy.zip 19 points 3 days ago

While Germany relaxed its gaming rules in 2018, allowing modern entries like The New Order to go uncut in 2019, Grey Matter’s 2001 classic remained stuck in censorship limbo until now.

I guess the laws did

[-] unwarlikeExtortion@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 days ago

Their interpretation did. Games now classify as art and fall under the art-related exception from censorship.

[-] NessD@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

And they still cannot glorify nazi symbolism. That'll still get you banned.

[-] unwarlikeExtortion@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yeah. What this lawsuit in effect did is say "Games can fall under art and education. Publishers shouldn't think just including a swastika in a game is illegal, because it isn't. Just as a movie can include it, a game can as well."

Of course, it still needs to not glorify nacism deliberately or inadvertantly. But it's sad that it took this long for this non-question "legal question" to have been finally asked in court, and answered with the most expected answer - and dare I say it - one more expected of past decades than this one.

[-] ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 5 points 3 days ago

My guess is that videogames are mainstream enough now to fall into the art exception.

[-] llii@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 days ago

A bit simplified: Games that cannot be sold in Germany automatically get removed from "the list" after 25 years. Or, before that, the rights holder can submit a request for reevaluation.

[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Changing the law as their neo nazi party rises in elections ?

[-] Lumidaub@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago

You still can't portray Nazis as the good guys and nothing has changed.

[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

Appreciate that, so what has changed that allows this now where it did not in the past? Genuinely curious.

Also, to those that are downvoting this comment - what a weird comment to down vote? Was a legitimate question. Are you neo Nazis yourselves? Who would be offended by that comment?

[-] Lumidaub@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago

Try the rest of the comments.

Attributing this to the (granted, worrying) rise in popularity of the AfD borders on conspiracy thinking. They're still an opposition party with no legislative power. And then accusing everybody of being Nazis for downvoting, are you on something?

[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I'm not attributing directly, more pointing out odd timing and then, again, just perplexed how anyone would take offense to someone pointing out the odd timing for a game that was seemingly not otherwise allowed for decades?

this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2026
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