Language can be funny. While a person is trying to convey a different message, it can be perceived as offensive. Such was the case with Content Warning recently, as netizens highlighted a word used in the game that many perceive as a slur. The game has risen to immense popularity since its release, and several players are now trying to go viral in-game and in the real world.
The fun-looking survival horror game was released on April Fool’s Day, continuing Landfall’s tradition of releasing its game on the same day. Players use a camera and other equipment available in the game to film scary content while exploring the Old World. Within only a week, the game is already being compared to this year’s hit titles like Helldivers 2 and Palworld.
That Doesn’t Seem Intentional as Content Warning Developers Make the Mends
Landfall’s latest game is again going viral, but this time it isn’t the content players filmed, but due to the use of the word ‘spook‘ in the game. While it is typically used in a context to describe something scary like a ghost, many perceive it as a slur. One definition describes it as addressing a colored person in an unethical manner.
Users on social media network X (formerly Twitter) addressed this as an issue and even asked why people were playing this game.
hey uh, why are we playing that horror game with the sp**k slur???? i know its in a different context but this conversation has been held before..
— kyu 🥕 🧺 ༘ (@_kyuneho) April 3, 2024
A user called ChaiCiLatte highlighted the issue as something of a paradox, saying that “people saying this isn’t a slur and then using it as a slur in the same tweet.”
ah yes, one of my "favorites" is people saying this isn't a slur and then using it as a slur in the same tweet 🤦🏻
I remember when I was bombarded with similar bigotry in the replies about this and I'm so sorry you had to go through that.
Great block list though— Ciaran (Ci) 🧋🥄 For 🇵🇸🇸🇩🇨🇩 (@ChaiCiLatte) April 4, 2024
Interestingly, the company addressed the issue and wasn’t aware of the slur given its Swedish origins.
Hi! We actually already changed it a few hours after release as soon as we were made aware of this. It’s now called SpöökTube after Spöke (Swedish word for ghost – we’re a Swedish studio which is also why we’re not familiar with old US slurs)
— Landfall (@LandfallGames) April 4, 2024
This comes as a reply to one user dubbed FlexyFive, who explained that he is avoiding the name of the in-game video-sharing network.
On the contrary, a user called OGDarknessboy shared a screenshot of the word’s meaning in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. He wasn’t happy with the fans’ reaction, it seems.
Now idiots are saying the game Content Warning uses a slur cause of the word Spook 👻 their brain rot is so far gone is insane. pic.twitter.com/mdmJCVV7MX
— OGDarknessboy (@OGDarknessboy) April 5, 2024
Following the debate, Landfall has changed the in-game platform name from SpookTube to SpöökTube. The latter is based on the Swedish word Spöke, which translates to ghost.
Modern Mindset in the Old World: Players Have Found New Ways to Go Viral
So far, so good. Players aren’t just posting videos of scary characters from the Old World; they are going a bit naughty to go viral over the internet. The clip of in-game characters having some fun has managed to garner 2.9 million views as of the time of writing.
Fortunately, that video didn’t attract controversy similar to SpöökTube. On the contrary, the users were seen making hilarious comments on the post. Some users tried to take advantage of the situation by posting videos to capitalize on the attention that the post garnered.
As of now, the game has been a delight for the players. It is uncertain how the slur debate will affect it. Until then, expect more videos from Content Warning to go viral over the internet.
What do you think about the developers using the term? We would like to know your thoughts in the comments section.
