'Founded in 2017, by a team of four like-minded gaming enthusiasts, Mundfish is a video game development studio headquartered in Cyprus.

The timing of the event coincided with international backlash to the new anti-LGBT laws in Russia, and as Game World Observer reported, some attendees questioned whether the event was appropriate due to the war in Ukraine. Yet Mundfish has already raised eyebrows for its use of pro-Soviet themes in marketing.īack in November, an extravagant promotional event for the game was held for Russian press, with the venue dressed in Soviet finery and signage reading 'Glory to Soviet engineers' and 'Comrade, join the society of tomorrow'. There's a fine line between world building and glorification and it remains to be seen to what extent the game potentially idolises the Soviet Union until the game is released. It is, ostensibly, a game about the alternate universe success of the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s, and its technological superiority - as scientific progress leads to the discovery of a new polymer used in the development of robotics. But what kind of effort does it take to build an ideal society?' Mundfish asks, teasing a story which will question 'what forces are behind the Utopian dream?'

'Science, equality and fraternity are the main symbols of freedom in this reality. Inspired by the BioShock series, it's a game that - according to the Mundfish website - explores 'the utopia of an alternative world' that takes place in an alternative Soviet Union of 1955.

Those concerns include, but are not limited to, the use of glorification of Russia in marketing and the apparent origins of Mundfish as a Russian entity, including the reported investment in Mundfish by Russian companies.Ītomic Heart - Combat Trailer | gamescom 2022Ītomic Heart has been in development since 2017. As the release of sci-fi shooter Atomic Heart nears, numerous questions around the project remain - which its developer Mundfish seems disinclined to answer.Ĭoncerns have been raised regarding the game's heavily pro-Soviet themes, as well as the activities of both developer Mundfish and its investors.

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