Mickey Mouse Game Renamed Following Claims of Anti-Semitism

• Steamboat Willie Mickey enters public domain, Nightmare Forge Games announces horror game Infestation 88.
• Game accused of antisemitism due to '88' in title and game premise.
• Nightmare Forge Games responds, changing game's name to Infestation: Origins.
• Studio explains '88' was for game's 1988 setting and logo symmetry.
• Public domain controversies highlighted, especially use in horror stories.

Steamboat Willie Mickey Enters the Public Domain and the Controversy Begins

The classic Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse has recently become public domain. Nightmare Forge Games wasted no time in unveiling a horror game featuring the iconic Disney character, dubbed Infestation 88. However, the news was met with immediate backlash regarding the game's title and premise.

Accusations of Antisemitism

Many have accused the game of being an antisemitic dog whistle. The number "88" is code for "HH," or "Heil Hitler" within the Nazi movement, as H is the eighth letter in the alphabet. The game, which involves killing a monstrous version of Mickey and dealing with a rat infestation using gas, has raised eyebrows. The Nazi movement has historically used rats as a symbol for Jewish people in its propaganda. This provoked immediate suspicion that what seemed to be a horror game exploiting Mickey's public domain status might be concealing a more sinister agenda.

Studio's Response

In response to the criticism, Nightmare Forge Games announced it would be changing the game's name to Infestation: Origins. The studio claimed it was unaware of the historical implications of its name and imagery.

Studio's Explanation

Before this announcement, the studio explained that 88 was initially chosen to represent the game's 1988 setting and for logo symmetry. The studio stated that "no additional connotations are intended," and was open to changing the name rather than just adjusting the logo.

Public Domain Controversies

This issue has brought attention to the recurring theme of opportunistic use of classic characters that have entered the public domain. This exploitation often results in shallow, unoriginal game premises designed to attract attention.

Public Domain Characters in Horror Stories

Steamboat Willie Mickey entered the public domain this year, and Winnie-the-Pooh the year before. It appears that the primary interest in these newly public domain characters is to place them in jarring, culturally shocking horror stories. If that's the limit of our creativity with these projects, one must question the value of making these characters public in the first place.

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