Cultural Checkpoints - Restrictions in German Games

Since the 1950s, Germany has had a ban on depictions of Nazis and Nazism in public. This rule was specifically applied to video games in the 1990s. While games have not been banned for these images, they have been censored, with the story remaining the same but direct references to Nazism being removed.

Historically, in the Cold War Era of the 1950s, the German Penal Code was updated to reflect Germany’s mission to erase nazi symbols from the public. The German Penal Code was updated, making it illegal to produce these symbols or others coming from an unsanctioned group. This was part of the mission of moving past Nazism and making it clear it was completely unacceptable.

Nazi symbols were first banned from video games in 1998 when a German court investigated an earlier version of Wolfenstein 3D. It was ruled that, although the symbols in the game were clearly used by the enemies, it didn’t matter as “If such a use of prohibited symbols in computer games were permitted, it would hardly be possible to counteract a development towards their increasing use in public.”

One of the most well-known controversies is Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, which is set in an alternate history timeline where the Axis powers won World War Two. In that timeline, Hitler is alive and features in the game, though his moustache was removed to alter his likeness due to Germany’s restrictions. The game was also further censored when swastikas were replaced with triangle symbols.

The Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) has noted that the swastika is permitted in films as they are classified as works of art. Therefore, the Managing Director of USK, Elizabeth Secker, stated games should also be classified as works of art. It was decided in 2018 that this would be the case, where games would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the symbols are used as artistic representation. This was significant for many in the games industry, as it was a long-awaited decision for games to be regarded and respected as an art form.

This ended the ban of Nazi symbols in games released in the German market or at least made it acceptable for use in games that are clearly opposed to the party's ideals.

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