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Bethesda Softworks dropped gameplay footage for DOOM Eternal at this year’s Quakecon.
Along with new weapons and mechanics, the trailer showed off several environments, including an Earth clearly ravaged by demonic invasion. It seems not everyone thought it was a bad thing however. Around the 8:36, 11:22, and 12:46 marks, a holographic public announcement declares:
“My brothers and sisters, let’s help top make our friends transition into our world a comfortable one.”
“Remember: ‘Demon’ can be an offensive term, refer to them as ‘mortally challenged’.”
“Earth is the melting pot of the universe.”
While a clear lampooning of some political beliefs, not everyone saw the funny side.
“Demon can be an offensive term, they prefer to be called Mortally Challenged” what is it with game devs and… bad jokes. Like thats not funny, its just irritatingly out of touch. #DoomEternal
~ @Firlows, August 10th, 2018
So… Doom Eternal is sorta equating demon invasion with immigration and political correctness? “Demon is an offensive term, they prefer the term mortally challenged. Earth is the universe’s melting pot!” Ugh.
IMHO Doom 2016 was fun and the irreverent tone was refreshing. But “[whatever] challenged” and melting pot “jokes” are suuuuuuuper bad taste at a time when ICE has become the new gestapo and white supremacists are trying to stir up mass anti-immigration sentiment.
~ @s_ridenour, August 10th, 2018 and August 11th, 2018
Doom Eternal looking fucking phenomenal, but I’m not sure how I feel about all the lazy jokes about political correctness.
“Remember, ‘demon’ is an offensive term.” “Earth is a melting pot.”
Just seems kinda lame. Like something edgy my old racist uncle would forward me.
~ @breadgravy, August 10th, 2018
doom eternals writing and world design looks less interesting this time “demon might be an offensive term we prefer mortally challenged” [Face with rolling eyes emoji]
~ @siegarettes, August 10th, 2018
~ @TonyHighwind, August 10th, 2018 (Editors Note: This account’s Tweets are protected)
Not sure what to think of #DoomEternal having not one but two “anti-SJW” jokes in it. What happened to leaning into nazi punching and the like? DOOM and Wolfenstein 2 seemed pretty self aware of subtext so I have trouble reading this trailer as anything but a dog whistle.
I’d really like to be wrong on this one, as Doom Eternal is my most anticipated game of the year currently, but there are klaxons ringing off in my head.
~ @SuperRobin64, August 10th, 2018
First reaction: Oh. My. God.
Second reaction: Wait, did that NPC just say “Demon may be an offensive term. Please refer to them as mortally challenged?” So is this a story about a utopian society accepting/tolerating outsiders who then ruin it? Jesus.
~ @animaggus, August 10th, 2018
i’ll agree that the jokes don’t make sense in terms of the canon but they’re pretty clearly trying to make some weird jabs using the same kind of language that the right says “liberals” use regarding immigration, whether they’re ironic or not they don’t fit within doom’s story
~ @svbtext, August 12th, 2018
It should be noted that not all of those above may be upset with what the joke was about. As touched on with that last tweet, some may feel the joke is out of place whether they find it funny or not. There may be some who do not like the referencing to real-world politics in something intended to be escapism from the concerns of real life.
There has been plenty of rebuttal against comments such as the above, those who enjoyed the gag, and those eager about the new game.
Imagine being offended by the mortally challenged joke in #DoomEternal Imagine also throwing the claim it’s a dog whistle like throwing shit against the wall and seeing what sticks. Imagine being this much of a stick in the mud.
~ @haddockbanker August 10th, 2018
#DoomEternal Pros & Cons
Pros:
-Armblade
-Meathook/grappling hook
-Shoulder weapon
-New hand 2 hand kills
-Enemies body decomp when shot
-Invasion mode
-Sword
-Graphics/Gameplay/Music
Cons:
-Absolutely nothing bitch
~@verdict4489, August 10th, 2018
the fact that its literally people getting offended about a joke thats about people getting offended, in a videogame
god this writes itself yall are nuts
#DoomEternal
~@justrube, August 10th, 2018
“Demons can be an offensive term, use mortally challenged instead” Love how this joke triggered so many snowflakes #DoomEternal
~@Chris_C077, August 10th, 2018
Woah, you can take control of a demon and invade another players campaign? That’s amazing. #DoomEternal
~@SpawnWaveMedia, August 10th, 2018
I AM SO MOIST FOR DOOM ETERNAL OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
#DoomEternal #QuakeCon2018
~@BloodyfasterTV, August 10th, 2018
Id Software made a joke at the expense of easily offended people.
Guess what happened next.
[The tweet then contains a collection of screencaps of tweets from those upset about the joke]
~ @mombot, August 11th, 2018
The point of the ‘political correctness’ stuff in Doom’s demo footage is to show how modern immigration rhetoric could be adopted to justify a literal demonic invasion. It’s funny and poignant.
If you see the jokes towards demons as being about actual PoC, that’s kinda racist.
~ @JekoJekoUEM, August 11th, 2018
People… are getting mad at #DoomEternal for cracking a joke about a demonic invasion on Mars and taking it as an attack on immigration?
Uh, people can’t just have fun anymore.
~ @Ciaran_Forsyth, August 12, 2018
Here’s the thing. If you actually get offended about Doom calling Demons “Mortally Challenged,” you are tacitly admitting that your whole “politically correct” ideology is just junk, and therefore easily mocked.
In short, you recognized your own BS and got mad someone showed you
~ @Grummz, August 12th, 2018
Our own community also seemed to react mostly positively to the game and the joke:
The game is looking incredible, with greater movement and agility over the previous game. Oh and we can’t forget that dialogue near the end of the demo:
“Remember, ‘demon’ can be an offensive term. Please refer to them as mortally challenged.”
~ Uncle Ocelot, August 10th, 2018
so beautiful. Naked arms, enemies look a lot more like in the old games, and looks like the maps will be bigger. Can’t fucking wait
~ Eldhin Shichiou August 10th, 2018
Man, that was epic as hell. All the new demons and weapons look superb, especially the the grapple shotgun.
The maps are huge with what seems to be a constant stream of enemies.
I’m not sure about the 1up system. It’s probably a single resurrection item. The invasion system is an interesting way to integrate multiplayer, but I doubt I’ll be using it on my first playthrough.
~ Mr0303, August 10th, 2018
It all looks great, but that stupid invasion mode is a lame-ass gimmick. Heaven (or Hell?) forbid you get a single player game without some kind of silly social component these days.
~ Shore, August 10th, 2018
He’s called Doomguy, not Doom Slayer. Still looks tight aside from that faux metal music like the last game.
~ Espio419, August 11th, 2018
What do you all think? Did the joke fit with the rest of the game? What do you think of DOOM Eternal so far? Sound off in the comments below!
DOOM Eternal is coming to Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One. A release date has not yet been confirmed.
