Citizens have discovered that the United States Government is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) in what they are calling “counter-disinformation” games.
According to a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, $275,000 USD was earmarked by the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands for a pitch meeting these specifications:
1) produce an English- and Dutch-language pilot version of a counter-disinformation game (requirements below)
2) produce a French version of the game
3) produce one additional translation into a European, Asian, and/or African language, to be determined at a later date
4) host the game on the company’s own servers
5) develop and implement data collection and analysis methodologies to demonstrate the project’s achievement
of expected results6) promote games to target audiences
You can read the full Funding Opportunity from the U.S. Embassy to the Netherlands site here.
Disinformation has been a growing concern on a global scale, as countries such as the United States, China, Russia, and more fight to control the prevailing narrative. However who gets to decide what’s disinformation and what’s truth?
Gamers have grown weary of overt propaganda and social messaging in video games from all sides of the political spectrum, and it stands to reason that cynicism will extend to any game developed as a result of this funding.
The funding was offered in 2021 so any games which received this funding are likely to be coming out soon (if they’re not out already).
