Far Cry 6 promises fans of the franchise a return to open-world hijinks, this time situated on the fictitious Caribbean island of Yara. Far Cry 6, developed by Ubisoft Toronto, follows protagonist Dani Rojas and the resistance as they seek to defeat the tyranny of Anton Castillo, played by Giancarlo Esposito of The Mandalorian fame.
The game has received generally positive reviews, and it presently has a Metacritic score of 75. Far Cry 6 has received acclaim for its charismatic villain, expansive open-world, and hypnotic mayhem, but it has also been criticized for its repetition and lack of fresh concepts. The game also includes an intriguing mini-game that has piqued the curiosity of certain players.
Far Cry 6 Cockfighting Game Gets Criticism From PETA
Far Cry 6 includes a cockfighting mini-game in which players not only gather roosters but also actively control them in a Mortal Kombat-style fighting game featuring a character choice screen, special techniques, and several rounds. Reactions to the mode have been varied, with some gamers enjoying its simplicity while others finding it tone-deaf in today’s animal rights-focused atmosphere. On October 7th, Alicia Aguayo, Senior Manager of PETA’s Latino division, issued a statement urging Ubisoft to consider removing cockfighting from the game.
Turning a horrific blood sport like cockfighting into a Mortal Kombat–style video game match is a far cry from real innovation, as today’s society is strongly opposed to forcing animals to fight to the death. Roosters used in cockfights are fitted with sharp spurs that tear through flesh and bone, causing agonizing and fatal injuries. PETA Latino urges Ubisoft to replace this reprehensible minigame with one that doesn’t glorify cruelty.
PETA Latino Senior Manager Alicia Aguayo
Cockfighting, which Far Cry 6’s Yara is based after, is still legal in Cuba and is extremely popular in the country. The cockfighting portrayed in Far Cry 6 is undoubtedly brutal, and the roosters lose their feathers as the bouts go, but no blood is seen, and no roosters die in the process. The gaming community appears to be divided on whether or not cockfighting should be included. Some consider it innocuous because no actual animals are harmed, while others are concerned about the consequences of displaying animal cruelty in such a casual manner in-game.
Read the official press release on PETA’s official media website.
Ubisoft’s Reply to PETA
Far Cry 6 is a work of fiction taking place in Yara, a fictional island in the Caribbean. Many of the optional side activities are part of the culture and history of Yara, which were inspired by a variety of Latin American cultures.
Ubisoft
Of course, Far Cry 6 is not the only videogame criticized by the animal rights organization. PETA criticized Animal Crossing: New Horizons because of its in-game museum and treatment of fish in the game. Nonetheless, Far Cry 6’s cockfighting mini-game is much more brutal than anything in Animal Crossing.
What do you think about this? Should Far Cry 6 remove the mini-game or not, let us know in the comments.
