Ubisoft apologized to fans recently after a video of the mobile game, Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad showed images of a raised black fist being used as a symbol of a fictional terrorist group, UMBRA. Within the game, UMBRA is an anarchist group that is taking advantage of civil unrest in order to weaken the government – and some see the usage of the raised fist symbol specifically as a commentary on the Black Lives Matter movement. Many took to Twitter to express their discontent with Ubisoft:
While the controversy did take off fairly quickly, Ubisoft was quick to release a statement regarding the symbol. “Imagery that appeared in the opening video sequence of Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad featuring a ‘raised fist’ was insensitive and harmful in both its inclusion and how it was portrayed. We have listened to and appreciate the players and the broader community who have pointed it out and we apologize.”
The Twitter account directly representing Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad released a similar statement that echoed the same sentiments in Ubisoft’s tweet. According to both sources, the raised fist will be removed on Tuesday, September 1.