I was watching Twitter early this morning, and someone alerted me to a news story that was pretty interesting. Instead of running to type it up, I sat here and wasted about three hours, because that’s what I sometimes do. While I waited, another outlet went ahead and published a story with even more details than I originally had. It turns out not only did Apple pull Ultimate Generals from the App Store, they also took down the Hunted Cow Civil War games. In fact, it looks like they took down anything that had a Confederate Flag on it, or in it. To say this is a tad bit disconcerting, would be an understatement.

I’ve played a number of games where you could play as the Confederacy, including the fantastic Victoria I & II. Real-time strategy classics like these are now in danger of being censored, one would imagine. How long until the Nazi symbols from these efforts come under attack as well? In Hearts of Iron, there are all kinds of historical references, Nazi insignias, etc. Are these games now too problematic? I certainly hope no one starts giving a fuck, because that’s going to alter some games I love in a negative, unrealistic way.

Here’s the tweet announcing the move from the Ultimate Generals account (and link to story):

Apple has pulled the tablet version of the game from Appstore because of the Confederate Flag. details coming… — Ultimate_General (@GeneralUltimate) June 25, 2015

It’s looking like Apple has pulled everything from the App Store that features a Confederate flag, regardless of context. The reasoning Apple is sending developers is “…because it includes images of the confederate flag used in offensive and mean-spirited ways.” We just spoke with Andrew from HexWar Games, who have released many historical strategy games. He insists, “We’re in no way sympathetic to the use of the flag in an offensive way, we used it purely because historically that was the flag that was used at the time.”

I doubt Valve (Steam) or Paradox Interactive, the makers of the games I mentioned above, would go out like Apple has here. Paradox is based in Sweden, so I think we’re good. But you never truly know nowadays. Step the fuck back, SJWs. Don’t mess with my historical simulations.

UPDATE: Some Twitter reaction…

https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/614090769108828160

https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/614094562194100224

https://twitter.com/GigaWalrus/status/614089638777491457

Paradox, don't fucking piss me off. The Nazis better not be replaced in this mfer or some shit. pic.twitter.com/kH7WodLJfy — Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) June 25, 2015