Starfield Steam update removes Russian language support

As the Starfield launch date draws closer, the Bethesda RPG game is updated within Steam to remove Russian language support, contrary to Fallout 4 and Skyrim.

[SullysCigar]

If true, how utterly petty. You can be anti-war without being xenophobic.

[closed_account]

I have to agree based on people who may not even live in Russia at this time, living elsewhere in the world trying to make new lives for themselves. What's next, "You've got Russian roots, we don't serve your kind here."?

[SullysCigar]

Exactly. Many Russians have fled Russia. Even those who haven't don't deserve to be treated like this. They're just people, like us. Notably, if this is as simple as a "we stand with Ukraine" virtue signal, they're also punishing many Russian-speaking Ukrainians. It's just a dumb thing to do - it already supported Russian, so why remove it?

[Ashunderfire86]

Nobody Russian or Ukrainian that is the average citizen should be treated differently, because of crazy politicians not all of them voted for in the first place! An in America not everyone voted for Joe Biden either, so we should not be racist! The same situation happened to Muslims, just because of terrorist that crash a plane into the Twin Towers. People blame every Muslim, Indian, Buddhist for the terrorist attacks smh! It shows how ignorant we are here in America, and even in Europe kicking out Russians out of schools, banning Russian history and other ridiculous stuff! Our ignorance is the reason why history will repeat itself. If anyone of you know about the secret and dark agenda being pushed in America, you will be 100% percent Antiwar, and we lay waste to every country we ever fought in wars! We left Yemen, Iraq, Libya( back into slavery) into a sh*tshow!!! Understand this all about war for profit, and taking resources like it was during slavery, nothing else!

[Willelmus]

I actually think this reflect the fact that Microsoft (and thus Bethesda) as pulled out of Russia. No new MS products and no support for existing products.

If they won't sell the game in Russia, there's no need to provide official language support.

They can always add it if and when Western companies return to Russia.

This is more a business decision and how to allocate ressources than a mark of being xenophobic.

[jeromeface]

I love how everyone is claiming xenophobia when it could be as simple as they aren't legally allowed to work with russians to provide the support.

[Tapani]

Yeah, I would also agree that this is a business decision. However, the internet lynch mob is at large!

[GrizzliS1987]

Let’s punish the Russian gamers! Being drafted to certain death is not enough

[jeromeface]

I know it may be hard but look at the bigger picture sully... think REAL hard.

[just_looken]

@sullyCigar

I agree if your anti war then ban english language as united states has invaded 3 countries this century and has troops in almost every country right now. In fact united states is involved in 6 different wars and has not spent a month not killing someone overseas.

The amount of lives lost on every side in the 20 year war in afganistan/iraq then the 2 Syria event's and you got tiland still in iraq. Now we are screwing around with Ukraine getting troops there.

ukraine in 2014 rebels were trying to get rid of the western puppet government Russia added them in this goal just like how america helped south vietnam army in the 60's remember that.

United states invades a country every 10 year's sense the 50's no one cares

russia invades 2 countries in 30 years freak out flip the tables they are evil.

https://www.aljazeera.com/n...

https://theconversation.com...

[isarai]

Ah yes, punish the civilians for the actions of their govt, makes total sense.

[banger88]

That's a great way to get an entire country to pirate your game out of spite. Just kidding, they would have pirated it anyway.

[darksky]

Empress will be even more motivated to rip them a new one. Why are the penalising the average Russian with these scummy tactics?

[shinoff2183]

What about all the companies that have been said to have pulled out of Russia it's not much different. In the end its their decision. I get what you guys are saying,

Just wish all this shit end , death and destruction for no damn reason

[SullysCigar]

It is different though.

One is sanctions on Russian companies, which is aiming to minimise taxes from those companies funding the war (despite the fact that the countries issuing such sanctions are all directly funding the war, just the other side of it).

This, on the other hand, is targeting civilians who have nothing to do with the war and who more-than-likely don't support it. Allowing Russian speakers to enjoy the game wouldn't risk generating money for use in war. There are Russian speakers all over the world, including the US and UK - why should they be punished?

[Pedrof]

Many russians support the war.

[shinoff2183]

Game sales have taxes to. I see what you mean though. Far as the Russians all over the world I would like to imagine they could speak the local language where they are living but I know that isn't gonna be 100 percent. Idk kinda hard call

Far as Syria and stuff I see it on the news it's just not all in your face as much as the Russia thing.

[onisama]

you should check palestinians getting killed like flies for ages now,violance and war never ends

[SullysCigar]

I totally agree. Sadly, we 'can't', because our media sweeps it under the rug. That and Syria - I have a friend out there and she only has power for a couple of hours a day. Those people are suffering terribly, but not a peep on the mainstream news, which is why you have to source information elsewhere to be informed.

We should be looking after people, not excluding them and further fuelling the hatred and division. Removing a language that was already supported is petty and just sews division. It says "we hate Russians" right now, unless they can provide a solid and rational reason I'm missing.

[RedDevils]

American kills innocent for ages, now acting like they're saint or some kind of heroes.

[onisama]

@sullyscigar i rember a video of a fathe hidding behind a rock and behind him his little kid and the poor dad was asking them to not shoot but the kept shooting and sadly his son took a bullet and the father was acting like a zombie or a drunk man who cant beleive whats happening, this is just one case of millions that happens there.

sadly Isr*** is country that control the world behind the seen they got their hand on power and media and of course trades....

well nothing we can do it is what it is now even arab countries are allies of Is*** something that shows the scale of their power and influence over the world

[Knightofelemia]

Someone is just going to mod it in.

[Azurite]

This decision wasn't very thought-out.

[CrimsonWing69]

So innocent Russians who have no control over their country’s actions get punished? Makes sense.

Did you ever think maybe they could use a game as a distraction from all this craziness? Way to be complete and utter d*cks about it.

[thecodingart]

I love how people fail to recognize the most effective type of political pressure is when the citizens are uncomfortable. Simply put, yes citizens are going to suffer for actions of their government. That’s how global politics works…

If you’ve left Russia and your baffled you need to learn a new language, then something is wrong…

[Crows90]

That's messed up.

[aaronaton]

Those dead eyes on that character, wow! This game is going to worse that ME Andromeda.

[Andrew336]

Can I get language support added for this comment.

[PaulFiend]

@Pedrof "Many russians support the war." That's true, unfortunately. I've seen countless interviews with random russian people, 80% of them support the war and rabidly hates everything that comes from the Western world, especially the USA & UK. Just a fact. Back in the day I learned English to understand what's going on in my fav. videogames, they should too then. It's a good brain exercise, they could use one for sure. xD

[autoglope]

Countless other people support the war and hope Russia smacks the living shit and destroys this inhuman regime in Ukraine.

[PaulFiend]

Only bloodthirsty idiots can support a war, you seem to be one of them. Why then 140+ countries support Ukraine if it's that bad? Lies about some "evil regime" in Ukraine are made up by ruzzian propaganda. So stop lying.

[ChasterMies]

Bethesda is now owned by Microsoft and Microsoft has a lot more pressure to comply with embargoes and sanctions. (Would you want the Russian military using Azure?) My guess is that Microsoft, like most companies, is preparing for the day the US and Europe announce a total embargo against Russia.

[gold_drake]

what? why?
thats a stupid move. alot of russian speaking people dont live in russia or Ukraine.

why limit their enjoyment? utterly stupid.

[H9]

A language? You are banning a language? Not people, or country but language?

Do they even understand how many Russians living outside of Russia that aren't as strong at a secondary language?

The hypocrisy is at a all time high, if we're going that far we might as well ban English

[Andrew336]

....why would they ban English exactly?

[H9]

Because the US have been leading wars and ruining countries for as long as any of us can remember, England is not far off as well

[garos82]

you must be blind to geopolitics. America is currently illegally occupying parts of syria right now. Or does that not count in your righteous worldview

[Servbot41]

They didn't ban a language, they simply aren't supporting it. Maybe use your language skills to read the article.

[Andrew336]

Easier to be outraged.

[Vanfernal]

"PCGamesN has contacted Bethesda with regards to the removal of Russian language support from Starfield and will update this story with any further information or comment."

There's no official statement on why it got removed. So it might or might not be related to the war in Ukraine.

[Wikkid666]

There are sanctions against selling any non essential products to Russia. Probably figured no sense in taking the time to add the language support if they can't sell it there.

[BrainSyphoned]

Might as well delete the English version as well since we are going after citizens of warmonger countries.

[Zombieburger638]

Well when your country invades, rapes and kills for centuries people tend to hate you. There’s a reason countries like Poland hate Russians with a passion.

[Oddmania]

"Take that, Putin!"

[VanHalen]

Guess you should add China to the list too. Ridiculous

[neomahi]

Microsoft. Typical Microsoft. Never think for themselves. Everything's a democracy or "public image". There's things that you absolutely don't do but, where they're trying to buy Activision Blizzard and they got in some trouble for supplying software to Russia, this is a publicity stunt, that's all it is, not a moral stand, it's business that only a fool would buy into.

Stand your friggin ground. SEGA did so with the Senate hearing, Nintendo has done so on many occasions, but Microsoft really are that clueless and out of touch, they just have no clue what to do. They're ignorant to it all and it's messed up. This isn't a democracy, you do things because you know it's right.

Having Russian languages in a game isn't immoral. It doesn't support the war going on with Ukraine either, it's still being tolerant and inclusive, not everyone in Russia wants to be part of this war, the vast majority don't, but Putin has them all strong armed, they face death for opposing Putin.

Microsoft, you're such tools.....

Microsoft and Xbox don't belong in the gaming industry, they're not good for the industry other than a good laugh here and there. The dancing monkey to take your quarters. It's time for Microsoft to go

[autoglope]

Most of rational people on earth Strongly support Russian SMO,.. I hope they win faster and destroy that damn Ukrainian Regime.

[parkesy78]

Good way to support Ukraine as 30% of there population is actually Russian so about 8 million Ukrainians will not be able to play the game

[VivaLaManual]

Look how awful that character model looks in that screenshot. Hopefully that was pre-alpha.

[Father__Merrin]

Banning language is exactly what facists do

[HyperMoused]

This is good news, if Russians dont have access to this they wont be able to achieve intergalactic travel, meet alien races and have access to advanced future weapons....wait...what..this is a what..a game...whos been screwing with this thing.

[Auron]

🙄

[autoglope]

Disgusting,.. But then again if they don't plan to sell the product there,.. No one gives a flying fuck,.. and Russians are not retarded to get a Xbox in the first place.

[garos82]

utter clowns. what a disgrace and honestly screw bethesda. dont put english either in your crappy game due to the CURRENT occupation your silly countries are currently engaged in at places like Syria. clowns

[Vlasay]

Good.