Reporters Are Using Counter-Strike To Deliver Ukraine War News to Russians
A Finnish newspaper uses the Chamber of Secrets on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive map to provide uncensored news reports about the Ukrainian War to the Russian people.
Finland’s largest daily, Helsingin Sanomat, chose to use Counter-Strike as a way to circumvent Russia’s press restrictions, a tactic devised to highlight World Press Freedom Day. I made a new map for FPS Contains hidden rooms that can only be found using spectator cams. Inside is a collection of Russian-language stories by Helsingin Sanomat, detailing the actions of Russian troops during the invasion of Ukraine.
talk to game radar+Helsingin Sanomat Editor-in-Chief Antero Mukka said, “Russians have little chance of getting independent information about Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.” We ban what we deem “information”. But since Counter-Strike is one of the most popular games in Russia (around 4 million people play it in the country), this is an opportunity for reporters to tell. There was an uncensored story for those in Japan.
Noting that the game is still not checked by Russian authorities, Mukka said: in their native language. “
“The Chamber of Secrets built into the game is meant to make Russian gamers face-to-face with what’s really going on in the war in Ukraine,” he added.
Entitled “de_vonya” (Russian word for “war” now censored by Russian authorities), the map depicts a town ravaged by battle. It’s meant to reach the Russian people, but it’s accessible to anyone who plays Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, so if you’re a player of Valve’s giant he FPS, you can see for yourself .
For more unusual stories about the intersection of the Ukrainian War and gaming, see how Steam Decks are being used on the front lines.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK news and features editor.
