Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Faces New Criticism
The action RPG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, developed by Chinese studio Leenzee, has been no stranger to controversy since its release. Initially, the game faced heavy criticism from players over optimization issues. Now, a new wave of backlash has erupted following the release of update 1.5, which, alongside various fixes, introduced some unexpected and bizarre censorship.
After installing the patch, players quickly discovered that several characters, particularly those based on real historical figures, had become immortal. This extends even to bosses; after being defeated, they no longer die but instead remain standing in the arena. Some of these bosses were even given additional dialogue to make the situation less nonsensical. Perhaps most notably, an entire enemy type – the Ming Dynasty soldiers – no longer attack, making the fourth chapter of the game incredibly easy to progress through.
The Unexpected Root of the Censorship
Contrary to what some might expect, this censorship isn't a directive from the Chinese government, which has supported Wuchang's development from the start. Instead, the changes stem from a domestic scandal that largely went unnoticed by Western players. A group of vocal Chinese nationalists were enraged by the game's premise, which features the protagonist fighting on the side of Manchu rebels against the Ming Dynasty. This historical interpretation led them to brand Wuchang's developers as traitors.
It's worth noting that the game's developers reportedly warned their management about the potential for such a reaction. However, the leadership chose to maintain their original vision in favor of historical accuracy. While Wuchang does incorporate fantasy elements, its setting is firmly rooted in the actual historical period of the Ming Dynasty's decline.
Community Reaction and Outlook
The controversy surrounding the fresh wave of censorship is further compounded by reports that moderators on Wuchang's official subreddit are actively deleting any complaints related to the update. This approach has only served to fuel the negativity and anger directed at the game and its developers.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launched in late July on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, complete with text localization in multiple languages. It was also available on Game Pass from day one. This latest development adds another hurdle for the game, as it struggles to regain player trust and overcome the perception of a compromised experience.
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