Skullgirls Faces Controversial Review Bombing Phenomenon - Here's What You Need to Know

Skullgirls, a popular fighting game that was originally released in 2012, is facing criticism from fans due to recent changes in its art style. The game, developed by Reverge Labs, gained a dedicated fan following for its unique art design and accessible gameplay. It has been re-released multiple times, with the latest version called Skullgirls 2nd Encore being available on several consoles. However, a recent modification to the game's art has resulted in fans expressing their dissatisfaction through negative reviews. Despite its devoted fanbase within the fighting game community, Skullgirls has faced its fair share of controversy. It has changed ownership several times, most notably with Lab Zero Games' dissolution in 2020 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Now, under the leadership of Hidden Variable Studios, Skullgirls 2nd Encore is expected to be ported to Xbox consoles later this year. Nevertheless, the recent changes in the game's artwork have sparked significant backlash from fans.

Skullgirls director Charley Price recently addressed concerns raised in the community by making important alterations, which were shared in a forum post. In order to promote inclusivity and respect, the director decided to remove certain in-game art that contained references to real-world hate groups and the sexualization of younger characters, among other issues. These unexpected changes have unfortunately garnered a significant amount of negative feedback on the popular gaming platform, Steam, resulting in a decreased overall rating for the game to "Mostly Negative". Disgruntled fans have expressed their frustration by accusing the new developers of being excessively politically correct and likening the alterations to "4Kids-style censorship", claiming that offensive elements have been unnecessarily removed.

Price later responded to the review bombing, acknowledging that the Skullgirls team had carefully considered the changes before implementing them. The developer also anticipated negative feedback from fans and chose not to elaborate further on the adjustments. In response to the negative reviews, some fans in the Steam community criticized those individuals for lacking sufficient experience with the game. Despite the controversy, Skullgirls has generally maintained a "Very Positive" review rating since its initial release.

While many fans expressed anger towards the changes in Skullgirls' art, these modifications are part of a larger trend in the gaming industry towards cultural sensitivity. Several high-profile games, including Bayonetta 3, have introduced optional censorship to mitigate sexually explicit content or designs. Other games have made amendments to avoid references to real-life groups, such as Nazis, that may offend certain players. Skullgirls' changes align with the industry's effort to create more inclusive and accessible gaming experiences for all players.

Skullgirls is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and mobile devices. Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions are scheduled to release in 2023.

Source: PCGamer