Ecumene Aztec video game promo title artwork.

Ecumene Aztec

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Updated Jun 05, 2023 at 02:31PM EDT by Zach.

Added Jun 05, 2023 at 11:36AM EDT by sakshi.

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About

Ecumene Aztec refers to discussions about video game developer Giantscraft's announcement of their game Ecumene Aztec, slated to be released in 2025. After IGN's official Twitter posted a trailer of the game, characterizing it as an RPG third-person player where one can play as "an Aztec" withstanding "the assault of Spanish conquistadors," various internet users began to debate the ethics of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Online reactions to the game prompted Giantscraft to allow users to support the Conquistadors in the game, leading to renewed debate.

History

On May 30th, 2023, IGN published an article announcing video game developer Giantscraft's game Ecumene Aztec, slated to be released in 2025.[1] On May 30th, IGN's official Twitter[2] shared a trailer for the game, gathering over 45 million views, 800 quote tweets, and 36,000 likes in a week (seen below)


In the following days, the announcement tweet elicited various responses from Twitter users, notably some who considered the Spanish invaders of South America to be morally righteous imperialists due to the indigenous Aztec empire's practice of conducting human sacrifices.

For example, on May 31st, 2023, Twitter[3] user @bossmuntime posted a GigaChad meme depicting the Spanish Conquistadors stopping human sacrifices, gathering over 20,000 likes and 800 retweets in a week (seen below, left). Also that day, other users asked to play as the "good guy" conquistadors and received pushback on that characterization[4] from some as a viral debate emerged (seen below, right).


SORRY BUT THE HUMAN SACRIFICES WILL STOP IGN @IGN. May 30 Play as an Aztec trying to withstand the assault of Spanish conquistadors in the first-person survival action-RPG Ecumene Aztec, launching in 2025. 1:11 6,225 407 12.2K lan Fisch @Ian_Fisch 36.9K Nick @fidelispatre. May 31 Can you play the part where the Aztecs are savagely sacrificing their children and the Spaniards are the good guys? You know, the real history? ₁273.5K 240 4,767 Lol the Spaniards were NOT the good guys. There were no good guys there. 3:04 PM . May 31, 2023 · 177.8K Views 45.1M 97 Retweets 8 Quotes 18.1K Likes 45 Bookmarks IGN :

Online Presence

On May 31st, Twitter[6] user @ShadowPowerup posted a tweet joking about Aztes being "problematic" unlike the Spartans or Vikings. the post gathered over 35,000 likes in five days (seen below, left). On June 1st, 2023, Twitter[5] user @CogitoEdu quote tweeted the original post by IGN noting the historic inaccuracies in the game, saying, "Game is called Aztec. The characters look Maya. They're in the Yucatan jungle far away from highlands Tenochtitlan was in. The cities look like ruins from 2023 and the Spanish are wearing heavy armour in the jungle. 🫠" The post gathered over 100,000 likes in four days (seen below, right).


Powerup Comics! (Commissions CLOSED) @ShadowPowerup Thought this looked badass but then I read the comments and found out that Aztec culture had problematic elements, guess I'll just wait for another game about spartans or vikings IGN @IGN . May 30 Play as an Aztec trying to withstand the assault of Spanish conquistadors in the first-person survival action-RPG Ecumene Aztec, launching in 2025. 1:13 3:13 PM . May 31, 2023 1.5M Views : 1,941 Retweets 56 Quotes 35.1K Likes 875 Bookmarks IGN Domhnall @Cogito Edu Game is called Aztec. The characters look Maya. They're in the Yucatan jungle far away from highlands Tenochtitlan was in. The cities look like ruins from 2023 and the Spanish are wearing heavy armour in the jungle. IGN @IGN . May 30 Play as an Aztec trying to withstand the assault of Spanish conquistadors in the first-person survival action-RPG Ecumene Aztec, launching in 2025. 1:15 9:39 AM . Jun 1, 2023 8.7M Views 90000 10.5K Retweets 393 Quotes 103.7K Likes 4,580 Bookmarks : IGN

On May 31st, Twitter[10] user @ComradeStu posted a speech bubbling meme featuring Hitler saying, "I can I play as the Spanish? I want to stop human sacrifices." The post gathered over 9,000 likes in five days (seen below, left). Also on May 31st, Twitter[11] user @TheAngelKing47 posted a meme about the historic conflict, gathering over 20,000 likes in five days (seen below, right).


Comrade Stu @ComradeStu. May 31 "I can I play as the Spanish? I want to stop human sacrifices." IGN 1:19 83 @IGN . May 30 Play as an Aztec trying to withstand the assault of Spanish conquistadors in the first-person survival action-RPG Ecumene Aztec, launching in 2025. 1 705 9,172 ₁280.5K : The Aztec high priest trying to stop the cannonball flying right towards him after sacrificing 20 people to Tzolchtqltiopzcqhli

On June 3rd, Giantscraft updated the description for Ecumene Aztec to add that the game will also allow for one to play as a supporter of the Conquistadors against the "caste of sacrifice-making priests."[7]

Also that day Twitter[8] user @_rawrell posted a tweet acknowledging the update and saying "We did it, Twitter," gathering over 5,000 likes in two days (seen below, left). On June 4th, Twitter[9] user @BadEmpanada shared an image from the game's Steam page, noting that they call the Spanish "liberators," gathering over 18,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).


Rawrell @_rawrell We did it, Twitter UPDATE - we heard you loud and clear! 1. You will be able to choose: - to join conquistadors and fight the caste of sacriface-making priests. or - to join aztec warriors and repel the newcomers. We updated the describtions. IGN @IGN . May 30 Play as an Aztec trying to withstand the assault of Spanish conquistadors in the first-person survival action-RPG Ecumene Aztec, launching in 2025. 1:11 6:02 PM Jun 3, 2023 · 429.7K Views 430 Retweets 84 Quotes 5,176 Likes 182 Bookmarks : IGN Troop Exploder @BadEmpanada THEY'RE LITERALLY SAYING THE SPANISH "LIBERATED" THE AMERICAS NOW The Kavernacle @TheKavernacle Jun 4 updated game description Show this thread search STEAMⓇ ECUMENE AZTEC Ecumene Aztec Developer Ecumene Games Publisher Ecumene Games Release 2025 9:23 AM Jun 4, 2023 862.2K Views : o The Great Tenochtitlan is on fire. Now that the war has broken out, I must choose whether to join our compatriots to repel the invader, or to join the newcomers who want to liberate us from the priests sacrificing our own brothers and children. 1,266 Retweets 119 Quotes 17.9K Likes 417 Bookmarks

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External References

[1] IGN – Ecumene Aztec

[2] Twitter – IGN

[3] Twitter – bossmuntime

[4]  Twitter – Ian_Fisch

[5] Twitter – CogitoEdu

[6] Twitter – ShadowPowerup

[7] Steam – Update

[8] Twitter – _rawrell

[9] Twitter – BadEmpanada

[10] Twitter – ComradeStu

[11] Twitter – TheAngelKing47

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