People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, has demanded the removal of a cockfighting mini-game included in Far Cry 6. Ubisoft’s newly-released first-person shooter brings players to the fictional Caribbean island of Yara, which is ruled by dictator Antón Castillo. Far Cry 6 features several animal companions which serve to add variety to gameplay, but PETA is quite critical of the title’s treatment of animals.
There are multiple animal Amigos for players to choose from in Far Cry 6, with each of them bringing their own strengths and weaknesses into battle. The adorable dachshund Chorizo is an amputee, but he possesses a wheelchair to help him maneuver the battlefield. Though the pup is quite small and unthreatening, his wheelchair includes a wagon which can carry additional supplies for the player. Chorizo is also breathtakingly adorable, which can distract enemies before the player takes them out. Guapo, meanwhile, is a trained crocodile who can butcher enemies just as efficiently as the player. A chicken Amigo named Chicharrón is also present in Far Cry 6, and possesses the ability to attack foes with large talons.
Despite the host of animal allies in Far Cry 6, a statement from PETA Latino has publicly decried a cockfighting mini-game that is present in the open-world first-person shooter title. The admittedly bizarre game mode turns the controversial act of cockfighting into a fighting game, with players choosing between a number of different chicken varieties. The cockfighting mode includes a life bar, announcer, and special moves to perform, translating the brutal pastime into something akin to Mortal Kombat or Tekken. PETA’s Latino branch is asking Ubisoft to replace the cockfighting mini-game with something that doesn’t rely on violent conflict between animals.
Far Cry 6‘s lush open world of Yara features numerous animals, not just the player’s Amigo companions or cockfighting contenders, and most of them can be treated with dignity. The fictional Caribbean country boasts horses, pelicans, roosters, oxen and rodents, and Far Cry 6 players can pet or feed most of these creatures. Large predators like crocodiles should be navigated with care, as they will attack the player if provoked, but they too can be fed by a friendly player. On the other hand, though, most of these animals can also be killed, either deliberately or if caught in the crossfire during an intense battle.
Far Cry 6 has seemingly made an effort to fill Yara with exotic animals, and players can have peaceful encounters with these digital creatures. This makes the title’s cockfighting mini-game a bit of a tonal shift from the presentation of wildlife in the rest of the game. However, as a first-person shooter, Far Cry 6 also pushes players to gun down hordes of human beings as well. A degree of suspension of disbelief is required when players experience all of the title’s violent content.
Far Cry 6 is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Google Stadia and Amazon Luna.
Source: PETA Latino