A new game was released yesterday on Steam depicting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming to be “officially recommended by the Russian Military”.
The free-to-play Squad 22: ZOV is a tactical shooter from developer SPN Studio and publisher Zarobana Entertainment and is the only release from either company.
The game has been widely reported as Russian propaganda, raising questions on how it’s been allowed on Valve’s Steam platform.
According to the game’s Steam description, it allows players to experience the “complexities of the 2014 and 2022-2024 events through compelling campaigns”. In 2014, President Putin signed the Crimea annexation, while 2022-2024 refers to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
While the game purports to be historically accurate through its basis on “people’s experience and opinions during specific historical conflicts”, it has also been “officially recommended by the Russian Military for use as a basic infantry tactic manual for cadet and Yunarmy training”.