Location: HOMELatest Game IssuesSupremacy: World War 3 Ad Sparks Controversy by Mocking Iran Amid Regional Tensions

Supremacy: World War 3 Ad Sparks Controversy by Mocking Iran Amid Regional Tensions

2025-06-29 00:20:49

Supremacy: World War 3, a cross-platform strategy game available on PC and mobile devices, has drawn criticism for an advertisement that openly ridicules Iran as a playable nation. The controversial ad begins with the provocative statement: "Choosing Iran to conquer the world might be the most ill-advised decision I've ever encountered."

The timing of this advertisement's circulation appears particularly insensitive given current geopolitical realities. Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, including multiple military exchanges. U.S. President Donald Trump authorized strikes on suspected Iranian nuclear facilities before negotiating a fragile ceasefire, which despite reported violations remains technically in effect at publication time.

Supremacy: World War 3

Originally launched as Conflict of Nations, the game underwent rebranding several months ago to its current title. The advertisement, prominently featured on social platforms including TikTok, not only singles out Iran but also suggests a gameplay strategy focused on eliminating neighboring nations - specifically naming Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and India. This reference carries additional weight given the recent military crisis between India and Pakistan that concluded with a May ceasefire.

Since its June 19 posting, the TikTok video advertisement has accumulated over 700,000 views, generating significant engagement with approximately 3,000 likes, 170 comments, 190 bookmarks, and 300+ shares. User responses reveal divided opinions - while some criticize the ad's timing as opportunistic, others view it as an example of military propaganda in gaming formats.

Supremacy: World War 3 follows the tradition of grand strategy titles like Civilization and Risk, challenging players to develop military forces, research technologies, manage economies, and engage in geopolitical maneuvering within a fictional World War III scenario. While numerous games employ World War 3 settings or reference Iranian history, this instance stands out for directly incorporating current events into its marketing approach.

The advertisement concludes by inviting players to select their preferred nations to initiate global conflict, a provocative question that takes on different meaning when posed against the backdrop of actual international tensions.