Paradox Interactive, the developer behind Hearts of Iron 4, has introduced a new policy prohibiting the use of Discord profile pictures featuring historical figures born after January 1, 1800. This decision comes after a community uproar sparked by a moderator's ban of a player using an image of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.
According to a Discord post attributed to game director Laszlo "Batya" Pieper, the new rule aims to prevent moderators from having to interpret or make judgments on historical figures. "Paradox never aims to review history or take positions on political figures, and we clearly handled that responsibility poorly," Pieper stated. Discord members will still be permitted to use official Hearts of Iron IV in-game portraits, with the exception of prominent Nazi German leaders.
The incident began when a moderator reportedly described Atatürk as controversial due to his disputed involvement in the Armenian genocide. This action led to backlash from players, with some reporting that Paradox games on Steam had faced review bombing. Disgruntlement may also stem from Hearts of Iron 4's lack of official Turkish language support.
Pieper apologized for the inconsistent enforcement of rules regarding real-world individuals as profile pictures. He acknowledged Atatürk's significance to many as the founder of the Republic of Turkey and assured that neither the games nor the moderation are intended as commentary on historical figures. He noted that the rule regarding real-world persons as profile pictures needed revision due to concerns about fair and equal enforcement.
In a follow-up post, Pieper explained that the rule was intended as a straightforward guideline and should not have opened discussion about which historical figures are permissible. The new blanket ban is designed to eliminate ambiguity and edge cases, with a clear cutoff date. Players will have seven days to comply with the new rule once it is formally implemented.
Paradox has also reported receiving a significant volume of abuse and threats directed at developers, moderators, and individuals outside the company in response to the Atatürk situation. Those banned for sending such abuse will remain banned even after the rule change.