Open world FPS Arma 3 is famous for its realism. The simulation game is designed to be highly immersive. In the right circumstances, someone can mistake recorded gameplay for footage of real events. However, actual news outlets should probably know better. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.
As reported by IGN India, multiple news stations in that country erroneously used footage from Arma 3 as proof of Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan. The news organizations have since deleted the clips and issued corrections. However, evidence suggests the video may have been part of a deliberate campaign of misinformation.
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The videos aired on several major Indian TV networks but appeared to originate from a group called Hasti TV. The source claimed the footage showed Pakistani aircraft supporting Taliban forces against rebels in Northern Afghanistan. In reality, it shows Arma 3 gameplay that someone edited to appear shakier and grainier. The video’s creators presumably did so to make the footage appear more authentic while also making it more difficult to see clearly. However, Arma 3 fans quickly identified the deception. Journalist Mohammed Zubair even tracked down the exact gameplay video used in the fraudulent clips.
Indian media outlets have since removed the video and corrected the mistake. However, some networks have attempted to deflect blame for their role in spreading misinformation. Either way, those corrections don’t appear to satisfy some critics. IGN India contributor Rahul Majumdar criticized the news outlets for their willingness to take the doctored footage at face value. As Majumdar points out, many of those networks have a habit of spreading false information using footage taken out of context. This has become a severe problem in the Indian news media, especially with stories relating to nearby Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Arama 3 depicts a near-future war and recently got a Vietnam War expansion. The game’s famously extreme dedication to realism means this isn’t the first time someone attempted to pass off Arma 3 footage for real-world military engagements. In May, Reuters published a short article debunking a series of videos going around on social media. The clips purported to show footage of Israel’s “Iron Dome” air defense system. However, a representative from developer Bohemia Interactive confirmed the footage came from Arma 3.
If nothing else, the recent incident shows the speed at which misinformation can spread. After all, a single edited video managed to hijack the TV news of an entire country. As graphics improve and games like Arma 3 continue to become more realistic, it’s possible that stories like this may grow increasingly common over the following years. Fortunately, it also shows there are still people fighting to stem the tide of false narratives.
Arma 3 is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux PC.