In 2009 Konami sought to publish a first-person shooter based on the Iraq War. Named Six Days in Fallujah, the game offered a military combat game in which players participate in the Second Battle of Fallujah, an actual engagement that took place in 2004. Konami ultimately canceled Six Days in Fallujah due to protests over the game's appropriateness, as well as developer Atomic Games' ties to the US Marines. Now, it seems, Six Days in Fallujah is coming back.
A press release delivered from game publisher Victura confirmed that Six Days in Fallujah is once again in development. It's described as a tactical first-person shooter inspired by true-life accounts of 2004's Second Battle of Fallujah. In other words, this is the resurrection of the 2009 Six Days in Fallujah, only rebuilt from the ground up as a modern first-person shooter project. Victure is notably headed by Peter Tamte, who was the president of Six Days in Fallujah's original developer Atomic Games.
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A new development team has understandably overtaken the project, as Atomic Games dissolved in 2011. The new team is Highwire Games, featuring notable talent including ex-Halo developers Marty O'Donnell and Jaime Griesemer. A variety of other ex-Bungie staff, including a former design director and weapon artists, are also said to be part of Highwire. Highwire is co-founded by ex-Airtight Games, ex-Red Lens Games founder Jared Noftle.
Highwire explains that it will be aiming to recreate authentic experiences from the Second Battle of Fallujah. As such, its aim is heavy realism and unique features and mechanics that will present the player with consequential tactical decisions. Voice recordings taken from US Marines and Iraqi civilians will apparently be used to construct the game's experience, as well photographs and video recordings. Highwire repeats that authenticity is its goal.
The announcement that Six Days of Fallujah is once again in development has understandably reignited controversy surrounding the game. Destineer, the parent company of the original game's developer, was associated with creating training simulators for the CIA and FBI. Given the connection between Victure's Peter Tamte and the past game's development, some question whether there's any association between the US government or military and the new game. Tamte, in turn, has said there is no such collaboration.
There're also questions regarding what an authentic recreation of the Second Battle of Fallujah truly means. The Red Cross reports that the Second Battle of Fallujah led to the deaths of 800 civilians, and that in the process of retaking Fallujah from insurgents the US used the chemical weapon white phosphorus which is illegal under international law. Much remains to be revealed regarding the nature and intent of Six Days in Fallujah.
Six Days in Fallujah releases in 2021 on PC and consoles.
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