Paradox Interactive bans Discord profile pics of historical figures
Publisher Paradox Interactive has announced a ban on using Discord profile pictures of historical figures born after January 1, 1800. The decision follows a major controversy in the Hearts of Iron IV community after a moderator banned a user for using a photograph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
The incident sparked significant backlash, including review bombing on Steam. Reports indicate that the moderator involved described Atatürk as a controversial figure in relation to the events of 1913–1922. This tension was further exacerbated by existing community frustration regarding the lack of official Turkish language support in Hearts of Iron IV.
Game director Laszlo "Batya" Pieper issued an apology, acknowledging that the enforcement of rules regarding real-world political and state figures had been inconsistent. Pieper clarified that neither the games nor the moderation team aim to pass judgment on historical figures, stating that the company "clearly handled that responsibility poorly" when attempting to moderate such sensitive content.
To eliminate ambiguity and remove the burden of historical interpretation from moderators, the new policy establishes a strict cutoff date. The updated guidelines include:
- A ban on profile pictures of political or military characters born after January 1, 1800.
- Permission to continue using official in-game portraits from Hearts of Iron IV, including those of figures born after 1800, with the exception of prominent Nazi German leaders.
Once the new rules are formally implemented, community members will have seven days to update their profiles to comply. Paradox Interactive also noted that any users who issued threats or abuse toward developers or moderators during the ensuing controversy will remain banned, regardless of the rule changes.
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