Dear Board Game Alliance,
When I opened your website today to play some Carcassonne, I felt as if I’d been splashed in the face with cold water. Seeing a large advertisement for a game called "51st State" in the current political climate felt like even my game time was being invaded by real-world politics.
As a Canadian, I've recently endured former allies from the USA feeling free to mock or threaten us on social media. The pressure from foreign-funded political parties pushing for annexation or separation has increased, and I’ve even had canvassers come to my door seeking support for a referendum. I’ve lost friends over these issues, especially during the recent election, as polarization has reached a boiling point.
I understand that the world does not revolve around Canada and the USA, and that "51st State" is a popular game that’s been out for over a decade. Still, featuring it so prominently right now feels tone-deaf to Canadian subscribers and users. It minimizes the very real anxieties we’re experiencing as our allies talk about betrayal and take actions we never thought possible.
I know that the designer, Ignacy Trzewiczek, has stated the game’s setting is entirely fictional and post-apocalyptic, with no intent to comment on real-world politics or advocate for annexation. He’s also acknowledged how talk of annexation is deeply troubling, especially for those with a history of conflict over sovereignty, and that current tensions—including trade disputes and tariffs—are affecting the board game industry and people’s lives.
As Trzewiczek told the National Post:
“If anyone, any politician, in any part of the world is talking about annexing another country, we’ve been there and we don’t like it,” Trzewiczek told the National Post, referring to the centuries-long history of conflict between Poland and Russia.
“So for us, it’s terrifying, and it is pretty difficult to understand that it’s really happening in the modern world.”
But “51st State” as Trzewiczek envisioned it in 2010, 11 years after he founded Portal Games, is set in a much bleaker and perilous modern world known as Neuroshima, which was born of a war between mankind and AI.
Source:
https://nationalpost.com/news/51st-state-board-game
I hope you’ll consider the broader context and sensitivities when featuring games with titles or themes that can feel loaded, especially during times of heightened political tension. Thank you for your attention and for providing a space where all gamers can feel comfortable.
-R
