Elon Musk Praises Japanese Video Games for Lack of ‘Woke DEI Lies’
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has expressed his admiration for Japanese video games, citing them as untainted by “woke DEI lies.” Musk’s comments, made on social media platform X, sparked a discussion about the influence of Western ideology on Japanese game development.
Musk’s recent comments on “woke DEI lies” are in line with his previous criticisms of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In January earlier this year, he branded the DEI agenda as “extremely anti-Semitic” and “dangerous” during an interview with Ben Shapiro. The tech billionaire has also been vocal about his opposition to DEI policies in the corporate world, accusing companies like Disney of institutionalized racism and sexism.
While some agree with Musk’s assessment, others argue that Japanese developers have begun self-censoring to cater to Western audiences. They also highlighted the issue of Western localizers rewriting game scripts to include “woke ideology” in Japanese games.
Musk’s appreciation for Japanese video games is not new. In May 2022, he praised the hit video game “Elden Ring” as featuring the “most beautiful art” he had ever seen. Developed by Japanese studio FromSoftware, the game was released for all major gaming platforms.
Despite the controversy surrounding his views, Musk’s influence in the gaming industry has been significant. His endorsement of “Elden Ring” in 2022 reportedly led to a surge in the game’s popularity and sales.
