Mickey Mouse Horror Game 'Infestation: Origins' Renamed Amid Neo-Nazi Reference Controversy

Nightmare Forge Games changes game title and apologizes, stating they were unaware of the additional meanings associated with the number '88'.

Nightmare Forge Games, the developer of a horror game featuring a public domain version of Mickey Mouse, has changed the game's title from 'Infestation 88' to 'Infestation: Origins' following accusations of neo-Nazi references.
The controversy arose due to the number '88' in the original title, which is often used as a white supremacist numerical code for 'Heil Hitler'. The developers claimed the '88' was chosen for its symmetry and to represent the year 1988, the setting of the game.
The game, announced on New Year's Day, features players controlling exterminators tasked with killing mutated vermin, including a terrifying, person-sized monster modeled after Mickey Mouse.
Despite the controversy, the game has garnered significant attention and is set to launch in Early Access on Steam sometime in 2024.
Nightmare Forge Games has issued an apology for their ignorance on the topic and has stated that they strongly stand against Nazism and hate in any form.