No Russia Changes to Olympics Video Game

(ATR) The rights holder for Olympic interactive entertainment software tells Around the Rings that Russia’s suspension by the International Olympic Committee won’t keep the country out of the latest Olympic video game.

Released on Dec. 5, Steep: Road to the Olympics is a winter sports simulator and expansion to the Steep snowboarding video game that features an athlete attempting to qualify for and compete in February’s PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

The release of the expansion came on the same day as the IOC decision to suspend the Russian Olympic Committee ahead of PyeongChang 2018 yet allow neutral Russian athletes a pathway to compete in the Games. The suspension follows revelations and investigation into Russia's massive doping schemes during the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.

Russians who qualify for PyeongChang 2018 won’t do so under the Russian flag and will hear the Olympic anthem instead of Russia’s if they make it on the podium in South Korea.

International Sports Multimedia chairman and CEO Raymond Goldsmith confirmed to ATR that there are "no planned changes to the expansion" despite Russia’s suspension. ISM has held the official license for the Olympics in the video game market since Barcelona 1992. Steep is one of two video games ahead of PyeongChang 2018 allowed to utilize Olympic symbols and phrases.

Goldsmith said a call was held between ISM and game publisher Ubisoft on Dec. 12 where Russia's IOC suspension was discussed.

Patches to video games are often sent out after the initial release to correct errors in the game code or address other unforeseen issues. For instance, popular football simulator FIFA by EA Sports has removed players from the active rosters due to off-the-field inappropriate conduct.

The plot of Steep: Road to the Olympics is to become an Olympics "legend", first choosing which country you wish to represent and then competing in a series of qualifying and practice events before eventually competing in the Games themselves.

Russia remains an option for players to select and Russian athletes will be on display as competitors during the qualifying and Olympic events.

Players can compete in the disciplines of big air, downhill, giant slalom, parallel giant slalom, halfpipe, cross-country, slalom, slopestyle and super-g. The game includes real-life locations in South Korea and Japan.

The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games run from Feb. 9-25.

Vote now for your favorite sports city! The Sports City Poll closes Dec. 31. The poll ranks the top 50 cities most strongly associated with sport. Results January 2018.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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