1348 Ex Voto: Controversy, Tax Credits, and Limited LGBTQ+ Representation
The recently released medieval action-adventure game 1348 Ex Voto, developed by Sedleo and published by Dear Villagers, has become the center of a surprising controversy. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the game has been targeted by online backlash fueled by claims of “woke propaganda,” specifically regarding its portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes. This has led to scrutiny of the game’s funding, with some alleging misuse of Italian government tax credits.
Mixed Reception and Low User Scores
Released on March 12, 2026, 1348 Ex Voto currently holds a Metacritic score of 54. However, user reviews on Steam are significantly lower, averaging a 1.1 rating. This disparity suggests a coordinated effort to negatively impact the game’s reception, driven by the aforementioned controversy. Players have also noted issues with the game’s combat mechanics, contributing to the mixed feedback. [TheGamer]
The “Woke Propaganda” Claims
The core of the controversy stems from accusations that 1348 Ex Voto contains “lesbian romance” and constitutes LGBTQ+ propaganda. Critics have argued that the game’s inclusion of a female knight and her relationship with a castle servant is an example of “forced DEI.” However, reports indicate that LGBTQ+ representation in the game is minimal. According to PCGamesN, there is “never so much as a tender brush of hands” depicting romantic involvement. [PCGamesN]
Italian Tax Credit Scrutiny
Adding fuel to the fire, it was discovered that 1348 Ex Voto received approximately €656,131 in government tax credits and grants from 2021 to 2024 through the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Video Games Tax Relief program. This prompted accusations that Italian taxpayers were “funding propaganda,” as stated by the news aggregation account Pirat_Nation on X (formerly Twitter). [Kotaku]
Historical Context and Representation
Despite the claims of anachronism, historical records suggest that same-sex relationships existed in medieval Italy, though often cloaked in euphemisms due to the Church’s stance. The developers’ decision to avoid explicit LGBTQ+ content may be interpreted as a commitment to historical accuracy, or, as some critics suggest, as a lack of courage to fully explore the potential of the narrative. [PCGamesN]
About 1348 Ex Voto
1348 Ex Voto is a cinematic action-adventure game set in 14th-century Italy, following Aeta, a young knight errant on a quest to save a loved one. The game is available on Steam and PlayStation 5. [Steam]