Ubisoft's latest open-world game, Far Cry 6, has been criticized by the animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for its depiction of cockfighting.

The fictional island of Yala, where Far Cry 6 is set, is heavily influenced by Cuba, where cockfighting is now legal. This blood sport pits two or more birds against each other in an enclosed space, usually in a fight to the death; Cuba's new animal welfare law, introduced in April, has kept the controversial sport's legality intact, although betting on the outcome of the match has been illegal since 1959.

Cockfighting is featured heavily as a mini-game in Far Cry 6, and players can earn additional funds by participating in this mini-game. The in-game depiction is lighthearted, with players choosing from a selection of unlockable birds and fighting in a clear homage to fighting games such as Street Fighter and Tekken.

While the birds' appearance in Far Cry 6 appears to be for comedic purposes, PETA issued a statement condemning the trivialization of a very cruel real-world blood sport, with PETA's senior Latin manager, Alicia Aguayo, saying: "The inclusion of horrific blood like cockfighting in a sport into a video game match like Mortal Kombat is far from a true innovation.

The statement continues: "The roosters used in cockfighting have sharp spines that tear flesh and bone, inflicting painful and fatal injuries, and PETA Latino urges Ubisoft to replace this reprehensible minigame with one that does not glorify cruelty."

Note that the cockfighting mini-game in Far Cry 6 is completely optional. Players can proceed through the game's numerous missions and varied side activities without participating. However, PlayStation Trophies and Xbox/Steam Achievements are awarded at the end of the game, providing an incentive to try cockfighting.

"Far Cry 6" has been the subject of controversy in recent months. Prior to its release, the game's narrative director, Navid Khavari, told The Gamer that "Far Cry 6" was not intended to make a political statement, which led to widespread backlash. Shortly thereafter, a blog post from Ubisoft was published, revealing that the game is indeed political in nature,

as it is about a modern revolution.

As of this writing, Ubisoft has yet to issue a similar statement defending its decision to include cockfighting in Far Cry 6. For now, the publisher may decide to ignore the mini-game unless the calls for its removal become more intense in the coming weeks.