December 5th 2024.
Conor McGregor, the infamous mixed martial arts fighter, has been removed from the popular video game Hitman. The game's developers, IO Interactive, have decided to cut all ties with McGregor after he was found guilty of raping a woman in a Dublin hotel.
McGregor had previously been added to the game as a celebrity guest target for players to hunt, but all associated downloadable content has been removed. In his place, a new celebrity target has been announced: Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Van Damme, known for his roles in action movies and his impressive ability to do the splits, will be appearing as a rogue assassin named Max Valliant, also known as The Splitter. He will be available for a limited time starting on December 12, with the option to purchase a DLC pack to make him a permanent addition to the game.
While this Van Damme DLC may have been planned for a while, the timing of its announcement suggests that IO Interactive may be trying to do some damage control after the McGregor situation. In addition to the new DLC, IO promises a new roadmap of content starting on December 12, including community-inspired missions and the return of certain limited time targets.
Hitman has previously featured other celebrity guest stars such as actor Sean Bean, but after the McGregor incident, it's uncertain if IO will continue to add more famous names to the game.
The use of celebrity cameos in video games can be a double-edged sword, as it often comes with a high cost and no guarantee of success. Some games, like Tencent's open world survival game starring Will Smith, have failed to make an impact despite having a famous star attached to it.
In light of the McGregor situation, it's possible that game developers will be more cautious about including celebrity cameos in their games in the future. Only time will tell how this will affect the industry as a whole.
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