Controversial Game Squad 22: ZOV Released on Steam, Tied to Russian Military Propaganda

A new free-to-play game called Squad 22: ZOV popped up on Steam this past Friday—and it's already caused a global stir. The reason? It's closely tied to the Russian Armed Forces and portrays the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war from a pro-Russian point of view.

Released by relatively unknown developer SPN Studio and publisher Zarobana Entertainment, this tactical shooter has quickly become a hot topic—not just for what it is, but for what it represents. It’s sparked debate about propaganda, the military’s role in gaming, and how Steam moderates controversial content.

So, What Is Squad 22: ZOV?

Marketed as a “tactical action real-time game,” Squad 22: ZOV claims to offer a realistic infantry combat experience, reportedly shaped by feedback from Russian veterans and active-duty soldiers. It lets players take part in moments like:

• The annexation of Crimea (2014)

• The 2022–2024 invasion of Ukraine

• The siege of Mariupol, which is even a playable mission

The game’s title—ZOV—refers to the now-infamous "Z", "O", and "V" symbols painted on Russian military vehicles during the invasion. These symbols have since become tied to pro-war propaganda and are used widely to rally support for Russia’s so-called “Special Military Operation.”

According to its Steam page and official site, the game is “officially recommended by the Russian military” as a training tool for young cadets and members of Yunarmy—Russia’s youth military program.

In terms of gameplay, it’s a single-player, real-time tactical action game with an "active pause" feature that lets players pause and plan out actions. You command a squad from a top-down view, making use of drones, support vehicles, snipers, and more.

Missions range from defending positions and storming buildings to stealth takedowns, hostage rescues, and prisoner captures. There’s a big focus on micromanagement—think ammo, vision cones, and even tactical medicine. The game is still in beta, with more updates planned.

Propaganda Concerns & Military Ties

Critics—including watchdog groups and Ukrainian officials—have called Squad 22: ZOV blatant military propaganda. The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation went as far as to say:

“A key element in brainwashing the population... glorifying military service and reflecting the Kremlin’s version of the Ukraine invasion.”

It was even featured at Army 2024, a Russian military expo, and reportedly includes input from Vlad Golovin, a “Hero of the Russian Federation” who led forces in Mariupol.

Lead developer Alexander Tolkach told PC Gamer that while the project had input from Russia’s Military-Political Directorate, it was privately funded using team savings—not military funding. He also noted that Valve put the game through an unusually long 60-day moderation process (compared to the usual 5–7 days) before it was approved for release on May 28, 2025.

Tolkach insists that no money goes back to the military:

“All proceeds go toward team salaries and improving the game. If we earn more than needed, we’ll fund our next project.”

Still, the fact remains: this is a game about an ongoing war that’s devastated millions of lives in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation has warned that this fits into a broader strategy—using games and esports to normalize war and push pro-Kremlin narratives, especially among young people.

Gameplay Woes

Aside from the political controversy, the game has also been hit with gameplay complaints. Players have pointed out janky controls, clunky movement, and a confusing command system. Bugs like inaccurate grenade throws and unresponsive AI haven’t helped either.

The devs admitted on Steam that the game uses AI-generated art as a base, although they say the images were “drawn over” by hand later. It’s also tagged with Steam’s AI Generated Content Disclosure.

Currently, the game has a “Mixed” rating on Steam. It peaked with just 50 players on launch day, and is now down to around 10 concurrent players. While early reviews leaned heavily pro-Russian, newer ones mostly criticize both the game’s quality and its message.

What About Steam’s Role?

This isn’t the first time Steam’s content moderation has been questioned. The platform previously removed games that portrayed the Palestinian side of the Israel-Palestine conflict and others involving sexual violence, raising eyebrows about inconsistency in its standards.

Valve’s current policy mostly permits content unless it’s illegal or trolling, which leaves a big gray area for politically sensitive or propaganda-heavy games like Squad 22: ZOV.

What are your thoughts on political games like this? Should Steam tighten its content policy? Let me know in the comments!