Nightmare Forge Games has recently made an official announcement regarding a significant alteration in its branding, shifting from Infestation 88 to the new title, Infestation: Origins. This decision comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the association of the number 88 with Neo-Nazi references. The company clarified that the initial choice of the title was intended to signify the game’s setting in the year 1988 and claimed to be unaware of any alternative connotations related to the number. Expressing gratitude to those who brought the matter to their attention, Nightmare Forge Games conveyed that they have promptly addressed the issue by changing the name.
Infestation: Origins is a collaborative horror game featuring a character reminiscent of Mickey Mouse from the 1928 film Steamboat Willie, who pursues and assaults players. The sudden influx of Mickey Mouse-inspired content is attributed to the character’s recent entry into the public domain, specifically the version from Steamboat Willie. Nevertheless, it’s noted that various other iterations of Mickey Mouse remain under copyright protection. The multiplayer aspect of Infestation involves players confronting infestations orchestrated by a zombified version of Mickey Mouse. This project gained attention not only for marking Mickey’s public domain status but also for its association with anti-Semitic references.
The number 88 is identified as a white supremacist code, symbolizing “Heil Hitler,” as per the Anti-Defamation League. This numeric representation serves as a dog whistle, similar to the number 14, which functions as a coded expression of support without direct articulation. The derivation of 88 from the English alphabet positions H as the 8th letter, creating HH, akin to Heil Hitler.
Controversy has also surrounded the alleged use of the number 14, given that the previous title featured 14 characters, and the game accommodates 1-4 players. This has further embroiled Nightmare Forge Games in scrutiny. Notably, the company’s website solely showcased Infestation, with no prior indications of other game releases. Established in 2010, the company’s copyrights were officially filed in 2024. The number 14 holds significance as another white supremacist code, associated with the 14-word quote by David Lane.