TheRetroArcade
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Joined: Feb 2026
Joined: Feb 2026
There's also some Call of Duty in there, and a bit of Pokémon for good measure.
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One of the most famous and enduring lines of dialog in videogames is the prophetic utterance of Carl "CJ" Johnson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: "Ah shit, here we go again." It's a feeling I can relate to, because the US government is once again using videogames to promote its policies and activities, this time its war against Iran—and yes, it's using that famous Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas clip to do it.
The first such clip actually went up a few days ago: A message posted by the official White House account on March 4 features the text "courtesy of the red, and blue," and a video that splices Call of Duty gameplay with real-world clips, including footage of strikes and explosions taken from the US war again Iran.
Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue. pic.twitter.com/kTO0DZ56IJMarch 4, 2026
In keeping with current political theory, it's the sort of thing a 12-year-old might find cool, and Call of Duty does at least comport with the overall theme of waging war in the Middle East primarily as a form of entertainment.
The newer post, though, is baffling. It's been a long time since I played San Andreas, but I don't recall CJ or anyone else on Grove Street being big supporters of authoritarian government. But there he is, walking up the alley, saying the line, and then it cuts to something getting blown up and the famous game-over message "Wasted." The sequence repeats four times beneath all-caps text reminding us that this is "OPERATION EPIC FURY," which probably also sounds cool to some 12 year olds.
OPERATION EPIC FURY• Destroy Iran’s missile arsenal.• Destroy their navy.• Ensure they NEVER get a nuclear weapon.Locked in. pic.twitter.com/ika3MMJmZTMarch 6, 2026
This isn't the first time the US government has leaned into videogames for propaganda purposes. In October 2025, the White House posted an image of Donald Trump as Halo's Master Chief; a day later, the US Department of Homeland Security used a different Halo image in a message urging followers to join ICE and "destroy the flood," a reference to immigration. Prior to that, in September 2025, DHS and Customs and Border Patrol used Pokémon imagery to promote anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Pokémon Company said at the time that it had not granted permission for the US government to use its property in these ...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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Every Friday
GamesRadar+
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Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
One of the most famous and enduring lines of dialog in videogames is the prophetic utterance of Carl "CJ" Johnson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: "Ah shit, here we go again." It's a feeling I can relate to, because the US government is once again using videogames to promote its policies and activities, this time its war against Iran—and yes, it's using that famous Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas clip to do it.
The first such clip actually went up a few days ago: A message posted by the official White House account on March 4 features the text "courtesy of the red, and blue," and a video that splices Call of Duty gameplay with real-world clips, including footage of strikes and explosions taken from the US war again Iran.
Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue. pic.twitter.com/kTO0DZ56IJMarch 4, 2026
In keeping with current political theory, it's the sort of thing a 12-year-old might find cool, and Call of Duty does at least comport with the overall theme of waging war in the Middle East primarily as a form of entertainment.
The newer post, though, is baffling. It's been a long time since I played San Andreas, but I don't recall CJ or anyone else on Grove Street being big supporters of authoritarian government. But there he is, walking up the alley, saying the line, and then it cuts to something getting blown up and the famous game-over message "Wasted." The sequence repeats four times beneath all-caps text reminding us that this is "OPERATION EPIC FURY," which probably also sounds cool to some 12 year olds.
OPERATION EPIC FURY• Destroy Iran’s missile arsenal.• Destroy their navy.• Ensure they NEVER get a nuclear weapon.Locked in. pic.twitter.com/ika3MMJmZTMarch 6, 2026
This isn't the first time the US government has leaned into videogames for propaganda purposes. In October 2025, the White House posted an image of Donald Trump as Halo's Master Chief; a day later, the US Department of Homeland Security used a different Halo image in a message urging followers to join ICE and "destroy the flood," a reference to immigration. Prior to that, in September 2025, DHS and Customs and Border Patrol used Pokémon imagery to promote anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Pokémon Company said at the time that it had not granted permission for the US government to use its property in these ...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?