Ghost Recon Wildlands sparks diplomatic tussle

The Bolivian government has apparently filed a formal complaint with the French embassy in reaction to how the country is depicted in the upcoming Ghost Recon Wildlands.

Reuters reports that the South American nation is upset about its portrayal as a hub for drug traffickers. Interior Minister Carlos Romero has confirmed that his government has asked for the French authorities to intervene in some way.

Added Romero: "We have the standing to do it (take legal action), but at first we prefer to go the route of diplomatic negotiation."

The game’s official blurb reads: Sent behind enemy lines, the Ghosts will have to cripple the Santa Blanca cartel’s operation, breaking alliances between the drug lords and the corrupt government, and saving the Bolivian population from the cruelty of El Sueo, Santa Blanca’s ruthless leader.

Creative director Eric Couzian added: As part of the Tom Clancy franchise, authenticity is one of the key pillars which will bring the Wildlands to life in our latest instalment in the franchise. Our goal has been to build the Ghosts as credible Spec Ops, so players have a range of options in facing not only the deadly cartels, but also the roughness of the multifaceted Bolivian landscape.

Ghosts are survivors and hunters, they can blend in all sorts of environments, leaving no trace except in the heads of their terrified enemies. We want players to feel this power.”

When approached by Reuters, Ubisoft said the game is "a work of fiction" and that it chose Bolivia as a setting because of its "magnificent landscapes and rich culture". It added: "While the game’s premise imagines a different reality than the one that exists in Bolivia today, we do hope that the in-game world comes close to representing the country’s beautiful topography.”

Ghost Recon Wildlands is out next week.