WTF: Sony Slaughters Goat for God Of War 2 Party

One word. Euw (Does WTF count?). More info after the Read More! jump below.


Sony used a freshly slaughtered goat to promote the company's new God Of War II video game for the PS2 console. According to the Daily Mail, the dead animal's still-warm corpse was used as the highlight and centerpiece during a launch party for "God of War II." Sony challenged guests to reach inside the goat's carcass and eat offal, which were bought elsewhere and intended to resemble the animal's entrails.


• Click here to read the full story in The Daily Mail.


The company then further caused outrage when it used images from the party in its official PlayStation magazine. After being contacted by The Daily Mail, however, Sony issued an apology and promised to recall the materials. Here are is the full explanation and apology from Sony:

"The media event for the PS2 title God of War ll took place in Athens, Greece on 1st March. Approximately 20 journalists from European countries attended the event from a variety of gaming and lifestyle media - although none were from the UK.

The event was a theatrical dramatisation with a Greek mythological theme and, as part of the set dressing, a dead goat was provided by the production company from a qualified local butcher. Following the mainstream popularity of shows such as 'I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of here' a series of challenges were set for the journalists. The 'warm entrails' referred to in the invitation and in the Mail on Sunday article was actually a meat soup, made to a traditional Greek recipe and served to attendees in china bowls direct from the caterers. There was never any question of journalists being able to touch the goat, or indeed eat the soup direct from the body of the goat, as one report has alleged. The goat was returned to the butcher at the end of the event.

The article in UK Official PlayStation Magazine (OPSM), from which the Mail on Sunday article was sourced, was written by a journalist who did not attend and done on the basis of the invitation for the event, which employed a degree of hyperbole in order to encourage attendance - the journalist chose to take it as fact!

The photograph was one of many supplied to the magazine to provide a balanced view of the event. Unfortunately, the article was sensationalised and focused on a picture that was unrepresentative of the wider event. When we saw the article for the first time on Thursday of last week we contacted the Publisher of OPSM who accepted that the article was not appropriate for their broad audience. On Friday, before we had received any contact from the media, they agreed to remove the centre page article before the magazine goes on general sale.

We recognise that the use of a dead goat was in poor taste and fell below the high standards of conduct we set ourselves. We are conducting an enquiry to establish the circumstances behind the event in order to ensure this does not happen again. We also apologise to anyone offended by the article in the OPSM (subscription copies were sent out ahead of street date)."

Dave Karraker
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
Sony Computer Entertainment America


Animal rights groups are in a complete uproar over Sony's stunt. The International Fund for Animal Welfare said it was "outrageous" that the animal's death had been used "to sell a few computer games".

All I can say is they must never have played Black & White, cos there aren't many games that let a cow become the right hand man of a deity.