Edmund McMillen Defends The Clashing Ideologies Behind The Voices In His New Roguelike

The recent launch of Mewgenics has brought immediate commercial success and a wave of critical acclaim, yet it has also sparked a distinct conversation regarding its audio design choices. Players discovered a roster of voice actors contributing animal noises that includes several polarizing internet personalities. The roguelike, which centers on breeding cats and tactical combat, utilizes these voices not for dialogue but for the various meows and sounds the cats emit. While the gameplay loop has been praised, the inclusion of figures with contentious public histories led to discussions across social media platforms. The developer has now stepped forward to clarify the intent behind this eclectic assembly of voices.

Edmund McMillen provided context during a recent interview with RPS, shedding light on the timeline and philosophy that guided the cameo cast. He explained that the process of selecting these individuals began years ago, creating a sort of time capsule of internet culture from that period. The list was not curated to represent a single viewpoint but rather to capture a broad spectrum of voices that have echoed across the web during the game's lengthy development cycle. This approach inevitably led to a mix of personalities who currently stand on opposing sides of significant cultural and political divides.

"I understand we live in a time where a meow from someone who has different beliefs as you is scary and frustrating, confusing and controversial... but it felt interesting, so I decided to explore it."

— Edmund McMillen

The roster features Youtubers Ethan and Hila Klein, whose involvement drew criticism from some players disagreeing with their stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. To provide balance to the ideological scales, the game also includes iDubbbz and Anisa, creators who have publicly supported Palestine. I recall the internet culture of four years ago looking vastly different from today's landscape, which explains why some of these inclusions feel jarring to players in the current climate. McMillen noted that when many of these names were added to the list, the public discourse surrounding them was different, or in some cases, the individuals had not yet voiced the opinions that now define their public image.

"I wanted the game to feature a huge array of iconic voices I’ve been hearing echoing across the internet for most of my time making games. As some probably noticed, I was all over the place when it came to cameos and did my best to include and keep ones that clashed or kinda counterbalanced each other. The inclusion of Ethan and Hila was counter balanced by iDubbbz and Anisa."

— Edmund McMillen

McMillen emphasized that he took steps to ensure the participants were aware of who else would be featured in the project. He contacted the parties involved in known feuds to verify they were comfortable appearing in the same title. Both sides reportedly handled the situation with maturity, giving their consent despite their public differences. This vetting process was intended to prevent the release from feeling like a trap for the creators involved.

"I made sure to contact both to make sure they were okay with the others' involvement so it didn’t feel like a weird gotcha on release. They were both very adult about it and said they had no issue with the other being added, and I really respected that, since I know they have been publicly feuding for a while now. It’s hard to explain without revealing aspects of the game people haven’t really experienced yet, but the inclusion of people with clashing ideologies felt appropriate."

— Edmund McMillen

Beyond the political clashes, the list includes other figures known for erratic or controversial behavior. Matan Even, known for stage-crashing major industry events and appearing on InfoWars, is featured in the game. McMillen admitted he was unaware of the extent of Even's controversy, viewing him simply as a character performing a bit. The game also features Christine Chandler, a figure with a troubled legal and personal history, and makes a niche reference by including both Chris and "Liquid Chris."

"Also, I should probably point out that I don’t share the same opinions as, well, probably any of the people we included. If I only included people who share the same exact opinions as me, I’d be the only one meowing in the game. I included Chris, but also liquid Chris (those who know, know)... I didn’t Matan was controversial, I mean a lot of these people are characters doing bits."

— Edmund McMillen

The developer expressed disappointment that some potential players might avoid the title entirely due to the presence of a specific voice actor. He argues that the nature of the game allows for a unique solution to this problem. Since the voices are attached to specific cats, players who encounter a meow from a personality they dislike have the in-game agency to remove that cat from their roster permanently. I see the developer’s intent to prioritize player agency, turning the act of rejecting a voice into a gameplay mechanic itself.

"It’s sad that some people might read this or other articles and be so put off by the idea of an inclusion of someone they don’t like so much that they will never play the game, but I’m not sure someone who would be that upset by a 'problematic meow' would really enjoy the game that much anyway. Honestly the thing that bothers me the most about all this is, if a cat appears with the voice of someone you hate...you can literally throw it in the trash...or worse! People need to get more creative with their hate!"

— Edmund McMillen

For those who find the in-game disposal methods insufficient, McMillen pointed toward the game's modding capabilities. Full mod support means the community will likely produce tools to silence or replace specific voice packs shortly after release. This technical flexibility offers a final workaround for players who want to enjoy the tactical depth of the game without engaging with the controversial elements of its sound design.

Read also, after 14 years of development, Mewgenics has exploded to the number one spot on Steam, recouping its budget in a mere three hours. The cat breeding tactics game surpassed major titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Helldivers 2, proving that the long wait generated immense player interest. This immediate financial success highlights the enduring appeal of McMillen's work, regardless of the surrounding debates.