Infestation: Origins

Infestation: Origins (originally titled Infestation '88) is an upcoming survival horror game developed and published by Nightmare Forge Games. The game is known for featuring Mickey Mouse as he appeared in the 1928 animated short film Steamboat Willie. It was announced on January 1, 2024, after the short entered the public domain in the United States, and is scheduled for release in 2024.

Controversy
Upon its initial announcement, IGN compared the game to the 2023 horror film, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, due to a similar situation where Winnie-the-Pooh fell into the public domain. As soon as the game was announced, the game was criticized for being an asset flip as well as the alleged use of audio deepfakes instead of voice acting. Furthermore, the game was criticized for reflecting neo-Nazi themes such as the use of the number 88, a number embraced by neo-Nazis and the rat infestation which the Nazi movement has used rats. In response to the allegations, the developers of the game renamed the game.