I'm kind of new in posting here. So, sorry if's not the right place. Don't remember if I ever posted before (probably asking some sille question), but I did a new comment on the Games Wishlist about this game, and felt that for sure my thoughs could be wrong. Usually everybody everywhere is right and I'm wrong. So, to be sure of what I am missing in my reasoning, and honestly curious of what the community thoughts may be, I copied my post here.

Sorry for any word weirdness. English is not my native language. And please forgive me if I offend someone. It's really not my intention.

Here it goes:

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One year after my last comment. Wondering about what controversy is talked about, read a couple articles and forums about some incidents of violence or flags like:

[The links were blocking this post, so I removed them]

And, although violent by itself (more on that), I didn't perceive nothing more different than what I've seen in other games of the same kind, and nothing more specifically of what those articles were refering. It is like the specific criticism is from people who even didn't know the in-game story.

Sure, is about cartels and what they are entitled, but compared to the likes of the GTA, Yakuza, Sleeping Dogs series (not to mention those of more fantasy/sci-fi enviroment, like Assassin Creed), It is more 'soft' and even much less the glorifying of criminals.

The story, albeit the background, is more on the personal level about three different type of cops with stains in their souls that you could play a little more or less dirty. The story is about protecting the daughter of the main character's long lost friend, against conspiracy and corruption all around, and the secrets of the three main characters. There were times that it achieved moments of sadness. It, depending on how you played it, can give at least three different endings. It's kind of about redemption of bad people, like the first two games on the series which were about as much controversial as this one.

If anything, the game seriously criticizes and is against the horrors of the cartels. But from what I've read is almost as if you're one criminal doing heists and other crimes (GTA anyone?). It is as if everybody jumped on the hate-hype, but nobody actually played the game. A part is, I also believe, because is not a 'western' like the two first games.

Because the ban is on goverment level, and despite most Ubisoft titles being about violence, I don't think the game is ever going to be re-released, specially here on GOG. But I do feel there's a lot of hypocrisy about it's criticism.

Weirdly enough, this is not really my type of gaming or even story enviroment, but I watched a walkthrougth on YouTube and it really touched me for its sadness, loss, and the sense of always loosing because of the bad choices we made in life.

It may have gaming flaws, it may be controversial, it may not be a 'Red Dead Redemption', but is actually less violent and less shocking, and has a good story that I would like to experiment as a player – and as someone who knows the difference between games and real life. There's a lot of series and films out there more violent and controversial on these subjects. Even since the seventies, if not older.

Alas I guess is not going to be.
"

???

It seems you are a source of inspiration :)

It is strange to see the other Juarez games available but not this particular one.

I've always assumed it was left out from the others because it was a flop or it did not fit thematically with the rest, not being a "Western" game.

But left out because of controvery?! ... I wonder why.

Games like GTA, Kane & Lynch, Saint's Row, Postal, Hitman, Just Cause ... are much more extreme in my view.

Is it the cartel thing? but Clancy and similar have been covering that for decades.

The only controversy I know of is that the game was not a cowboy/Western game, even people who never played or were interested in the original games were suddenly angry over it.

I thought the Cartel was a good solid action game, with some interesting but light rpg elements. I played through it a couple of times. You got a somewhat different playthrough depending on which character you chose to play as.

Those who liked Kane & Lynch Dog Days (myself included) would probably have liked Cartel as well.It's the same kind of gritty Tarantino-esque style.

So...you think some red tape bureaucrats are preventing a [checks notes] critically panned game, instead of Ubisoft just wanting to forget everything that isn't Assassin's Credo?

Just you know, we're talking about a series whose last game was over a decade ago. I don't think there's any grand conspiracy, I think they just stabbed a stake though the coffin; more probable that Techland wants nothing to do with the series either.

Another factor that might have prevented the game's return is how Uplay-bound it is. Stack this against the other things probably holding it back (not well-received, unfinished, controversial) and it's not surprising that Techland might have decided against rereleasing it.

Last I remember about The Cartel was that Techland just don't want to release it due to the game "just being bad" due to bugs and glitches due to the crunch they were under to get the game out for the release date.