A popular fighting games player sent out a Samurai Shodown giveaway tweet with the hashtag #EmbraceDeath. Hilarity ensued when it started to trend.
How quickly and misguided things or ideas can go viral in 2019 is fascinating. Whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or elsewhere, all it takes is one small, concentrated push and something can roll downhill from a smaller community to a larger populace. The Samurai Shodown community saw this in action
Justin Wong is no stranger to fighting games, being part of the community for more than a decade and a half after being on the receiving end of the infamous “Daigo Parry” at Evo 2004. While he’s best known for playing games from the Marvel vs. and Street Fighter franchises, he’s found himself as an ambassador and professional fighting games player of a multitude of games.
As part of his notoriety, he got involved in a promotional giveaway of Samurai Shodown, taking to Twitter to ask those interested in receiving a free PS4 copy of the game to retweet and like the post below, as well as reply with a tweet including “#EmbraceDeath” in the text.
I got 5 PS4 @samuraishodown codes to giveaway
— Justin Wong (@JWonggg) July 10, 2019
Just RT | LIKE | Reply to this tweet with #embracedeath
And 7/12 I will pick 5 winners!!! pic.twitter.com/2cmQH88MvD
Because so many thousands of people suddenly tweeted “#EmbraceDeath,” it started to trend on Twitter. This got people who are concerned or confused about why people are embracing death and what the hell happened.
Of course, this was perfectly amusing to people within the SamSho community, who kicked back to watch the world burn.
Seeing people confused about what #EmbraceDeath means is exactly what I needed today. pic.twitter.com/9UMMpr3aQ2
— Chelsea 🐉 (@Chelsnii) July 10, 2019
Once Hurricane Barry started to touch down, some started to get scared that people were getting ready to embrace the worst as it unfolded.
https://twitter.com/serulean_/status/1149128248065810432
Perhaps among the more hilarious reactions were from people feigning outrage over #EmbraceDeath trending but instead throwing their shade towards Genjuro mains.
This world is sick. #embracedeath is trending and the FGC have pushed most people so far toward playing Genjuro that it is actually popular. Please help support Yashamaru tech before time runs out
— B.G. @ Texas Showdown (@SETX_BG) July 11, 2019
Of course, there’s no core tenet to the young millennial/Gen Z individual that ties people together than being openly depressed about wealth inequality, environmental disasters and a lack of an adequate social care net produced by the Baby Boomer generation. #EmbraceDeath became their calling card.
https://twitter.com/tinitoysoldier/status/1149138849349689345
People who appreciate metal band Death also got in on the fun.
So this is trending? Hell yeah. #embracedeath pic.twitter.com/UHp4Ep5WAJ
— Jack Rebetzke (@Boyde712) July 10, 2019
It was funny for Justin Wong to realize the wrath he’s created on the internet spawning from a simple giveaway.
I’m so dead.... #EmbraceDeath it’s just a giveaway JEEZZZZZZZ pic.twitter.com/kosy8EMsrY
— Justin Wong (@JWonggg) July 11, 2019
Samurai Shodown is an excellent video game, and you should definitely Embrace Death if you are interested in classic fighting games touched up with modern sensibilities here and there.