From a family member when they saw the reveal, "Oh no that's not good! They're the bad guys." Just in case anyone wanted to dismiss the objections that it plays too much into the 'red scare'. I think part of what's happened is that the contemporary choices have evoked a subtext of large populations who have multi-lateral international trade agreements and a voice in the UN and other International Agencies. They were surprised when I told them the EU wasn't going to be a contemporary culture option. I pointed out that Canada isn't in the game and they become incredulous.

Maybe you've done this already and I missed it but for next Thursday's stream if it's possible could you present a short list of Culture's you would like to add (maybe 2 per Era) after release or if you are going to leave this entirely to mod communities. Although it's also strange that the Inca aren't in the game they have been pretty regularly represented in Civilization games. Is that also a part of the thinking in forgoing some of the omitted choices.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HumankindTheGame/comments/hzt3pa/which_unconfirmed_deconfirmed_cultures_would_you/ I don't post to reddit but I think there were some interesting points here.

I liked the reminder that while Canada is a current presence in the world there were (native) cultures and people living their before it was colonized.