Ubisoft has responded to animal rights group PETA after they criticized the publisher for glorifying whale hunting in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

PETA labeled the harpooning of whales in the game as “disgraceful.” An Ubisoft spokesperson issued the following response:

“History is our playground in Assassin’s Creed. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is a work of fiction that depicts the real events during the golden era of pirates. We do not condone illegal whaling, just as we don’t condone a pirate lifestyle of poor hygiene, plundering, hijacking ships, and over-the legal-limit drunken debauchery.”

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is due to release later this year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii U, PlayStation 4, and presumably the next Xbox.