Violent Video Games Delay Release Over Unrest in America

Violent Video Games Delay Release Over Unrest in America

By Allyson Vannatta, Senior Writer

Activision delayed the release of new seasons of the popular video game franchise Call of Duty in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Rockstar, another popular video game publisher, has taken a stance on the current unrest and announced in a tweet they will shut down Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online during the time of George Floyd’s memorial service.

Black Lives Matter. To honor the legacy of George Floyd, today, 6/4/20, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET, we will be shutting down access to our online games, Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online.

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) June 4, 2020

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the violence and unrest across America prompted the delayed release of Modern Warfare, Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile. These games feature a first-person shooter.

The video game publisher, located in Santa Monica, California, tweeted an update on Monday evening informing gamers that the new seasons of the franchise wouldn’t hit shelves this week as planned.

pic.twitter.com/8uNhuhDGAp

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) June 2, 2020

The company’s official Twitter account released this statement:

“While we all look forward to playing the new seasons of Modern Warfare, Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile, now is not the time. We are moving the launches of Modern Warfare Season 4 and Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 to a later date. Right now it’s time for those speaking up for equality, justice and change to be seen and heard. We stand alongside you.”

As of now, Activision hasn’t announced new dates for the games to be released.

Other gaming companies announced similar statements about the fate of their upcoming video games.

EA Sports delayed their Madden NFL announcement. Sony also rescheduled their reveal event for new PlayStation 5 games, which was supposed to take place on June 4.

The postponement of addictive, violent games doesn’t come as a surprise as these games are often linked to shootings.

Movieguide® previously reported, “The link between media violence and real violence is so strong that one professional investigator said, ‘The evidence has gotten to the point where it’s overwhelming.’”

Parents should exercise extreme caution when letting children play these games as the lasting effects can be deadly.