A game developer has come under fire for their upcoming video game that allows a player to shoot civilians and police officers in a school environment.
Russian-based game publisher Acid and developer Revived Games were removed from the digital video game distribution channel ‘Steam’ after the platform received widespread condemnation about the new game “Active Shooter,” reported Variety.
According to the Acid’s social media page, “Active Shooter” is a school shooting simulator that allows the player to play as a S.W.A.T team member or the actual shooter. It was scheduled to be released on June 6 on Steam’s online storefront.
The game release comes just weeks after a student opened fire at a high school in Santa Fe, killing eight students and two teachers.
A disclaimer for the game on the now-removed page warned players to not “take any of this seriously,” reported Variety.
“This is only meant to be the simulation and nothing else. If you feel like hurting someone or people around you, please seek help from local psychiatrists or dial 911 (or applicable). Thank you,” the disclaimer reads.
Parents, officials, and the broader community have expressed their outrage at the idea of such a game.
Senator Bill Nelson took to Twitter to call the game “inexcusable” on May 28, saying that the developers should be ashamed of themselves.
This is inexcusable. Any company that develops a game like this in wake of such a horrific tragedy should be ashamed of itself. https://t.co/jjp6LxNWhC
— Senator Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) May 28, 2018
Child psychologist Wendy Rice told Fox News she was horrified that such a game exists.
“My first thought is really, just as a person, is that I am horrified,” Rice said. “I think parents need to let their kids know that this is too close for comfort, and I don’t think parents should let their kids purchase this particular game.”
According to Valve Corporation—the company that developed Steam—”Active Shooter” was developed and published by a person calling himself Ata Berdiyev. Berdiyev had previously been removed from the online gaming platform for abuse when he operated under different names, reported Variety.
“Ata is a troll, with a history of customer abuse, publishing copyrighted material, and user review manipulation. His subsequent return under new business names was a fact that came to light as we investigated the controversy around his upcoming title. We are not going to do business with people who act like this towards our customers or Valve,” Valve said in a statement to Variety.
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