Tripwire Games boss sparks outrage by tweeting support for Texas abortion law: ‘what the f**k, man’
Times Square anti-abortion protests against Texan law. (Getty Images)
The president of Tripwire Games, John Gibson, has come out in support of new abortion laws in Texas, leading to a flurry of outraged tweets from other major players in the gaming community.
The new law controversially bans abortion after six weeks and was passed by the US Supreme Court after inaction on an emergency appeal by Texas abortion providers.
As reported by the Texas Tribune, the law prohibits an abortion once a “fetal heartbeat” has been found, however as many critics of the law have pointed out, a vast number of people don’t realise that they’re pregnant within six weeks.
What’s more, private citizens have been empowered to sue abortion providers who fail to abide by the law.
“As an entertainer I don’t get political often, said Gibson, but apparently made an exception on this occasion by saying that he’s “proud” of the Supreme Court for affirming the law.
“Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer,” he added.
Proud of #USSupremeCourt affirming the Texas law banning abortion for babies with a heartbeat. As an entertainer I don’t get political often. Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer.
— John Gibson (@RammJaeger) September 4, 2021
Tripwire Games is responsible for games like Maneater, Chivalry 2 and Killing Floor.
Gibson has been criticised by fellow developers and players alike.
“I mean what the f*ck, man. seriously, how can anyone be proud of claiming dominion over a woman’s personal freedoms?” tweeted God of War developer Cory Barlog.
jesus fuck, man. really? you are all about this fucked texas bounty law that pushes us closer to some kind of Gilead dystopian religious state?
really???
I mean what the fuck, man. seriously, how can anyone be proud of claiming dominion over a woman’s personal freedoms?— golrab of the frost (@corybarlog) September 5, 2021
“And I assume you have had a vasectomy before tweeting this?” quipped Sony writer Alanah Pearce.
And I assume you have had a vasectomy before tweeting this?— Alanah Pearce (@Charalanahzard) September 5, 2021
In the wake of Gibson’s tweet, other games companies have distanced themselves from Tripwire Games.
Co-development studio Shipwright Studios, who assisted Tripwire Games on a number of titles, responded with a statement in direct response to Gibson’s tweet.
“While your politics are your own, the moment you make them a matter of public discourse you entangle all of those working for and with you,” it reads.
“It is regrettable, but we feel it would be doing ourselves, your employees, your partners, and the industry as a whole a disservice to allow this pattern to continue without comment.”
pic.twitter.com/v1m8hzT77q— Shipwright Studios (@shipwrightstdio) September 5, 2021
Torn Banner Studios, the creators of Chivalry 2, also distanced themselves.
“We do not share the opinion expressed in a recent tweet by the president of Tripwire, publisher of Chivalry 2,” their tweet reads.
“This perspective is not shared by our team, nor is it reflected in the games we create. The statement stands in opposition to what we believe about women’s rights.”
We do not share the opinion expressed in a recent tweet by the president of Tripwire, publisher of Chivalry 2. This perspective is not shared by our team, nor is it reflected in the games we create. The statement stands in opposition to what we believe about women’s rights.
— Torn Banner Studios (@TornBanner) September 6, 2021
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