A developer at Ghost of Yotei studio Sucker Punch Productions has been fired following a right-wing backlash over a social media post referencing the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Drew Harrison, a nearly 10-year PlayStation veteran, posted: “I hope the shooter’s name is Mario so that Luigi knows his bro got his back” shortly after Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. The post was screen-grabbed and widely circulated by right-wing personalities, including Mark “Grummz” Kern, who wrote: “Suckerpunch Senior Dev celebrates Charlie Kirk’s death. Ghost of Yotei is dead to me now.”
Harrison later revealed she had received anonymous calls and messages urging her employer to terminate her. Less than 24 hours later, Sony confirmed her departure: “Drew Harrison is no longer an employee of Sucker Punch Productions.”
In a follow-up post, Harrison said: “If standing up against fascism is what cost me my dream job I held for 10 years, I would do it again 100x stronger.”
The incident is part of a broader harassment campaign linked to what some have dubbed “Gamergate 2.0,” targeting developers and studios viewed as promoting progressive values. Ghost of Yotei has faced scrutiny since revealing its protagonist, Atsu, is a woman voiced by Erika Ishii, who previously made comments about abolishing police.
Fueled by YouTube outrage channels, these campaigns have also targeted other titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, pressuring developers and prompting studios to stay silent amid escalating threats.
While some publishers, like Ubisoft, have denounced the harassment, they also express concern over how online polarization could impact sales and brand perception.
Now, similar pressure campaigns are reportedly targeting staff at other major studios over their personal views shared online.
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