*** Philippines Temporarily Bans 'Gorebox' Video Game Linked to High School Shooter | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Philippines Temporarily Bans 'Gorebox' Video Game Linked to High School Shooter

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MANILA: The Philippines has temporarily blocked the gaming app 'Gorebox' following investigations linking the platform to a teenage suspect involved in a recent school shooting in Tacloban.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in three students killed and twenty others wounded.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Co-ordinating Centre implemented the temporary ban to conduct a thorough assessment into whether the platform, where players can ‘obliterate anything [they] desire,’ played any role in the suspects' actions. Authorities emphasised that they cannot ignore potential online influences that may have contributed to this tragedy.

'Gorebox' is an R18-rated first-person shooter involving brutal combat with an extensive weapons arsenal. While scientific studies have not established a direct link between video games and violent behavior, the government is prioritizing the investigation. Officials are currently awaiting comment from the game's developer, Germany-based F2Games, as inquiries into the incident continue.