Philippines Blocks GoreBox After 3 Students Die, Probes 10 Million-Download Game's Role
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 24
Philippines Blocks GoreBox After 3 Students Die, Probes 10 Million-Download Game's Role
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 24
Summary
Three students were killed and 20 injured in a Tacloban school shooting, after which Philippine authorities temporarily blocked GoreBox while investigating whether the game influenced one of the two teenage suspects.
Investigators said one suspect regularly played GoreBox, an R18+ title launched in 2023 that has more than 10 million Google Play downloads and features graphic combat, weapons and dismemberment.
Police said the suspects, aged 14 and 15, may have acted in retaliation for bullying and are now in custody, while the justice department is also examining possible nihilistic violent extremism.
Scientific studies have repeatedly found no credible link between violent video games and real-life violence, even as the cybercrime agency says the ban is a precaution pending review.
The shooting is rare in the Philippines, where gun crime is more common than school attacks, but it comes amid other recent school violence including two stabbing incidents in Cavite.
Following the school shooting, will the Philippines lower the age of criminal responsibility for children?
With guns supplied by adults, is banning a video game a distraction from the real security failures?
Tragedy in Tacloban: The June 22, 2026 San Jose National High School Shooting, Bullying, and the Role of Online Games
Overview
On June 22, 2026, a tragic school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City left a 15-year-old student dead and others wounded. Police quickly began investigating, focusing on claims that bullying may have motivated the attack. The Department of Education responded by declaring a high alert and urging stronger anti-bullying measures. Authorities also took immediate action against violent online content, temporarily banning the game 'GoreBox' and increasing surveillance of youth online activities. This incident exposed serious gaps in school safety, gun control, and digital oversight, prompting urgent calls for comprehensive reforms to protect students.