Sony has confirmed that longtime Sucker Punch Productions developer Drew Harrison has been fired after celebrating on social media the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Harrison, who spent nearly a decade at the PlayStation-owned studio and worked on its upcoming title Ghost of Yotei, posted a mocking statement following Kirk’s death on September 10 at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot while speaking on stage. On the social platform BlueSky, Harrison wrote, “I hope the shooter’s name is Mario so that Luigi knows his bro got his back.” Screenshots of the post spread quickly. The remark referenced “Mario and Luigi” while indirectly cheering Kirk’s murder by associating it with Luigi Mangione who is accused of killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare .
Her comment drew national attention and sparked a wave of backlash against Sony and Sucker Punch. Many players posted online that they had canceled their preorders of Ghost of Yotei, a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima set for release in three weeks. Some also demanded boycotts of other Sony projects until the company took action. After days of mounting pressure, Sony confirmed to Kotaku that Harrison “is no longer an employee of Sucker Punch Productions.” The company offered no further explanation.
Suckerpunch Senior Dev celebrates Charlie Kirk’s death.
Ghost of Yotei is dead to me now.@SuckerPunchProd pic.twitter.com/dSHCg4H3Bi
— Grummz (@Grummz) September 11, 2025
The situation worsened after Harrison doubled down with additional posts on BlueSky, dismissing critics as ignorant of video game humor and later framing her firing as punishment for “standing up against fascism.” In one reply, she insisted she would repeat her actions “100x stronger” if given the chance. She also rejected offers of financial support and instead encouraged donations to political groups.
To many, the conduct went well past tasteless jokes. Harrison reposted commentary from Kotaku writer John Walker that described Kirk as a “transphobic racist bigot” and then added her own words mocking the killing. Critics were alarmed that someone employed at a major studio not only endorsed but made light of political violence. Industry veteran Mark Kern, best known for his work on Diablo II and StarCraft, has been documenting game developers who appear to minimize or mock Kirk’s murder. He called out Harrison and others as examples of an industry culture that treats open hostility toward conservatives as acceptable.
Related FAFO: DC Comics Fires Writer Who Mocked Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
Adding to the fallout, users have uncovered that developers at other major studios such as Bungie and The Coalition “liked” Harrison’s post, leading to calls for their removal as well. Some fear that tolerance of such rhetoric creates a hostile work environment against employees with mainstream conservative views. Legal analysts have even raised concerns of workplace safety violations, pointing out that employees who celebrate political killings can make colleagues fearful about their own security.
The Ghost of Yotei dev who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death…
Has been fired.
“…I would do it again 100x stronger.” pic.twitter.com/RERP7H9iJd
— Grummz (@Grummz) September 11, 2025
Even after being fired, Harrison’s online posts displayed no remorse. Instead, they showcased an eagerness to escalate her contempt toward those she disagrees with. Supporters portrayed her as principled, but her public celebration of murder and open hostility toward half the country’s political spectrum has exposed her as far more of a liability than an asset.
Drew Harrison’s actions underline why corporations cannot ignore behavior that crosses the line into glorifying violence. Harrison was free to mock, but Sony was also free to act. Keeping someone like her in such a high-profile role would have endangered the reputation of its brands, undermined employee trust, and alienated paying customers. Her behavior was not only unprofessional, it was ghoulish.
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