Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio Issue Statements About Roe v. Wade

Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio are the newest developers to make a statement following the US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Gaming and politics have often gone hand-in-hand with some of gaming’s biggest entities weighing in on major world matters. The onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine earlier this year saw many major developers offering their support to Ukraine through monetary donations or banning the sale of products in Russia. With several major AAA game studios headquartered within the US, major political events in the United States often see responses from developers. Now, a recent Supreme Court decision has sent shockwaves throughout the country.

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Friday morning saw a vote pass in the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that protects the rights of women within the US to seek an abortion. The decision was met with significant backlash from the many supporters of the law with major names in gaming speaking out as well. Companies like Insomniac Games and Bungie have already made statements in support for those affected by the decision. Now, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog and God of War developer Santa Monica Studio have both spoken on the matter on social media.


In the most recent statements from major developers, both Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio have come out in support for those affected by the impactful decision. The two statements strike similar tones with Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio both saying “reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are basic human rights.” Both developers also made similar promises to aid employees with seeking necessary healthcare after the Supreme Court decision. The developers notably disabled replies on both tweets, likely to curb any heated political debates in their posts.

While many fans are often critical of gaming companies pushing political messages, developers have a long track record of making their own political stances known. Many of gaming’s biggest franchises like Metal Gear Solid and Fallout have dealt with heavy political themes as core storytelling mechanisms. Santa Monica Studio and Naughty Dog’s statements will likely be just the first in a wave of similar posts to come as companies weigh in on the decision.


With the often heated nature of political debates, other gaming companies have often chosen to distance themselves from politics. Guidelines from Nintendo during 2020’s election season heavily discouraged businesses and organizations from using Animal Crossing: New Horizons as a political tool. Xbox executives including Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer also previously claimed Xbox Live shouldn’t be treated as a “free speech platform” for political discussions. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a massive moment in American politics that will likely see even more developers taking a stance on the debate.


Source: Gamerant

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