Charlie Kirk-Related Assassination Missions Removed From ‘Grand Theft Auto Online’

The Controversy Over Video Game Content and Censorship

As video games grow more immersive and realistic, debate continues over their impact on players and society. Some advocates argue video games can be enjoyed responsibly and critically.

Missouri Pastor Patrick Miller says negative perceptions of gaming have “done two generations of Christian gamers (Millennials and Gen Z) an enormous disservice by ignoring games and failing to offer tools to think critically about entertainment.”

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“A healthy theology should drive Christians to develop a framework for critically evaluating games that takes them seriously as a vehicle for artistic expression and aesthetic resonance,” he said.

“Recreation is a form of rest [and] invites creatures into re-creation,” Miller continued. “A Christian framework for video games not only values recreation, but also seeks to understand and appreciate the unique artistic design behind any act of fun-making.”

Internet safety experts, however, say they ban specific games in their homes to protect their children. Near the top of the list is “Grand Theft Auto,” which places players in “the criminal underworld” attempting to “pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive.”

In addition to violent scenes, online safety experts say “Grand Theft Auto” isn’t played in their homes due to “the violence, the sexuality, the online exposure.”

Other games that topped the banned list for internet safety experts include Robolox and Fortnite.