Philippines Temporarily Blocks Gorebox After Teen Shooters Played the Game

Thu Jun 25 2026 09:06:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Philippines has blocked the online shooter Gorebox while investigators probe a high‑school shooting involving 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds who were said to have played the game.

Three students were killed and 20 wounded in a Tacloban high‑school shooting carried out by 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds. Philippine cyber‑security officials temporarily blocked the first‑person shooter game Gorebox, citing it as a possible influence. The developers, Germany’s F2Games, deny any link to violence and the game carries an R‑18 rating for extreme violence. Senators cite the incident as evidence that online platforms can radicalise children, urging tighter oversight and better security protocols. The crash follows a long‑standing pattern of gun‑related violence in the Philippines, though teen‑to‑teen shootings are rare.

Philippines Temporarily Blocks Gorebox After Teen Shooters Played the Game

Three students were killed and 20 wounded in a market‑pavement‑shaped classroom at San Jose National High School in Tacloban on Monday. The three fatalities were the victims of 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds who allegedly fired handguns inside the classroom, according to police reports.

Philippine cyber‑security officials said they were investigating whether an online game, the first‑person shooter Gorebox, had contributed to the incident. In a press statement the Cybercrime Investigation and Co‑ordinating Centre’s Aboy Paraiso said a temporary ban would allow a fuller assessment of the game’s possible role. The ban was put in place the same day the shooting was reported.

Gorebox, available on Google Play, promotes “unrestrained destruction” and “brutal combat” with a wide arsenal of weapons. The International Age Rating Coalition has given it an R‑18 classification because of extremely violent and explicit content. The app can be played both solo and in online multiplayer mode.

Scientific studies have not found a direct causal link between video games and violent behaviour, a point echoed by several commentators. The developers at Germany’s F2Games have not offered a response yet. The Philippine Senate is calling for stricter regulation of online platforms that could “brainwash and radicalise” children, while the government is reviewing security protocols in schools and at internet cafés.

Gun‑related crime is common in the country, but teen‑to‑teen shootings remain rare. The shooting in Tacloban was the worst mass shooting since the 2009 Maguindanao tragedy, when a mayor’s convoy was opened up and 58 people were killed. The nation is now facing a debate over the balance between freedom of play and protecting vulnerable minors from violent content.

The incident has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of self‑regulation in the gaming industry and the responsibility of parents and educators in monitoring minors’ online activity.