By Olivia Richman,Paul McNally

Copyright escapistmagazine

At the weekend, The Escapist published two stories highlighting the direct connection of the video games industry to the aftermath of the murder of podcaster Charlie Kirk. While not putting forward any opinion and simply reporting the impact the killing had had beyond Kirk’s death, one of our US-based writers was, predictably and depressingly, attacked on social media channels by the ensuing mob. Watching on from the other side of the Atlantic as the world spirals into insanity is not fun. In the story I wrote, about Helldivers 2 and the slim connection to Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, I expressed a fear that his actions could ignite longer-term fury against the video gaming industry. I’ll quote myself to save you reading the full page, but feel free to do so anyway. “The throwaway scratchings on a bullet by a cold-blooded killer may bring with it repercussions to the gaming community that are more far-reaching and long-term than the rest of the nonsense he etched before climbing onto that roof.” That was half a week ago. Now Congress has summoned the CEO’s of companies such as Steam, Discord, Twitch, and Reddit to testify in front of the House Committee about the radicalization of gamers in online forums and explain how they are going to prevent it. Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) invited the Chief Executive Officers of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify at a full committee hearing on October 8, 2025. The hearing will examine the radicalization of online forum users, including instances of open incitement to commit politically motivated acts. “The politically motivated assassination of Charlie Kirk claimed the life of a husband, father, and American patriot. In the wake of this tragedy, and amid other acts of politically motivated violence, Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence. To prevent future radicalization and violence, the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit must appear before the Oversight Committee and explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes,” said Chairman Comer. First up, there are some complete cranks and cyber-loonies easily reachable on all those platforms. However, the likes of 4Chan, God forbid 8chan, and even Mumsnet are each full of radicals of their own. This committee hearing just hauls in gaming, though. No social media, no X, no Facebook, all cesspits of potential radicalization, but no. Just gaming – home to many a minority unpopular with certain sections of the political sphere. All because Robinson apparently scratched the Strategem code into a casing. Congress is not going after the Furries or the Groypers and likely never will do. I’m sure if Helldivers were a US-based developer and not Swedish, they’d be sat in front of the headmaster too. Obviously, Reddit is a slight outlier, but let’s assume, taking into context who they have been called beside, the questioning will focus more on r/helldivers2 than r/guns and r/firearms. Lawyer-up And while Gabe Newell and co will read out carefully lawyer-prepared statements before being questioned by Senators who have never held a joypad, about things they simply do not understand, be under no illusion, video games and the people that play them are now a legitimate target, in the USA at least. If you were concerned earlier in the year about the payment companies putting the squeeze on the types of games digital stores were allowed to sell, now you should be very alarmed. This has all happened in the space of a few months and neatly sandwiches RFK Jr. once again suggesting video games should be linked to violent crime. I dread to think what comes next. Without the events in Utah, this hearing would not be happening, and yet we haven’t exactly been swamped with evidence that Robinson frequented any of these platforms, let alone was “radicalized” on one of them. We are told he acted alone. “Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence.” It certainly does. Be sure to let me know when they call the main ones in and ask them the same questions in relation to this exact matter, won’t you?