Philippine authorities have temporarily blocked access to the Gorebox game after discovering that the 14-year-old suspect in a school shooting, which left 3 dead and 20 injured on Monday, had previously played this game.
On 25 June 2026 GMT+7, Philippine officials ordered a temporary suspension of access to the mobile game "Gorebox" after preliminary investigations revealed that a 14-year-old suspect in a school shooting had a history of playing it. The shooting took place in Tacloban City, southeast of Manila, on Monday, involving two suspects aged 14 and 15 who used firearms inside a classroom, resulting in 3 deaths and 20 injuries.
The Philippine Cybersecurity Office stated that the influence of online media related to this tragic incident cannot be overlooked. They explained that the temporary ban aims to assess whether this software played a role in the suspect's behavior.
The Government's Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Office said the game ban is a temporary measure to allow for a thorough investigation. While school shootings are rare in the Philippines, firearm use remains periodically reported. This case is particularly distressing as the perpetrators are youths, prompting some politicians to call for stricter control over youth access to firearms.
Gorebox is a first-person shooter game that allows players to freely engage in combat and violence. It carries an "R18" age rating from the international rating organization due to its violent content and unrestricted gameplay. However, scientists have previously stated there is no conclusive evidence directly linking video games to violent behavior.