Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The developer of video game GoreBox expressed devastation over a school shooting in Tocloban and said he would cooperate with local authorities.</p><p>Investigators previously said that two minors who opened fire at the San Jose National High School could have been influenced by GoreBox, prompting the Philippine government to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/23/cybercrime-body-bans-videogame-gorebox-after-tacloban-school-shooting-1545">ban access to the game.</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/24/do-video-games-cause-violence-tacloban-shooting-triggers-debate-1743">Do video games cause violence? Tacloban shooting triggers debate </a></div><p>In a statement, F2Games founder and GoreBox developer Felix Filip said he was “heartbroken by what happened in Tacloban,&quot; </p><p>&quot;My thoughts are with the families who lost their children, with everyone who was injured, and with the entire San Jose National High School community. A loss like this is devastating,&quot; he said. </p><p>Filip said he had “been in contact with the Philippine authorities” and would “cooperate with their investigation within the bounds of applicable law.”</p><p>Addressing the supposed influence of the game on the shooters, he said, “The investigation is ongoing, and out of respect for the families and for the authorities doing that work, I won&#x27;t speculate about its causes.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/dilg-wants-stronger-gun-law-permanent-gorebox-ban-1214">DILG wants stronger gun law, permanent GoreBox ban after fatal Tacloban school shooting</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CEIiKNHAMmY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Filip noted that GoreBox is explicitly designed and rated for mature gamers. </p><p>He said that the game is distributed through major digital marketplaces, including Steam and Google Play, which utilize standardized age-rating and parental-control systems.</p><p>According to Filip, safety and behavioral warnings are also integrated directly into the software to address the mature themes of the game.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve also built a recurring reminder into the game itself: the first time it&#x27;s opened, and every tenth launch after that, players see a message stating that GoreBox is intended solely for fictional entertainment, that it does not promote or glorify real-world violence and is not a guide for real-life behavior,&quot; Filip said. </p><p>He added that the message advises &quot;that anyone struggling with violent thoughts or emotional distress should seek help, and that they are not alone.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/24/cicc-gorebox-ban-to-stay-until-developer-adds-safeguards-1906">CICC: GoreBox ban to stay until developer adds safeguards</a></div><p>Addressing the broader challenges of digital distribution and minor access to mature content, Filip acknowledged the limitations faced by independent creators in enforcing age restrictions independently.</p><p>&quot;No developer can verify the age of every person who downloads a game, which is exactly why platform age-gates and parental controls exist, and I&#x27;ll support any reasonable effort to make those safeguards work better,&quot; Filip said.</p><p>Three teenagers were killed while around 20 others were injured when two students, ages 14 and 15, opened fire on Monday morning. The suspects have been turned over to the  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).</p><p>The American Psychological Association has said that there is <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/03/violent-video-games-behavior">insufficient scientific evidence</a> to support a causal link between violent video games and violent behavior. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/24/tacloban-school-shooters-had-target-police-1256">Tacloban school shooters had target — police</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/24/police-looking-at-family-issues-involving-14-year-old-suspect-in-tacloban-school-shooting-1705">Police looking at family issues involving 14-year-old suspect in Tacloban school shooting </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/deped-audits-school-security-measures-after-tacloban-shooting-1454">DepEd audits school security measures after Tacloban shooting </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kA3ZPxpo8po?&amp;pp=0gcJCUELAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hbpKlmncYc4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The developer of video game GoreBox expressed devastation over a school shooting in Tocloban and said he would cooperate with local authorities.</p>

The developer of video game GoreBox expressed devastation over a school shooting in Tocloban and said he would cooperate with local authorities.

GoreBox game developer ‘heartbroken’ over Tacloban school shooting, says to cooperate with probe

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GoreBox game developer ‘heartbroken’ over Tacloban school shooting, says to cooperate with probe

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 26, 2026 08:27 AM PHT

Read More:

GoreBox

Tacloban

School

Shooting incident

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