The Philippines has pulled the trigger on a video game linked to a school shooting. Now UK ministers are scrambling to review gaming safety. But is this a genuine attempt to protect the young, or just political theatre?
Word from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is that ministers have requested an urgent evidence review. The game in question, a violent first-person shooter, was banned in Manila after a teenage gunman used it as a blueprint. The usual suspects in the lobby are already circling. They smell a panic-driven policy shift.
Let me tell you what the real game is here. The government is spooked. Polls show parents are worried. Labour is sharpening its attacks on 'out-of-touch' Tory ministers. So the whips are looking for a quick win. But this is a minefield.
Every gaming exec I speak to says the same thing. 'You can't ban content. You regulate access.' They point to age verification, parental controls, and better education. But that doesn't make a good headline. A ban does.
Here is the inside track. The Home Office is pushing for a broader online safety bill that would hold platforms liable. But the Culture Secretary is wary of a culture war with gamers. There is a quiet battle behind closed doors. The real motion is about who gets the blame if something goes wrong.
My sources say the review will be fast-tracked. Expect a report within weeks. But what will it say? Probably the usual. 'More research needed.' A few calls for voluntary action. A nod to industry self-regulation.
Don't hold your breath for a ban. The UK isn't Manila. The politics are different. But the pressure is building. Watch this space. The game has only just begun.
