Following the recent meeting between video game industry representatives and Donald Trump’s panel of critics, the debate of whether violent video games compel others to commit acts of bloodshed was brought forward once again. While many considered the meeting nothing more than a scapegoat for actual problems, others were somewhat taken aback by how much games have pushed the limits on gore in recent years, one of the most noteworthy being Deus Ex creator Warren Spector.

One of the most striking moments of the White House gathering was a montage of numerous scenes from M-rated titles such as Fallout and Call of Duty, the duration of which featuring immensely gruesome imagery. Following official release of this video, (which you can view below), Warren Spector voiced his disgust on Twitter regarding the creatives responsible for the games showcased, adding that they “should be ashamed of themselves” for the negative light it casts on the entire industry.

I don't believe games cause violent behavior. Not for one second. However, the videogame reel shown at the White House on Thursday is simply disgusting. Every shot is in colossally bad taste and everyone associated with those games should be ashamed of themselves. They hurt us.

— Warren Spector (@Warren_Spector) March 9, 2018

While being critical about the violent extent of the video, Spector was quick to acknowledge how synonymous his name was with creating the violent Deus Ex series. The games often give players the ability to murder any number of people including the controversial option to kill children. The Deus Ex creator commented on these points by issuing regret, suggesting he may never be part of a project with player-controlled killing ever again.

Good points. But I hope players were repulsed by the killing of children. And, easy for me to say, but true: I'm ashamed of the kid-killing possibility and wouldn't do it again. Can't promise, but I don't think I'll ever make another game where you can kill virtual people at all.

— Warren Spector (@Warren_Spector) March 9, 2018

Borderlands creator Randy Pitchford was one of the many who commented on Spector’s remarks, calling it “disheartening” that a developer like him was affected by such “a dishonestly cut hit reel”. While not reversing his original statement, Spector responded by expressing agreement that the video shown off by the White House was not representative of all video games and was “pure propaganda” on their part.

Response to my tweet about the violent video game video are coming in fast & furious. Most are calm & well-considered. For those upset with me, I know the images in the video don't reflect the vast majority of games & it provides no context. I get that it's pure propaganda.

— Warren Spector (@Warren_Spector) March 9, 2018

What do you think? Are you upset that Warren Spector could be so affected by a video, or does the Deus Ex creator have a good point about how developers have crossed the line with violence? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more controversial news from recent weeks, check out these next few links below:

• Super Seducer PS4 Port Called Off, “We Need to Hide This Game Under a Rock and Starve It”
• Witcher Characters Are Appearing In Adult Films As A Result Of This Face-Swapping AI
• Xbox Changes Might Have Reset Your Privacy Settings Without You Knowing, Here’s How To Check