Tripwire Interactive CEO John Gibson has resigned from his position after tweeting support of new anti-abortion laws.
Tripwire Interactive has been responsible for titles such as Maneater and Killing Floor. Most recently, the publisher released Chivalry 2 where it surpassed one million sales. Gibson tweeted out on Sunday stating that he was “proud” to support a new Texas law. The law would ban abortions at about six weeks into pregnancy. The newly-instated law also means that a pregnant person could face more severe charges than those convicted of rape.
Gibson stated he felt it necessary “to go on the record as a pro-life game developer“. Gibson’s tweet was met with instant criticism. Within the span of 48 hours, Gibson has stepped down from the role he worked in for over 16 years.
JOHN GIBSON RESIGNS
Gibson’s tweet quickly picked up traction on Saturday, as many called out its misogynistic stance. Other game developers called Gibson out, including God of War director Cory Barlog. As the news spread, some companies even pulled their support for Tripwire.
Torn Banner and Shipwright Studios are two such companies distancing from Tripwire. In a tweeted response to Gibson’s statement, Shipwright Studios stated that it “could not in good conscience continue to work with Tripwire under the current leadership structure“. Torn Banner claimed “the statement stands in opposition to what we believe about women’s rights.“
Tripwire issued a statement this morning confirming that Gibson had stepped down from his position as CEO. Tripwire stated that Gibson’s comments “disregarded” the values of the team, its partners and the community.
Despite Gibson stepping down, many Twitter users continued to harrass Torn Banner into cutting ties with the publisher. Comprising of just 19 people, leaving its publisher would almost definitely spell the end for the dev team. Hopefully with John Gibson gone, criticism will move away from the smaller studios caught in the crossfire. Interim CEO Alan Wilson will take over from John Gibson as the company moves forward.
Feature Image Credit: Tripwire Interactive