Rockstar Leeds boss: Manhunt ban is an attack on industry

Founder and current boss of Rockstar Leeds Gordon Hall has warned other video games firms that they should rally behind the developer against the BBFC’s decision to ban Manhunt 2 – or face similar prohibition in the future.

Hall told MCV sister magazine Develop that the outlawing of the title was an attack on our industry” and has the potential to affect other freedom of expression across the industry.

I don’t think Rockstar specifically has been picked on, but I do think that the wider issue attacks our entire industry,” he said. We need to teach people that games are an art form – they are more artistic than film.

I think the games industry should rally behind us, because there will come a time when we’ll all have an idea that’s a little edgy, and we need to have the freedoms to express it. 


We are an adult entertainment industry – we may have started out with child-like technology making games solely for a younger audience, but it’s just not like that anymore. It might take legislature a little while to catch up, but if the industry sticks together hopefully we can change people’s attitudes quicker.”

To read the full interview, pick up this month’s Develop or

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