When news broke on September 10, 2025, that conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been assassinated during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, the nation was shaken. Prosecutors in Utah quickly announced they would seek the death penalty against the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, citing DNA evidence and his own text messages confessing to the crime.
But just days after Kirk’s death, a different storm erupted—this one in the world of gaming. Bethesda Softworks, the Rockville, Maryland–based subsidiary of Microsoft, faced swift and fierce criticism after posting a short clip from their upcoming title Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on X (formerly Twitter).
The nine-second video showed Indiana Jones dismissing “fascists” while petting a cat, with Bethesda captioning the post, “good kitty.” The timing—so soon after Kirk’s assassination, when critics of his conservative and anti-LGBTQ+ views often labeled him a “fascist”—struck many as deliberate mockery of his death.
Bethesda deleted the post within hours, but the damage was done.
Why Gamers Are Outraged
The incident didn’t happen in a vacuum. Screenshots surfaced of a Bethesda producer, operating under the Bluesky handle @piddlebucket, amplifying posts that essentially celebrated Kirk’s death. One read: “You are under no obligation to mourn the death of people who would’ve celebrated yours.” Another stated: “They’ll ask you to mourn the deaths they mourn, and no others.”
Pair that sentiment with Bethesda’s “good kitty” fascist clip, and it’s no surprise that many conservatives saw the studio as openly sneering at the murder of a right-wing figure.
The backlash included:
- Boycotts and cancellations – Xbox Game Pass subscribers shared screenshots of their cancellations, pledging to abandon not only Bethesda titles like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Starfield, and Indiana Jones, but also Microsoft products more broadly.
- Demands for accountability – Critics called for firings of the social media staffer, the producer behind the Bluesky posts, and even high-profile figures like Todd Howard. Many demanded apologies directly from Xbox and Microsoft leadership.
- Industry-wide scrutiny – This controversy reignited long-simmering concerns about political bias in gaming. Lists circulated of developers at other studios accused of celebrating Kirk’s death, fueling broader boycott calls across the industry.
Bethesda and Microsoft’s Silence
Bethesda’s response has been tepid at best. Beyond deleting the video, the studio has not issued a formal apology or even a clarification. Microsoft released only a vague corporate statement condemning political violence “in all forms,” but did not address the actions of Bethesda’s employees or the offensive timing of the post.
To conservatives, that silence speaks volumes. In an age where companies fall over themselves to issue statements on progressive causes, the refusal to apologize here looks less like neutrality and more like tacit approval of mocking a conservative’s assassination.
The Bigger Picture: Bias in Gaming Culture
The Bethesda debacle highlights a troubling trend: the open hostility of parts of the gaming industry toward conservative voices. Studios are staffed heavily by progressive developers who see no problem amplifying rhetoric that labels conservatives “fascists” or worse. When those same employees use official corporate platforms to push this narrative—especially in the immediate wake of political violence—the bias becomes institutional.
Elon Musk even weighed in, pressing Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about the controversy. Yet weeks later, no firings, no investigations, and no serious statements have come from Microsoft. The message is clear: mocking conservatives is tolerated, if not encouraged, in the modern gaming industry.
Why It Matters
Bethesda Softworks isn’t some small indie studio. It’s a billion-dollar brand under Microsoft, one of the most powerful corporations in the world. Its games reach tens of millions globally. When its employees mock the death of a conservative leader and its official account appears to do the same, it sends a cultural message that conservatives are fair game for ridicule—even when murdered.
For conservatives, this controversy is not just about one offensive post. It’s about an industry increasingly hostile to their values, and corporations like Microsoft turning a blind eye to political bigotry when the target is on the right.
The question now is whether Bethesda and Microsoft will address the outrage with real accountability—or whether they’ll hope conservatives simply forget before Indiana Jones launches. Judging by the subscription cancellations and boycott calls already underway, gamers aren’t letting this one slide.
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