After a solid week of silence, Sucker Punch Productions has finally broken its silence on the firing of longtime senior artist Drew Harrison, who was removed after making a disturbing social media post about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
This acknowledgement comes after a full week of gamers flooding the comments on every post and video for the upcoming PlayStation exclusive Ghost of Yotei. But the statement released by the studio left some scratching their heads.
Background: Harrison’s Comments
Drew Harrison was a concept artist who had worked with Sucker Punch on Ghost of Yotei. On the night of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Harrison posted a message on the social media platform BlueSky that many read as celebrating the act of political violence.
Sucker Punch Senior Dev Drew Harrison mocks Charlie Kirk on BlueSky – BlueSky
READ: Ghost of Yotei Now Facing Boycott From Right AND Left After Drew Harrison Charlie Kirk Controversy
The reaction was swift and furious. Gamers across the political spectrum condemned the post, with conservatives calling it proof of a toxic culture inside gaming and others blasting it as reckless and insensitive. Within 24 hours, Sony confirmed Harrison had been removed from the project.
Harrison was defiant in her ousting, claiming that she would do it all again “100x stronger.”
Drew Harrison comments on being fired from Sucker Punch after celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk – BlueSky
But while Sony and Sucker Punch acted quickly to dismiss the senior dev, they remained silent to the public. That silence would become its own controversy.
The Sucker Punch Drew Harrison Statement
Brian Fleming, co-founder and studio head of Sucker Punch, confirmed Drew Harrison had been fired in an interview and issued what was meant to be a clear condemnation.
“Drew’s no longer an employee here,” Fleming said. “I think we’re aligned as a studio that celebrating or making light of someone’s murder is a deal-breaker for us, and we condemn that, kind of in no uncertain terms. That’s sort of our studio, and that’s kind of where we are.”
A screenshot from Ghost of Yōtei (2025), Sucker Punch
At first glance, it’s a rebuke. But the wording itself raised eyebrows. Fleming repeatedly softened his remarks with qualifiers like “kind of” and “sort of” — odd choices for what should have been an unequivocal stance. For fans expecting a lawyer-vetted corporate statement, the delivery sounded hesitant, almost improvised.
Why Did It Take a Week?
Even more glaring than the awkward phrasing is the timing. Sony confirmed Harrison’s firing almost immediately, but Sucker Punch itself said nothing for days. During that silence, gamers flooded the comment sections of every Ghost of Yotei trailer and post, demanding accountability.
The game’s latest trailer currently sits at a stunning YouTube dislike ratio of 20K likes to 56K dislikes.
The dislike ratio on the trailer for Ghost of Yotei as of September 19, 2025 at 10:07 p.m. – Youtube, PlayStation
Only after a week of pressure did the studio speak publicly. That delay has left many questioning whether Sucker Punch acted out of principle, or whether it finally spoke up only after being cornered by a furious audience.
Boycotts from Both Sides
What makes this saga unique is that Sucker Punch now faces calls for boycotts from both the right and the left.
Progressives on BlueSky call for a boycott of Ghost of Yotei – X, @MasterOfTheTDS
On the right, gamers are livid that a developer could publicly mock political violence in the first place, accusing the studio of harboring a toxic culture. On the left, activists are angry that Harrison was fired at all, portraying it as a capitulation to so-called right wing critics and vowing to boycott Sony titles in response.
It’s a rare situation where both camps are furious — and the game itself is caught in the middle.
The Bigger Picture
Sucker Punch’s belated, awkward condemnation reveals just how precarious the modern gaming landscape has become. A single post from an employee can ignite a firestorm that threatens multi-million-dollar projects. And if studios don’t respond swiftly and decisively, they risk losing trust from all directions.
A screenshot from Ghost of Yōtei (2025), Sucker Punch
By waiting nearly a week — and delivering its statement with oddly hesitant language — Sucker Punch may have only deepened doubts about its leadership. Whether Ghost of Yotei can overcome this uproar remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the damage is already done, and both sides will be watching closely.
Are you surprised that Sucker Punch actually condemned the comments made by Drew Harrison? Do you believe they’re authentic in their condemnation? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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Too little, too late, and still not enough. Should fire the other employees who liked that thing’s post as well because we know there are others in that company that agreed with the freak. I know they won’t, they’ll protect those other hateful people just like every other AAA owned studio.
Pretty sure the lead actress is still there and she’s a self-declared member of a domestic terror group. Not giving a cent to Sucker Punch.