2 min read
Rockstar Games is cracking down. The studio has officially banned user-created missions in Grand Theft Auto Online (GTA Online) that depict the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This content moderation follows the December 2025 update, titled “A Safehouse in the Hills”.
The update introduced the “Mission Creator”. This tool allows players to craft custom missions with actors, mechanics, and specific objectives. However, players quickly used this freedom to recreate real-world violence. Consequently, Rockstar Games has removed specific missions and updated its censorship policies.
Rockstar Games Crackdown: The Controversial Content
One specific mission, titled “We Are Charlie Kirk”, sparked the crackdown. In this user-created scenario, players assumed the role of a rooftop sniper. Their objective was to assassinate an actor representing Kirk to earn 15 Job Points. The mission included specific details referencing the real-world event, such as the tent where Kirk spoke before his death.
Footage of this deleted mission appeared on Twitter via user GTASixInfo. Rockstar Games has since removed the mission from its servers. Furthermore, the developer added “Charlie Kirk” to its profanity filter. Players can no longer create missions using Kirk’s full name. However, the system is not perfect. Searches for “Charlie” and “Kirk” as separate terms still yield results for other user-generated content.
Rockstar Games has added the term “Charlie Kirk” to the profanity filter in GTA Online after someone created this mission: pic.twitter.com/oEubYl6TG6
— GTA 6 Info (@GTASixInfo) January 12, 2026
Real-World Tragedy & Industry Response
The in-game content mirrors the actual assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025. Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck by a sniper while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. He later died at Timpanagos Regional Hospital. The alleged gunman, Tyler Robinson, is currently awaiting trial.
This event caused a massive ripple effect across the tech industry. In October 2025, the US House Oversight Committee summoned the CEOs of Valve and Reddit to Capitol Hill.
Rockstar Games is not the first to act. Roblox purged over 100 pieces of content referencing the assassination in September 2025. Roblox CEO David Baszucki stated that such content violated Community Standards regarding the glorification of real-world violence. While Rockstar Games remains focused on the development of Grand Theft Auto VI, it continues to police GTA Online to maintain brand safety.
