IGN has sparked controversy after re-sharing a Eurogamer video about Grand Theft Auto VI with a three-second segment removed that referenced Palestine. The original video, produced by Eurogamer’s Jim Trinca and published on June 30, 2025, was later uploaded to IGN’s YouTube channel on July 12, 2025. However, viewers quickly noticed that the new version omitted a brief but politically charged line.
In the original Eurogamer upload, at around the 9:54 mark, Trinca compared the fictional political divide in the game’s setting of Leonida to real-life Florida, humorously likening it to Alien vs Predator — “Whoever wins, everyone’s fucked.” He then added, “Especially if you’re Palestinian or, closer to home, a non-billionaire who requires healthcare.” While the satirical jab at wealth inequality remained intact, the Palestine reference was removed in IGN’s version.
The edit has led to accusations of censorship, with critics arguing that this is not an isolated incident. IGN, owned by Ziff Davis, faced backlash in 2021 for taking down a charity post that directed readers on how to support Palestinians during an escalation in Israeli military action. Staff members at the time publicly expressed frustration, alleging corporate interference and questioning whether the decision was influenced by the company’s financial or political ties.
Industry observers note that IGN’s history of avoiding or removing pro-Palestinian content stands in contrast to its willingness to host criticism of billionaires or Western political figures. For many, this pattern points to a broader issue within gaming media, where editorial independence can be hurt by corporate ownership and external political pressures.
The removal of the Palestine comment from Trinca’s GTA VI video has sparked new debates about freedom of expression in gaming journalism. Critics argue that by cleaning up political references, especially those that address ongoing humanitarian crises, media outlets risk hurting their credibility and alienating parts of their audience. As of now, IGN has not issued an official statement addressing the edit.
