Valve Disables Purchases for Game Linked to Alleged Shooter
In a disturbing turn of events, Valve has disabled purchases for the game “Bohrdom,” developed by 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California. This action follows Allen’s alleged attempt to carry out a shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel on a recent Saturday. Released in December 2018, “Bohrdom” is described as “a skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game loosely derived from a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality,” incorporating a multiplayer mode inspired by quantum physics.
Prior to the alarming incident, “Bohrdom” had not garnered significant attention, accumulating approximately 130 reviews and forum comments that ranged from trolling to hate speech. While Valve has not publicly commented on the removal of the game from sale, it is speculated that the company aims to distance itself from any potential profit linked to Allen’s actions.
During the Saturday incident, which was short-lived, Allen reportedly shot a Secret Service agent, who fortunately escaped serious injury due to a bulletproof vest. A manifesto attributed to Allen details his grievances, wherein he refers to himself as “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen.” In it, he identifies officials from the Trump administration as targets and expresses a desire to avoid unnecessary harm to security personnel and journalists. Allen’s writings include accusations against Donald Trump, describing him with derogatory terms and referencing allegations of sexual assault and war crimes.
On his LinkedIn profile, Allen identifies as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist, stating he is an independent game developer by experience and currently self-employed. He is believed to be working on another project titled “First Law.”
As authorities prepare to file formal charges against Allen, the incident has raised concerns over the intersection of gaming culture and real-world violence, placing a spotlight on the responsibilities of game developers and publishers in the wake of such events. Valve’s decision to disable sales of “Bohrdom” reflects an acute awareness of the potential ramifications associated with associating their platform with acts of violence.
