Fired Sucker Punch Dev Drew Harrison Says Harassment Campaign, Not Tasteless Charlie Kirk Joke, Cost Her the Job

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Draw Harrison, a former developer at Sucker Punch, is discussing her recent firing. She was let go after publicly commenting on the murder of Charlie Kirk, and has now had time to consider the reasons behind the decision. In a new interview with gaming journalist Alyssa Mercante, Harrison explains that Sucker Punch fired her due to a harassment campaign orchestrated by what Mercante describes as the extreme right-wing online community.

How It Started

Shortly after Kirk was killed, Harrison made a comment on BlueSky joking that she hoped the shooter was named Mario, so Luigi would know his “brother” had his back. This was a reference to Luigi Mangione, who was suspected of shooting Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in December 2024. The comment, which many considered insensitive, quickly sparked outrage online, directed at both Harrison and the game company Sucker Punch. Harrison later said she didn’t take the criticism seriously.

Harrison explained to Mercante that she realized she was simply being targeted for amusement. She expected the usual pattern – people wouldn’t listen to anything she said and would only bother her to be hurtful. The following day, she tried to brighten the atmosphere by bringing in homemade treats for her colleagues.

She jokingly told a private group, “I managed to upset some of the most unpleasant people online.” Then, as a lighthearted peace offering, she mentioned there were banana muffins available in the kitchen.

Harrison apparently misjudged the public’s reaction to the comments made. Streamer Asmongold and ex-Blizzard developer Mark Kern (known online as Grummz) publicly demanded the removal of any game developers who made fun of the situation. Meanwhile, Sony and Sucker Punch were dealing with a growing problem as they prepared to release the eagerly awaited Ghost of Yōtei.

Asmongold is asking people to identify game developers who have made statements celebrating or joking about the potential assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Share your contributions here! If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, send them to me and I’ll post them for you, adding them to the list. Please include proof to verify your submission.

— Grummz (@Grummz) September 11, 2025

So, things got a little tricky over at Sucker Punch the other day. I heard they sent out an internal memo explaining that a team member’s social media post had caused some issues, and they were dealing with the fallout across the studio and at Sony. Apparently, they were even considering delaying a trailer release! It sounds like a lot of extra work is now needed to make sure the focus stays on how great the game actually is, and they reminded everyone to be careful about what they post online. It’s a reminder that even seemingly small things online can have big consequences, especially when you’re building hype for a new game!

Shortly afterward, Harrison received a video call from Sony Human Resources and was fired.

Dueling Perspectives

Following her dismissal from Sucker Punch and Sony, Harrison expressed no regret. She stated on BlueSky that she’d make the same choices again, even if it meant losing her decade-long job, because she was defending herself against what she saw as harmful ideology. In the immediate aftermath, she clarified that she hadn’t told an inappropriate joke, but rather had been unfairly penalized for taking a principled stand.

Brian Fleming, head of Sucker Punch Productions, explained their stance differently. He told Game File a week later, “As a studio, we absolutely refuse to support or joke about someone’s murder, and we strongly condemn it.”

Sony’s social media guidelines emphasize careful posting, considering how your words might be received, and maintaining respectful communication. While Harrison acknowledges her initial comment might have broken those rules, she points out that neither Sony nor the game developer Sucker Punch ever asked her to remove it—something she says she would have done if asked. She also feels the harassment she and her colleagues experienced wasn’t properly addressed, as no one seemed to investigate the issue or offer support.

Harrison’s main issue is that Sucker Punch and Sony didn’t prioritize addressing the concerns of players who wanted repercussions for the character’s choices. They were probably more concerned with launching Ghost of Yōtei and preventing negative publicity at the time.

How It’s Going

The day after the game launched, Harrison shared on BlueSky that his joke hadn’t negatively impacted sales, and being fired hadn’t improved them. He felt the harassment campaign only succeeded in making him miserable, which he sarcastically called a “win.”

Ghost of Yōtei sold 3.3 million copies in its first month, which is a good number, but about 16% lower than the initial sales of the first game. While some believe Harrison’s involvement helped the game, it’s impossible to say for sure if it affected sales figures.

Harrison tells Mercante she’s feeling very depressed and alone. Although she feels Sucker Punch has changed from the company she once cherished, she firmly stands by her account of what happened to her.

“I was fired because of a harassment campaign. It wasn’t the result of a bad joke,” she said.

Sucker Punch and Sony have stated their position on the matter. If Harrison continues to claim she was fired due to external pressure, other game studios might need to reconsider their social media guidelines and how they hire people.

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2025-11-30 19:57