TripWire Interactive Appoints New CEO, Loses Shipwright Studios Partnership

John Gibson has stepped down immediately following his backlash to his decision to publicly backup anti-absorption legislation in Texas.

John Gibson, the CEO of Maneater and Killing Floor developer Tripwire, has faced backlash on Saturday. His tweet about supporting US Supreme Court’s verdict on not stripping off anti-abortion laws from the legislature caused controversy.

• TornBanner Studios (the developer of Tripwire-published Chivalry II) and Shipwright Studios (a co-developer on Chivalry II and Maneater) issued statements distancing themselves from Gibson’s comments. 
• The insensitivity exhibited by John Gibson through his tweets was heavily criticized. Even the players vowed not to play Tripwire’s games ever again.
• Tripwire released a statement on their Twitter account about John Gibson stepping down from the position of CEO of Tripwire.

“Effective immediately, John Gibson has stepped down as CEO of Tripwire Interactive. Co-founding member and current Vice President, Alan Wilson, will take over as interim CEO.”

Heartbeat Act

Gibson’s tweet implicated the ‘Heartbeat Act’; which makes it illegal for women to have an abortion after six weeks. It also includes “a private civil right of action”. This means any Texas citizen – even those not involved in the incident – has the right to sue anyone involved in abortion for up to $10,000.

“Proud of #USSupremeCourt affirming the Texas law banning abortion for babies with a heartbeat,” Gibson tweeted. “As an entertainer, I don’t get political often. Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer.”

The Shipwright Studios – a “co-development” studio that has worked earlier with Tripwire exclaimed–  that it would never work with his (John Gibson’s) company again.

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