Will Project 2025 Ban Video Games?
and why don't more men know about it?
I could spend the entire week talking about Trump awkwardly bopping around to music for half an hour at a rally—and, honestly, there’s a lot to unpack there. But let’s focus on something that has way bigger consequences than Trump’s dance moves (though I’m sure that will be analyzed at length somewhere else): the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. There’s been a lot of attention on the fact that this conservative policy blueprint could seriously mess with our lives, but an under-appreciated part is the way that it could mess with our games too.
Let's break it down.
How Conservatives Plan to Crash the Video Game Party
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 isn't just another political plan—it’s a roadmap to roll back decades of progress. And while it doesn’t specifically focus on video games, the policies it proposes would have major ripple effects across the gaming industry. The games you love, the stories they tell, and the people who make them could all be at risk if this plan becomes reality. Let's dive into how a policy document could end up messing with your favorite titles—and why you should care.
Content Restrictions: Censoring Your Favorite Characters?
One of the scarier parts of Project 2025 is its call to expand the definition of pornography and increase legal punishments for anything that falls under this vague new category. You might think, “What does that have to do with The Sims 4 or Cyberpunk 2077?” Well, when the lines around "inappropriate content" get blurred, anything outside conservative norms could be targeted. That means gender-inclusive character creators, transgender representation in games like Apex Legends, or even slightly sexualized characters could suddenly face censorship.
Imagine a world where your favorite Role Playing Games are stripped of inclusive character options because some conservative policymakers decide it’s “immoral.” We’ve seen this before in entertainment—the Hays Code shackled creativity in film for decades. Now, Project 2025 threatens to do the same in gaming, putting diverse and progressive storytelling at risk of disappearing from mainstream platforms.
But Project 2025 doesn’t just want to censor the games you play—it also aims to ramp up government surveillance over what you watch and do online. The plan calls for expanding digital surveillance efforts, which could lead to increased monitoring of your online activities, enhanced data collection, and greater access to your personal digital communications. Imagine the government having more access to what you’re playing, streaming, and saying to friends in group chats. The idea of a watchdog over your digital life feels straight out of a dystopian game plot, but under Project 2025, it could become reality. It’s not just about cracking down on the content—it’s about controlling the way you experience the digital world, turning your personal space into a place where you’re constantly being watched. Worse, the plan calls for restructuring intelligence agencies to align more closely with the administration's goals, which means that whatever you're posting or watching that’s not matching their values, could be a target.
Section 230: The Legal Shield That Could Shatter
Another huge disruption would be in regards to Section 230, the law that allows digital platforms like Steam or the PlayStation Store to host games without worrying about being sued for every piece of content they carry. Project 2025 wants to overhaul that, making platforms more liable for the content they distribute. This could lead to a wave of preemptive censorship as platforms scramble to avoid legal troubles.
What does that mean for you? Fewer daring, boundary-pushing games might make it to market. Developers could self-censor, scaling back creative risks to avoid legal issues. And platforms might start policing content in ways that limit the kinds of stories and experiences that make video games so innovative. The gaming world thrives on creative freedom, but that freedom could shrink if Project 2025 has its way.
Workplace Discrimination: Rolling Back Progress in Gaming Studios
Here’s another punch: Project 2025 seeks to dismantle protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. For an industry that’s been working hard to embrace diversity, this could be a huge step backward. Studios have made strides in creating inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ developers, but those gains could be erased if Project 2025’s policies come to pass.
If these protections are rolled back, not only would the work environment become more hostile for LGBTQ+ game developers, but it could also have a chilling effect on the kinds of stories they’re able to tell. When the people making games don’t feel safe or supported, the creativity and innovation behind those games suffer. Representation on-screen starts with inclusion behind the scenes, and Project 2025 threatens both.
Immigration: Cutting Off Global Talent
The gaming industry is global, with talent drawn from all over the world. But Project 2025’s aggressive stance on reducing immigration and deporting more people could make it much harder for studios to recruit the international talent they need. Game development is a collaborative, international process—restricting immigration could slow innovation and make it harder for studios to compete on the global stage.
Whether it’s programmers, designers, or storytellers, some of the best minds in gaming come from abroad. If immigration is restricted, studios could lose access to that talent, and games could lose the richness that comes from diverse perspectives. The potential impact on the industry’s workforce is huge, and it could change the kinds of games we see in the years to come.
For the Love of Games (and Men’s Freedom)
When I spoke to young men in Arizona this past weekend, most of them had no idea that Project 2025 even existed, let alone how it could impact the games they play every day. Many didn’t realize that their favorite pastime could be directly affected by the policies of the politicians they support. While women make up nearly half of all gamers, it’s not women who will be handing power to the people trying to censor those games.
The stark gender divide in this election is why I’ve been focused on highlighting how an extreme right-wing agenda could hurt men too. Young men, often the largest consumers of video games, seem the least aware of how their freedoms are being undermined. It’s essential that, when discussing right-wing policies, we keep men in mind and make it clear that their liberties are also at risk. These agendas don’t just target one group—they have far-reaching consequences for everyone.
Gaming has always been a space for creativity, exploration, and pushing boundaries. But with these political threats looming, that freedom could be stripped away unless men start recognizing what’s at stake for them, too.
A Pre-Election De-Stress Session You Can’t Afford to Skip!
Our next sharing circle is coming up on October 27th at 9ET/12PT, and this time, the amazing Sarah Jones will be joining us! 🎤✨ Her work, especially on her podcast America, Who Hurt You?, has sparked meaningful conversations about the state of our world, and she never fails to bring humor and heart to tough topics. This exclusive session for paid subscribers is all about helping you destress before the election chaos kicks into high gear. It's a space to unwind, share, and recharge with community support. Let’s get through this together—because we all deserve a little peace right now. 🧘♀️💬
Hi Liz! Was thinking you're the right person to ask this: Is there anything we can do with 2 weeks to the election? I keep getting ads from VSA saying that Kamala isn't favored to win, and then they beg me for money (which I have given!) for swing states.
I'm at the point where the fact that this election is so razor thin is starting to feel like a turning point in history. Or a Good vs. Evil montage. I'm scared! And fear is such a terrible motivator. Would love an issue of what we can actually do in the next couple weeks to get our girl in office. I recently moved to a blue state, because the red state I used to live in took away foundational rights from me as a woman (insert sobbing emoji here). It just feels hopeless - even though I know it isn't!! Would love your wisdom as we attempt to sleep through these election anxiety-inducing nights.
Anyone who seeks to ban video games can go take a long walk off a short pier!