Overview

Mortal Kombat 11 PTSD Controversy refers to reports that developers on the video game Mortal Kombat 11 developed Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of designing the violence within the game.

Background

On May 8th, 2019, Kotaku ^[1] published a report entitled "'I'd Have These Extremely Graphic Dreams': What It's Like To Work On Ultra-Violent Games Like Mortal Kombat 11." In the article, a video games developer who worked on Mortal Kombat 11 said that they had experienced adverse psychological effects from working on such a violent game. A therapist later diagnosed the developer with PTSD. They said:

I’d have these extremely graphic dreams, very violent. I kind of just stopped wanting to go to sleep, so I’d just keep myself awake for days at a time, to avoid sleeping.”

[…]

You’d walk around the office and one guy would be watching hangings on YouTube, another guy would be looking at pictures of murder victims, someone else would be watching a video of a cow being slaughtered. The scary part was always the point at which new people on the project got used to it. And I definitely hit that point.

Developments

Online Reaction

Reaction to the article was mixed online. Some believe that the developer's experience should be met with sympathy and possible change within the games industry. For example, Twitter ^[2] user @queer_queenie tweeted, "holy shit, the development of such realistic violence in mortal kombat 11 genuinely took such a toll on the team, and one developer was even diagnosed with PTSD as a result of their work on it. was this game really worth the human cost." The tweet received more than 3,200 retweets and 8,100 likes in less than one week (shown below, left).

However, others did not seem to understand or empathize with the developer's experience. Twitter user @brandonorselli tweeted a photoshopped version of Tyler, the Creator's Cyber-Bullying Tweet that references "cyber violence." The post received more than 80 retweets and 350 likes in 24 hours (shown below, right).

tweet sympathizing with Mortal Kombat creators for developing PTSD

Tyler the Creator tweet parody about cyber violence not being real

Media Coverage

Several media outlets covered the controversy, including The Daily Dot, ^[4] Comic Book Resources,^[5] ComicBook.com^[6] and more.

Search Interest

External References

^[1] Kotaku – 'I'd Have These Extremely Graphic Dreams': What It's Like To Work On Ultra-Violent Games Like Mortal Kombat 11

^[2] Twitter – @queer_queenie's Tweet

^[3] Twitter – @brandonorselli's Tweet

^[4] The Daily Dot – Mortal Kombat 11’s PTSD controversy is just the beginning

^[5] Comic Book Resources – Mortal Kombat 11 Dev Diagnosed With PTSD After Working On Violent Game

^[6] ComicBook.com – Working On Mortal Kombat 11 Reportedly Gave One Developer PTSD

Related Entries 8 total

Recent Images 2 total

Mortal Kombat 11 Dev Diagnosed with PTSD Because of Game's Violence Tyler, The Creator @tylerthecreator Follow Hahahahahahahaha How The F--- Is Cyber Violence Real Hahahaha N---- Just Walk Away From The Screen Like N---- Close Your Eyes Haha

h--------, the development of such realistic violence in mortal kombat 11 genuinely took such a toll on the team, and one developer was even diagnosed with PTSD as a result of their work on it was this game really worth the human cost graphic dreams, very violent, found out about cowo to avoid sleeping. says they saw a therapist, whee. "When he looks at h d wanting to go to sleep, so l't as they did who also he toll of working опл to their work on MKi-not jus 't look at his dog with ss and discuss its violent ciner't look at his dog with, by the reference materials art 3:40 PM - 8 May 2019

View All Images

Recent Videos 0 total

There are no recent videos.

Load 113 Comments

Mortal Kombat 11 PTSD Controversy

Part of a series on Mortal Kombat. [View Related Entries]

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

This submission is currently being researched & evaluated!

You can help confirm this entry by contributing facts, media, and other evidence of notability and mutation.

Overview

Background

I’d have these extremely graphic dreams, very violent. I kind of just stopped wanting to go to sleep, so I’d just keep myself awake for days at a time, to avoid sleeping.”

[…]

You’d walk around the office and one guy would be watching hangings on YouTube, another guy would be looking at pictures of murder victims, someone else would be watching a video of a cow being slaughtered. The scary part was always the point at which new people on the project got used to it. And I definitely hit that point.