A tech developer in San Francisco has decided to take down a video game that transformed the city’s infamous Tenderloin neighborhood into a zombie-killing playground. The decision came after a wave of criticism erupted, with many accusing the game of allowing players to target homeless individuals struggling with drug addiction.
The creator, Pierre-Louis Biojout, initially promoted the game with confidence but announced its removal last Friday. He acknowledged on X that the promotion and setting of the game reflected poor judgment. He emphasized, “Targeting people struggling with addiction or homelessness was never my intention.”
In conjunction with shutting down the game, he refunded all advertisers and made a personal contribution to a drug treatment and recovery service equal to the game’s revenue.
Biojout had launched the free multiplayer browser game just a few days prior, likening it to a “Call of Duty style zombie shooter on the real SF streets.” He claimed he developed the game over a weekend using AI coding tools—despite having no prior experience in game development—and had already generated about $300 in advertising revenue.
The backlash was swift, with critics expressing outrage over what they perceived as the commodification of the city’s homelessness crisis. Comments flooded in on social media, with one user stating, “You think you’re being edgy but you’re just a huge piece of s–t.” Another added, “This is atrocious PR.” Even city officials, like Supervisor Bilal Mahmood who represents the Tenderloin, condemned the game, stating that using violence against real people for entertainment is dehumanizing.
Facing mounting pressure, Biojout, who leads a company called NanoCorp that develops AI-driven platforms for online business, explained that he walks through the Tenderloin daily and saw its “distinctive atmosphere” as fitting for a zombie shooter.
Interestingly, not all responses to the game’s removal were negative. Some voiced support for Biojout, suggesting that those criticizing him should focus on enacting real change instead. One commenter noted that his game was a form of “fantastic satire.”
