A tech developer in San Francisco has taken the city’s infamous Tenderloin district and transformed it into a zombie-shooting game, which has drawn widespread criticism. Many are outraged that the game allows players to shoot at homeless individuals and other marginalized characters.
“San Francisco couldn’t fix the Tenderloin. So I monetized it,” said developer Pierre-Louis Biojout on social media platform X.
He introduced the free multiplayer browser game, likening it to a “Call of Duty-style zombie shooter set on the real streets of San Francisco.”
Biojout claims he created the game over a weekend with the help of AI coding tools, although he had never developed a video game before, and has already made $300 from advertising.
This odd venture has ignited a storm of backlash, with many online users accusing Biojout of trivializing the homelessness crisis by turning it into a form of entertainment.
“You think you’re being edgy but you’re just a huge piece of s–t,” one critic commented.
Another expressed anger, saying, “Bring back shame. This is atrocious PR.”
One commenter observed, “Guy makes a game where you shoot homeless people and thinks he’s the hero.”
However, not everyone was offended. One gamer excitedly proclaimed it was “the best game I play so far this year,” while another shared a laugh about “the zombie on the lime scooter” being a recurring joke.
Some defended Biojout, suggesting that the city officials should bear the brunt of the criticism instead. “SF created and refuses to fix an urban wasteland,” remarked one supporter, questioning why the game was being condemned rather than the conditions in the city.
Unfazed by the negative reactions, Biojout responded to one commenter who called the game “not cool” with a quick retort: “Why not?”
