Every now and then, something tragic occurs that it becomes part of our collective consciousness. Gaming rarely has those moments – when people get angry after losing a match, they’ll probably just throw controllers or yell at their screens. It never led to a mass shooting until last Sunday. During a Madden 19 tournament, a gunman opened fire after losing. The incident injured nearly a dozen people and claimed the lives of three – including the gunman, who took his own life. The two innocent victims – Taylor “Spotmeplzzz” Robertson and Elijah “Trueboy” Clayton – were mourned by the Madden community and the wider gaming world. EA will be stepping up. The company will do what it can to ease the suffering of the victims and their families via the Jacksonville Tribute live stream.
— Electronic Arts (@EA) August 30, 2018
EA’s Madden NFL 19 Jacksonville Tribute
The Jacksonville Tribute will take place on September 6, featuring pro players and even NFL stars competing in Madden. Although the company has canceled qualifiers for the remainder of the tournament, the tribute aims to showcase how Madden can bring the gaming community together in the wake of the tragedy. One such NFL star joining the event is Mike Evans, a wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Apart from that, EA has also pledged to donate $1 million to the victims and their families. While no amount of money can ever replace the loss of a loved one, we do hope that this can help console those who are grieving. After all, both Robertson and Clayton were pro gamers in the competitive Madden scene. The game wasn’t just a hobby, it was also a means to make ends meet.
Daily Esports offers our condolences to the victims of this senseless tragedy. We hope that EA continues to take steps to bring together a mourning gaming community. At the same time, we’d also like to note the importance of taking steps to ensure everyone’s safety during esports events.
Lastly, we want to remind all gamers out there that even though competition and esports can be grueling and combative, it’s only a video game. Games in Madden always lead to a lot of excitement and frustration for players. But it should never lead to a tragedy such as this.
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