EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, has canceled the three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events following the Jacksonville shooting.
The shooting happened on August 26 during EA’s first major Madden Classic qualifying tournament, and players Taylor Robertson and Elijah Clayton lost their lives.
“They were respected, positive and skilled competitors, the epitome of the players and personalities at the heart of our community,” Wilson wrote in his message to the players and the gaming community. “Their love of competition was evident through their participation in our events over the past few years.”
Wilson also stated that EA is committed to supporting the family of the victims, and is sending their deepest sympathies to the victim’s loved ones, the injured, as well as everyone else affected by the tragedy.
By working with their partners and getting feedback from the player community, EA has decided to cancel their remaining Madden Classic qualifier events in order to review safety protocols.
“We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events,” Wilson added.
Following the tragedy, Wilson hopes the gaming community will take some time to support each other.
Liked this article and want to read more like it? Check out Nathan Shubert’s article on EA and NFL’s competitive gaming agreement.
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