When you drive that Honda Civic in Gran Turismo, a small portion of the money you paid for the privilege goes to the car manufacturer. As Eurogamer’s Simon Parkin points out, the same is true when you use a Heckler & Koch M8A1 assault rifle in Black Ops 2. “We must be paid a royalty fee,” says a spokesperson for gun manufacturer Barrett, “either a one-time payment or a percentage of sales.” In a detailed look at the industry’s practices, Parkin examines the historic links between video game publishers and arms manufacturers, and questions the need for licensed weapons at all, especially considering the ongoing debate on gun violence.
How video game purchases help fund gun makers
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