2003–2006General sourceWell documented
Manhunt, Bully, and the Culture Wars
On the timeline · around 2003–2006 ·
What happened
Rockstar leaned into provocation with games like the brutal stealth-horror Manhunt (2003) and the school-set Bully (2006). Both drew fierce criticism from politicians and campaigners and, in some countries, outright bans.
Why it matters
Controversy became part of the Rockstar brand — a lightning rod for debates about violence in games that also fueled the studio's outlaw mystique and sales.