Marty O'Donnell, composer for the "Halo" video game series and a Republican congressional candidate in Nevada's 3rd District, stated that an event venue in Las Vegas abruptly canceled a planned video game gathering due to its political associations. O'Donnell said he intends to host the event elsewhere.
O'Donnell had planned a "Halo" LAN party and tournament at the HyperX Arena, located on the grounds of the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. He told Fox News Digital that after discussions lasting over a month, the venue rescinded its agreement, citing O'Donnell's "political affiliations and election-related nature of the proposed program." O'Donnell described the cancellation as sudden and attributed it to political reasons.
This event was intended to celebrate the "Halo" franchise's 25th anniversary and to foster civic engagement among young people as part of his congressional campaign. O'Donnell expressed frustration, stating, "it seems like I'm being canceled because I'm a Republican running for Congress."
Despite the cancellation, O'Donnell affirmed his commitment to holding the tournament. "Once we were rejected a couple of times now, we decided to take matters into our own hands," he said, adding that he is actively seeking a new venue. He assured fans that the event would proceed, aiming for approximately October 9 or 10, with details to be available on his congressional website.
O'Donnell also touched on the growing political engagement of gamers, tracing its roots to the GamerGate movement of 2014. He suggested that many gamers, feeling that corporations have incorporated "woke" agendas into video games and media, are seeking political representation from candidates who oppose these trends. O'Donnell believes this demographic, often between the ages of 25 and 45, is becoming increasingly politically aware and willing to support candidates who challenge what he termed the "lefties and the woke people out there."
O'Donnell's campaign provided Fox News Digital with an email from HyperX Arena representatives that denied the cancellation was due to O'Donnell being a Republican, but rather due to the "political affiliations and election-related nature of the proposed program." The Luxor Hotel, which leases space to HyperX Arena, has a history of hosting various political events, including those for Democratic and Republican organizations. Representatives for HyperX Arena did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
This is not the first time O'Donnell has faced event cancellations related to his political views. He also stated he was uninvited from the "Halo" 25th anniversary reunion at the SacAnime pop culture convention in California following remarks he made about the "alliance of the far-left and Islamism."