Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN)
The Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN) brings researchers, practitioners, and policymakers together with the private sector to develop an understanding of potential threats, as well as solutions for the exploitation of gaming by terrorists and violent extremists. Our work is structured around convening and connecting our global members across sectors, supporting research development and reporting, advising and training tech platforms and governments, and generating best intervention practices.
How It Started
EGRN was set up as an independent, self-led initiative in 2021 by practitioners and researchers who saw a need to fill knowledge gaps on the subject and build an evidence base for positive interventions. The network has built a strong reputation for its work examining the intersection of extremism, gaming, and online communities.
In May 2026, with the support of our Board of Directors, EGRN formally joined the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), a project of the Centre for Statecraft and National Security (CSNS) at King’s College London. EGRN retains its brand and staff while joining GNET’s institutional framework, creating new opportunities for shared learning, joint projects, and broader dissemination.
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- All
- 16 Days
- Addressing Youth Radicalisation and Mobilisation
- Climate Change Series
- Combating Islamic State Finance
- Coronavirus
- Crime-Terror Nexus in Latin America
- Gaming
- Gaming and Youth
- Insights
- Knowledge Base
- Northern Ireland
- PhD Researcher Series
- READ (Repository of Extremist Aligned Documents) Series
- Report-Gnet
- Reports
- Research Consortium
- Research Digest
Dr. William AllchornBeyond the Ban Hammer: Building Resilience Against Youth Exploitation in Gaming Spaces
Read moreThis Insight was published as part of GIFCT’s Working Group on Gaming and Youth (GYWG). GIFCT Working Groups bring together experts…
Rachel KowertBuilding Tech Capacity: Cross-Cultural, Gender-Responsive Solutions to Prevent Extremism in Gaming
Read moreIntroduction When discussing social harms in online gaming spaces, the term “toxicity” frequently takes centre stage. It is often used…
Dr. William AllchornPolicing Extremism on Gaming-Adjacent Platforms: Awful but Lawful?
Read moreIntroduction The study of the intersection between gaming and extremism has focused largely on a few key areas: the presence…
Linda SchlegelScouting Uneven Terrain: Challenges for Prevention and Counter-Extremism Practitioners in Digital Gaming Spaces
Read moreLinda Schlegel and Judith Jaskowski are members of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). The EGRN works together to…
Galen EnglundFrom Soundtracks to Side Quests: How Terrorist and Extremist Games Use Mainstream Platforms to Evade Detection and Draw Users
Read moreEmily Thompson and Galen Lamphere-Englund are members of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). The EGRN works together to…
Elizabeth D. KilmerImproving the Quality of Violent Extremism Research: Why CVE Researchers Should Play More Games
Read moreElizabeth D. Kilmer and Rachel Kowert are members of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). The EGRN works together to…
Galen Englund30 Years of Trends in Terrorist and Extremist Games
Read moreViolent extremist, terrorist, and targeted hate actors have been actively exploiting video games to propagandise, recruit and fundraise for more…
Lars WiegoldCamera, Action, Play: An Exploration of Extremist Activity on Video- and Livestreaming Platforms
Read moreIntroduction Since the livestreamed attacks in Christchurch, Halle and the US Capitol Building, streaming platforms have become a topic of…
Constantin WinklerGaming the System: The Use of Gaming-Adjacent Communication, Game and Mod Platforms by Extremist Actors
Read moreIntroduction Since the live-streamed racist and antisemitic attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Halle, Germany, in 2019 and details of…
Eliot OreskovicMore than Sports: Building Resilience against Extremism in Esports
Read moreEliot J. Oreskovic is an Executive Co-Director of the United States Esports Association, which is a member of the Extremism…
Kris McGuffiePreventing Extremist Violence Using Existing Content Moderation Tools
Read moreKris McGuffie is a member of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). The EGRN works together to uncover how…
Mariana RibeiroThe Ultimate Game: What We Learned from Mobilising Gamers During Brazil’s Elections
Read moreMari Ribeiro and Court Williams are members of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). The EGRN works together to…
Elizabeth D. KilmerGrooming for Violence: Similarities Between Radicalisation and Grooming Processes in Gaming Spaces
Read moreRachel Kowert and Elizabeth D. Kilmer are members of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). The EGRN works together…
Petra RegeniAccelerationism Meets Gamification: A Look at the Convergence in the Framing of Online Narratives
Read morePetra Regeni is a member of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). EGRN brings together world-leading counter-extremism organisations to develop insights…
Jordan ChapmanPreventing Extremism through Storytelling and Gaming
Read moreOn 2 February 2023, GNET and the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN) hosted a webinar on ‘Preventing Extremism through…
Firas MahmoudFrom Atari to Allahu Akbar: Comparing White Supremacist and Jihadist Uses of Gamified Extremism
Read moreFiras Mahmoud is a research fellow of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). EGRN brings together world-leading counter-extremism organisations…
Ashton KingdonGod of Race War: The Utilisation of Viking-Themed Video Games in Far-Right Propaganda
Read moreAshton Kingdon is a Research Fellow of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN). EGRN brings together world-leading counter-extremism organisations…
Linda SchlegelPlaying Against Radicalisation: Why Extremists are Gaming and How P/CVE Can Leverage the Positive Effects of Video Games to Prevent Radicalisation
Read moreThe potential nexus between gaming and extremism is an increasingly important concern for researchers, tech companies, policymakers, and practitioners working…
Daniela PisoiuCan Serious Games Make a Difference in P/CVE?
Read moreVideo games and gamification have become key tools of extremist actors’ recruitment arsenal and have taken a central role in…
Dr. Suraj LakhaniThe Gamification of Violent Extremism: An Empirical Exploration of the Christchurch Attack
Read moreThis Insight is based on research conducted by the author and Susann Wiedlitzka, the results of which are extensively discussed…
Galen EnglundUnderstanding the Game: Bridging Research Gaps at the Nexus of Gaming and Extremism
Read morePreventing and countering violent extremism practitioners are increasingly concerned about pathways to radicalisation, including those leading to violent extremism, present…