Steven Spielberg’s affinity for video games is a well-known aspect of his multifaceted career. His passion is evident in countless photographs capturing him alongside iconic arcade titles such as Donkey Kong, Missile Command, and Space Invaders. Over the years, he has also ventured into the gaming realm through various projects, most notably directing the film adaptation of Ready Player One.
Gaming Preferences
While many adults may find their enthusiasm for gaming waning with age, Spielberg appears to maintain his interest, albeit with a notable caveat: he has a distinct aversion to traditional game controllers. In a recent interview with MinnMax, his son, Max Spielberg, who is also a game developer, shared insights into his father’s gaming habits. “He loves story games, and I’m always trying to get him to play Uncharted because it’s Indiana Jones, and I’m like, ‘Hey, you’d appreciate this.’ But he’s like, ‘I can’t do controllers. I can only do keyboard and mouse,'” Max revealed.
This preference is so pronounced that during a demonstration of Max’s co-op roguelite game, published by Dreamhaven, it fell to him to showcase the title, as his father was unwilling to pick up the controller. Fortunately, for those who enjoy Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves, it does offer mouse and keyboard support on Steam, allowing Spielberg to engage with the game in his preferred manner.
A Bonding Experience
Despite his controller reluctance, gaming remains a significant bonding experience for the Spielberg family. Max noted, “He loves gaming. He’s the one who got me into it. He plays games. He’s a big PC gamer. So that’s kind of our bonding point as well. He’s like, ‘Hey, what’s good? What Call of Duty should I be playing? Send me a list of the top five shooters, and I’ll get them downloaded, then we can play them together when you come over to the house.'” Max added with a smile, “It’s always a Call of Duty. He loves Call of Duty. He plays the story campaign.”
In the same interview, Max recounted other memorable moments from his father’s interactions with the gaming industry, including a special demo of Wii Sports he received from the legendary Nintendo creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. Meanwhile, Spielberg continues to focus on his cinematic endeavors, with his upcoming film, rumored to explore themes of UFOs, set for release in 2026.
Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
