This story is from the summer 2025 issue of VICE magazine, THE REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL ISSUE. Buy the individual issue, or subscribe and get 4 issues delivered to your door each year.

Two mischievous Brazilians have whipped up a storm after modding a first-person shooter game called Squad to look just like the Rio de Janeiro favelas where they live. It’s become the go-to game for many real-life criminals from the Comando Vermelho (CV) and Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) gangs, as well as the soldiers and armed police officers they’re locked in their depressing forever-war with. We spoke to one of the game’s creators about its success.

VICE: Can you briefly explain what ‘modding’ is, in case anyone doesn’t know? Feliphe Willian: It’s when players change the original game’s content, adding new

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