Game Studios Show Support For Ukraine

Russia attacked Ukraine openly and invaded it on February 24, following weeks of growing tensions between them. Hundreds of Ukrainian citizens were reportedly killed by Russian militia and bombings. The world is watching this terrifying and historic event unfold. There have been efforts to help civilians, organizations at the ground level, and those who are displaced like the Ukrainian Red Cross. Some of these aids have been made possible by video game studios, while others were publicized in support of Ukraine. 

Game Informer will be updating this story. 

Epic Games

Epic Games announced on March 5 that it has suspended sales of its games in Russia as a result of the country’s unprovoked attack and invasion of Ukraine. GamesIndustry.biz first reported the news. It stated that Epic Games titles have been stopped from Russian markets and in-game purchases were no longer permitted. Epic Games stated on Twitter that they are not closing all its Russian services. 

Epic Games Newsroom tweets that “Epic has stopped commerce with Russia for our games as a response to the invasion of Ukraine.” We are not blocking access because other communication tools remain available online. The free world must keep lines of dialog open. 

Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard suspended sales of all its digital and physical games in Russia due to the unprovoked invasion and attack on Ukraine. GamesIndustry.biz. 

The publisher, by way of President and COO Daniel Alegre, announced this to employees via its own internal messaging system before publishing the statement on its own website on March 5. Alegre made clear that sales were being suspended in Russia. He also stated that safety is its number one priority, particularly for those who are currently affected by the events in Ukraine. 

Alegre writes that “The company matches employee donations 2:1 to organisations providing immediate relief in this region.” Together, we raised more than $300,000. Next week we will add more charities for your consideration. We also plan to increase the limit of company matching from $1000 – $10,000. 

You can read Activision Blizzard’s statement, in full, below: 

Sad Cat Studios

Sad Cat Studios in Belarus, which is behind Replaced released a statement on March 4, supporting Ukraine. It made it very clear that they are a studio against war. 

According to a Twitter statement, “We are the Belarusian studio” and declare that they are opposed to war. We condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine and the involvement of Belarusian governments in such aggression. This is unacceptable. [the]War and suffering are happening right now. 

Our team has endured the rallies against dictatorship in Belarus in 2020 – one of us have been injured, one arrested. One of our members is now in prison, fighting for his country. We are so proud of such brave people. We have decided to concentrate on [the]Our team’s well-being and relocation.” 

Remedy Entertainment

Remedy Entertainment (the studio behind Control) released a statement March 4, in support of Ukraine. It stated that it had donated 50,000 Euros to the Red Cross for victims of war. 

“As Remedy Entertainment, we all stand united in our support of Ukraine,” Remedy Entertainment writes in its statement. “To help the people of Ukraine and alleviate some of their suffering, we have donated 50 thousand euros to the Red Cross to help the victims of war. All our Ukrainian workers have been given support and we will continue to help their loved ones and families back home. 

Also, we are supporting our Russian employees who have been devastated by this terrible war. We don’t blame anyone who isn’t responsible. While we do not normally make statements on world events, this shocking and touching incident involving the Russian invasion of Ukraine by its regime shocked and moved us all. We hope that peace will win.” 

EA

EA (the publisher behind the sports titles NHL and Madden NFL and Battlefield 2042) announced March 4th that it would no longer be selling games or content in Russia or Belarus. Here’s EA’s statementThe complete text is available here: 

“We continue to be shocked at the conflict that is unfolding in Ukraine, and join so many voices around the world in calling for peace and an end to the invasion,” EA writes in the blog post. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Our main concern is their safety, especially those who are colleagues or partners. We want to know how best we could help them beyond what programs are in place. 

This conflict is causing us to make the difficult decision of halting sales of games and other content in Russia and Belarus. The Russian region storefront will not be open for purchases on Origin and the EA app. In-game content can also no longer be purchased in this manner. Additionally, we are in talks with platform partners in order to get our games removed from their stores. We also want to end the sales of in-game content for the Russian region. 

As this deeply troubling situation evolves, we’re continuously reviewing the steps we can take. In addition to changes to our EA Sports FIFA and NHL games, we are actively evaluating other areas of our games and operations, and will update with any further actions.” 

Microsoft

On March 4, Microsoft announced in a blog post that it was suspending sales of its products and services in Russia as a result of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Microsoft controls Xbox and this would likely include Xbox accessories such as official accessories or consoles. 

Additionally, we coordinate closely and work in sync with the United States, European Union and United Kingdom governments. We have also stopped many aspects of business with Russia due to governmental sanctions. As the situation changes, we believe that we can be most helpful in helping Ukraine when we coordinate with their decisions.

Like so many others, we stand with Ukraine in calling for the restoration of peace, respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, and the protection of its people.”  

Microsoft’s announcement comes days following. Ukrainian vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly called on Sony and Microsoft to cut off Russia from its respective online gaming services immediately in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sony has not made a public stance or released a statement in regards to this war at the time of this writing.

Bloober Team

Bloober Team (the Polish-based studio that created The Medium, and other titles) announced March 3rd that it will be removing its Russian and Belarus digital store pages. 

“As the Russian unprovoked invasion of Ukraine continues, killing defenders and civilians alike, we at Bloober Team have decided to stop selling our titles in Russia and Belarus across all platforms,” Bloober Team writes in a press release. “We’ve been working with our partners to put the games down from the stores in these countries – the ban coming into effect first on Steam. 

Our hearts are with the Ukrainian people and this is one of several steps we’re currently taking to support them. We understand that our decision might affect many Russian and Belarussian players who are not involved in this invasion, but we strongly believe that every step that can help stop this war is worth taking – this includes showing full solidarity with the Ukrainian people both with words and actions, as well as creating pressure on the Russian and Belarussian public opinion. 

A global, joint resistance is possible. We want to be a part of a world that doesn’t turn a blind eye to warmongering. And we won’t stay neutral when human lives are at stake.” 

The Pokémon Company

On March 3, The Pokémon Company released a statement in support of Ukraine on Twitter, pledging to donate $200,000 to its partners at GlobalGiving. 

“The growing crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, which continues to cause the displacement of families and threaten the safety of children, is heartbreaking. 

The Pokémon Company International is making an immediate donation of $200,000 USD to our partners at GlobalGiving to provide humanitarian relief. The nonprofit will efficiently direct the funds to community-led organizations supporting families and children affected by the crisis.” 

Devolver Digital

Perhaps the most forward show of support for Ukraine, Devolver Digital, the publisher behind this year’s Sifu amongst others, kept it simple with the following: 

Devolver Digital, as you can see includes links to charity donations that can be made to Ukraine. 

John Romero

John Romero is the co-creator and legend of Doom II. He announced March 3rd that he has released Doom II at a higher level. 100% of Doom II revenue will be donated to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Red Cross. 

“One Humanity is a new level for the 1994 id Software release Doom II created by John Romero to support the people of Ukraine and the humanitarian efforts of the Red Cross and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund,” Romero’s website reads.” 100% of the proceeds go toward these support initiatives. One Humanity is Romero’s first Doom II level since the release of the original in 1994. The.WAD file contains both the readme text and external mod files. Players must have an original copy of Doom II and a modern source port to play one Humanity.” 

You can read more about Romero’s charity effort here. 

GSC Game World 

GSC Game World is the company behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, released a new video on March 3, detailing its current struggle in game development as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. GSC’s headquarters is in Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine), which has been bombed heavily and used as a target for Russian invasion since February 24, when the invasion started. In the video, the studio announced that it would be putting Stalker 2 development on the “sidelines” so that it can focus on keeping its employees safe during this conflict. 

Here’s what was said, in full, in the video: 

“The previous week, we were editing the video about our motion-capture studio. The purpose of this video was to demonstrate how cutscenes are created. It was a time-consuming task to look at videos, create scripts and talk with actors. This week seemed so long ago. Russia sent missiles, tanks and soldiers into Ukraine to declare war on Ukraine. This forces our nation to fight for its survival. This seems to be the cost of freedom. We have the answer. [the] ‘How are you guys?” question. Now we are striving to help our employees and their families to survive. We will continue to work after victory, even though the game has been relegated to the background. Glory to Ukraine.”

Unity

Unity, a video game engine development company, released a statement of support for Ukraine, including how it’s going to donate money to Ukrainian publishers and others, on March 2. 

“Unity stands with the people of Ukraine,” Unity writes on Twitter. “Here’s how we’re helping to support those affected: Internally, our employees are directly supporting four international humanitarian charities focused on helping the people of Ukraine with a triple-matching commitment from the company and our leaders. As of March 1, Unity and our employees have committed over $623,000 to supporting Ukraine.” 

Unity has also created two initiatives in the Unity Asset Store. Read more: 

Plarium

Raid Shadow Legends developer, Plarium, which is based in Ukraine, announced on March 1 in a new blog post that it has more than 700 employees sheltering in place throughout Ukraine and that its priority is the safety of its team. Plarium also revealed that it has donated $500,000 to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society alongside links and instructional help for people who want to help and get involved. The full statements can be viewed by clicking the link below. 

Ubisoft

Ubisoft, the publisher and developer behind franchises like Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed, released a statement on March 1 to show its support for its teams and the people of Ukraine. The full statement is available here: 

“We are devastated and heartbroken by the tragic events taking place in Ukraine,” Ubisoft writes. “Many Ubisoft team members call Ukraine home, and the thoughts of the entire Ubisoft community are with them, their loved ones, and all those affected by this war. The safety and well-being and comfort of our employees and families is our top priority. Ubisoft monitored the situation closely over the past few months. Our primary concern has always been to protect our team members.

Ubisoft suggested that all teams seek shelter at a safe place as the events escalated during February. Each team member received additional funding to cover extraordinary costs. In addition, Ubisoft paid the salary ahead of time to ensure that banking system disruptions were not a factor. Ubisoft provided support to our Ukrainian colleagues and helped them when the impossible became possible last week. Our colleagues can find shelter in nearby countries if necessary.

To stay closely connected to all our team members, Ubisoft has created dedicated hotlines to provide them with personalized support and aid. A system of emergency communications has been set up to allow us to stay in touch with all our team members in any situation. We are standing by the teams in Ukraine, and we will keep our support strong as conditions change. 

Children and adults in Ukraine are most in need of emergency humanitarian assistance, such as food, shelter, medical supplies, and housing. Ubisoft today donated 200,000 Euros to Save the Children and the Ukrainian Red Cross to meet the immediate needs of the Ukrainian people. Please take good care of all the people in this conflict, including our Ukrainian friends. We are with you.” 

Embracer Group

Embracer Group is a Swedish videogame media holding company. It has a large videogame catalog that includes titles such as Saints Row and Kingdoms of Amalur. On February 28, Embracer Group released a Twitter statement to support Ukraine. 

“Millions of people are experiencing unthinkable hardships in Ukraine,” Embracer Group writes on Twitter. “The Embracer Group has decided to donate one-million US dollars for humanitarian aid to support those impacted through esteemed organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, SOS Children’s Villages, and ACT Alliance among others. 

In addition, our Group CEO, Lars Wingefors, will match this donation with another one-million US dollar pledge to support our employees and contractors who are directly impacted by this crisis.”

People can fly

People Can Fly, the studio behind last year’s Outriders, released a Twitter thread on February 28 showing its support for Ukraine, promising to donate 1 Polish zloty ($.22 USD), up to 1 million, for every Polish zloty donated by others to Polska Akcja Humanitarna, a Poland-based humanitarian organization that delivers aid to countries that need it. 

“Hard to find the right words,” People Can Fly writes on Twitter. “We are deeply saddened by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We at PCF strongly oppose war and violence. We are doing our best to take care of our Ukrainian team members and their loved ones.”

Techland

Techland, which is the studio behind Dying Light 2, issued a statement supporting Ukraine on February 26. It’s also going to be donating roughly $225,000 to Polska Akcja Humanitarna, a Poland-based humanitarian organization that delivers aid to countries that need it.

“The ongoing war in Ukraine has left us devastated and heartbroken beyond words,” Techland writes on Twitter. “In the past few days, we’ve been focusing on ensuring our employees and their families are safe and receive support. We’ve also joined the efforts of the Polish gaming community in supporting our neighbors from Ukraine by donating 1 million PLN to Polska Akcja Humanitarna – an organization that provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict. We are thinking of the Ukrainian people.” 

Crytek

Crytek, the studio behind the popular Crysis franchise with an office based in Ukraine’s Kyiv capital, released a statement on February 25 to show its support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict happening there. 

“Kyiv has been home to one of the Crytek studios for the last 15 years,” Crytek writes in the statement. “Our focus in Crytek has always been that people come first, so the safety of our colleagues and their loved ones during this uneasy time has been paramount to us. Since the beginning of the week, we have closely followed the situation and been in touch with studio personnel to offer our assistance during difficult times. 

We are deeply saddened by the current events, and our thoughts are with our team as well as all Ukrainian citizens.” 

CD Projekt Red

Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3 creator CD Projekt Red and other Polish-based companies released a statement supporting Ukraine on February 25, The studio made a pledge to give $225,000 to Polska Akcja Humanitarna (a Polish-based humanitarian organisation that provides aid to those in need). 

“The recent invasion on Ukraine, our friends and neighbors, left us shocked and outraged,” the studio writes in a tweet. “In solidarity with all victims of this act of aggression, the CD Projekt Group has decided to support humanitarian aid efforts by donating 1 million PLN to [Polska Akcja Humanitarna].”

Raw Fury

Raw Fury, the publishing label behind titles like Sable, posted a statement of support for Ukraine on Twitter on February 24. 

“Overnight, millions of Ukrainians have fled their everyday lives stolen away from them because of circumstances entirely out of their control,” Raw Fury writes in the statement “Houses lost, families separated, and the atrocity of war surrounding the neighborhoods they call home. All that war touches is devastating, so this is an opportunity for us all to unite as a community and help. 

Raw Fury’s tenet is to treat people like human beings. When conflicts arise like these, it is crucial that humans show compassion for one another. Raw Fury supports the Ukrainian people and will make a donation to the Ukrainian Red Cross. We urge you all to help by donating so that aid can be made readily available for those in need.” 

Vostok Games

Vostok Games, the studio behind Survarium, posted a show of support for Ukraine on February 24 in the form of a picture of the Ukrainian flag with the hashtag “#StandWithUkraine.” 

Frogwares

Frogwares is the company behind The Sinking City as well as the Sherlock Holmes video game. It tweeted February 24th that Russia was attacking its homeland and depriving Ukraine its sovereignty. 

“We can’t just stand by,” Frogwares writes on Twitter. “Russia attacks our homeland and denies the sovereignty of Ukraine. Although we want to be safe, it is not easy. We appeal to everyone to demand that Putin withdraws from our lands. #StopRussianAggression.”

Bungie

Bungie (the developer behind Destiny 2) announced February 24th that it would donate 100% of the profits of the Game2Give Drive’s first 48 hours to humanitarian aid to Ukraine in support of ongoing conflict. 

11 Bit Studios

11 Bit Studios wasn’t afraid to criticize Russia, and it showed support for Ukraine in its defense efforts. The studio also initiated a charity drive February 24. It put This War of Mine, a staunchly anti-war game developed by the studio, on sale on consoles and Steam, and 100% of the profits made during this sale are going to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

11 Bit Studios, a Polish-based studio announced on March 3 that it would donate nearly $700,000.000 to Ukraine. The studio also released this statement alongside its original drive, which details how the Poland-based studio feels about the ongoing conflict:

Game Informer will be updating this story.