Video game companies respond to the Supreme Court’s abortion decision

The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Roe v. Wade on Friday. This deprived Americans of their constitutional right to decide whether or not to have an abortion. The United States had protected Americans’ rights to abortion for half a century; the landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization undoes decades’ worth of progress and introduces the possibility that other established rights could be overturned, like the right to same-sex marriage and contraception.

Individual states are free to make their own decisions about whether or not abortion is legal. Nine states, in fact, have banned it since the Supreme Court’s decision. According to the New York Times twelve additional states may restrict or prohibit access to abortion care. People seeking abortion in these states will be forced to travel out-of-state to receive healthcare, and if they’re unable to travel, they’ll have no other recourse.

The Verge reported that banning abortions in many states would tie healthcare more tightly to the employers and work places. Many companies now have statements declaring that they will support workers who travel for this procedure, after Roe v. Wade was overturned. By adding medical travel benefits and abortion coverage to their healthcare plans, video game studios have joined other industries. Employers have extraordinary power to grant funding requests for essential healthcare to workers in affected areas. In the absence of a national right to health care, businesses must intervene to highlight inequalities within the system.

Destiny 2Bungie, the developer of Bungie, was the first studio to release a statement about the Supreme Court decision. “Bungie is committed to ensuring that every one of our employees and their families have safe and affordable access to essential healthcare needs,” a Bungie representative wrote on its website. “As we continue to expand our digital-first workplace to more states, we will now be implementing a travel reimbursement program for any employee to use when they or a dependent cannot get access to the healthcare they need where they live.”

Bungie has also partnered with a variety of healthcare organizations, including Trans Lifeline and Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equality.

Microsoft, Bethesda which is part of Microsoft’s ownership, Ubisoft, Devolver Digital Daybreak GamesNaughty Dog and Insomniac have made public statements supporting reproductive rights. Activision Blizzard has not yet made a statement on social media, but it told Polygon that “maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all is a top priority” for the company, noting that it recently expanded its medical travel benefits plan.

Activision Blizzard has not responded to Polygon’s request for more information on how it will protect the privacy of employees who need to ask their employer for healthcare-related travel and funds. In response to the same question, an Electronic Arts spokesperson said the company is working with its healthcare provider “to determine that process.”

Halo Infinite Texas is home to Certain Affinity, a support developer. Texas was the state that banned abortions following the Supreme Court’s ruling. The representative for the company said that they will continue to have their headquarters in Texas but that they are expanding remote work opportunities for those who wish to relocate.

“We have committed to relocate any of our employees who are severely impacted by state laws, whatever state they’re in, to another state, should the need arise,” a Certain Affinity representative said. “This applies to all health matters.”

Polygon reached 28 companies located in immediate impacted states, asking them questions about abortion care. Daybreak Games, Electronic Arts and Microsoft all pointed us at social media, statements posted on websites, and Activision Blizzard issued a statement. Certain Affinity answered Polygon’s questions through a spokesperson. Many did not respond to Press Time. Zynga and Take-Two Interactive declined to comment.