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The games industry reacts to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

We'll update this as more statements are published.

Various developers and publishers within the games industry have reacted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and this post aims to gather all relevant statements.

We’ll of course update this list as more statements are released.

How you can help support Ukraine

First, we’d like to post links to various groups that you can donate to should you wish to actively support Ukraine.

International Game Developers Association

“The IGDA extends its support for Ukraine, its people, and the studios and game developers affected by this egregious breach of international law. As an international organization that values community and advocacy, we express our solidarity with Ukraine and our peers, friends, and colleagues within the Ukrainian game development community.”

Read the full statement here.

European Games Developer Federation

“EGDF strongly condemns the Putin regime’s military offence against Ukraine and calls for international support for Ukraine, its people and the Ukrainian game developer community. Ukraine has been, is and will be an important and essential part of Europe and European games culture. During recent years, we have celebrated a boom of local game developer studios in Ukraine building their own highly successful Ukranian games. Furthermore, for years Ukrainian game developers have helped to shape the European games industry across Europe. There are not nearly any national game developer community without Ukrainian members in the EU. ”

Read the full statement here.

11 Bit Studios (This War of Mine)

Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard has suspended all sales in Russia. Read more here.

Asobo Studio

“I can tell you that we are all very much feeling — we have team members from the Ukraine with family sitting there in the country,” Asobo Studio’s Jorg Neumann told Stevivor. “We have developers sitting there. We are in contact when we can and we’re trying to support and… I have to work through how that best is structured.

“It’s not as easy as one wants it to be, but I want to help. We want to help.”

Read more here.

Bandai Namco

Bandai Namco has donated 100 million yen to Save the Children in aid of humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Read more here.

Boosteroid

“The biggest attack on a European state since WW2 began around 5 am EET, February 24, 2022. Since then, residents of the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipro, and other Ukrainian cities and regions have woken up from the sounds of explosions every morning,” Boosteroid wrote in a statement to Stevivor.

“Now, Boosteroid, an international cloud gaming service including the office in Ukraine, along with Ukrainian governmental and non-governmental organizations, is under massive numerous DDoS attacks from Russia.

“Our technical support team of 80 employees is located in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Despite the attacks, we do our best to keep the service running.”

Bungie

CD Projekt Red

Crunching Koalas

Crytivo

Digital Extremes

EA

EA has suspended all sales in Russia. Read more here.

EA Vancouver

Embracer Group

Epic Games

Epic Games has suspended all sales in Russia. Read more here.

Frogwares

Gameloft

GSC Game World

GSC Game World has also paused development on Stalker 2. Read more here.

IO Interactive

https://twitter.com/IOInteractive/status/1499055681562824704/photo/1

Jakub Wasilewski

Microsoft

Microsoft has suspended all sales in Russia. Read more here.

Nintendo

Nintendo has suspended shipments to Russia and has confirmed the eShop is down in the country due to issues with payment systems. Read more here.

Raw Fury

Remedy Entertainment

SCS Software

“We are in close touch with multiple charities to which we have already sent over 20,000€, and more of such direct financial help from our side will come in the upcoming days and weeks. We have also relocated a part of our team to immediately start working on a much needed DLC – the Ukrainian Paint Jobs Pack, which we are racing to bring to the Steam Store as soon as possible and from which we are going to donate 100% of the income towards those in need.”

Read the full statement here.

Sengi Games

Sony

Sony PlayStation has suspended sales in Russia. Read more here.

Thunderful Games

Take-Two

Take-Two has suspended all sales in Russia. Read more here.

TinyBuild

Ubisoft

Ubisoft has suspended all sales in Russia. Read more here.

Vostok Games

Wargaming

“At Wargaming, the safety and security of our employees is the top priority. Currently, all available company resources are helping and supporting our 550+ colleagues: providing them with alternate housing, early salary payments, additional funds to aid travel and relocation.

“We are helping our employees’ families to travel neighboring countries and organizing accommodation for them.

“And lastly, today Wargaming Kyiv are donating $1m to the Ukrainian Red Cross. These funds will be used to support Ukrainian hospitals and doctors, those citizens who have been displaced and other vital activities of the humanitarian organization as is needed.

“We will be able to proceed with further humanitarian help if situation requires.”

Update: Wargaming has also confirmed it has fired Sergey Burkatovskiy after the developer publically supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Sergey Burkatovskiy expressed his personal opinion on social media which categorically does not reflect the position of the company,” a Wargaming representative confirmed to PC Gamer. “He has been let go and is no longer at the company.”

Weasel Token

“We are still living in a hallway, but it could be worse all things considered,” Weasal Token’s Alex Molodkin wrote in a statement to Stevivor.

“Regular air danger alarms, occasional explosions in the distance, and each evening we get some form of ‘this night will be very hard’ warnings since Kyiv is pretty much their main target. But we’re managing to stay sane so far.”

Yevhen8

Photo at top by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash


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About the author

Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.