Featured Image Credit: British Red Cross / Zero Punctuation
Topics: Real Life
It has been just over a month since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, and the struggle is still ongoing for residents and those taking part in humanitarian aid.
In the country’s time of need, the gaming industry and gamers alike have donated very generously to the cause. In the days immediately following the invasion, a number of game developers pledged to donate profits from their games for a limited period. 11 bit studios, developer of This War Of Mine, raised an impressive $850,000 in aid, while The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 developer, CD Projekt Red, donated $242,000 raised by profits.
Not only did This War Of Mine raise almost a million dollars for Ukraine, but it helps tell the often untold story of the cost to civilians during war. You can see the story for yourself in the trailer below.
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Passing on profits is only one of the ways that gaming companies moved to raise funds. Almost 800 independent creators donated their works to a collection of almost a thousand games and other media that people could purchase for as little as a $10 donation. The Bundle For Ukraine was popular with gamers, raising almost $6.5 million for Ukraine related charities.
The second largest donor was Humble Bundle which created a similar package. With its Stand With Ukraine bundle featuring over 120 games, books, and software, the organisation managed to raise over $20 million for various charities supporting Ukraine.
However, all these donations have been dwarfed by Epic Games and its free-to-play shooter Fortnite. From the 20 March until 3 April, all the money that players spend on outfits, weapons, emotes, and the like, will go directly to charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine. In the first five days the company reportedly made $70 million which it has already donated. This makes them the largest single donor to the Ukraine Crisis to date.
All the donations from companies and gamers big and small have so far totalled over $114 million, which is indeed nothing to be sniffed at. Sadly the fight isn’t over yet, and those who still wish to donate can do so directly to the British Red Cross’ Ukraine Crisis Appeal here.