Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine almost two weeks ago, many major companies have been withdrawing support and services to the world's largest country.
Several game studios have already withdrawn sales of their games in Russia. CD Projekt RED, developers of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, are one of many to halt sales. EA has not only removed its games but also has erased the Russian national and club teams from its sports games. Take-Two Interactive - publisher of GTA, Red Dead, Bioshock, and Borderlands - has also pulled its library of games.
There was perhaps no bigger blow to Russia's media library as when Nintendo suspended all eShop services across the country, with the store entering Maintenance Mode. The store no longer accepts Russian currency, preventing players from purchasing new games. And now, according to Variety, Netflix is the latest company to put internal pressure on the Russian public with hopes of stirring the population to oppose the president, Vladimir Putin.
Based on the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, listen to the story of one survivor in the This War Of Mine trailer. The game's makers, 11 bit studios, have been donating profits from the game to support charities in Ukraine.
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A spokesperson for Netflix said: “Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia.” It also announced it will be making the documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom free for all to watch. The film centres around Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent annexing of Crimea.
Netflix was developing four original series in Russia, but all of those have now been cancelled. Under Russian law the company was previously required to carry 20 Russian channels, a move deemed by many as propaganda. Netflix refused to do so.
If you want to support the situation in the Ukraine, there are a number of studios who are donating profits of their games at this time. Indie developers have also grouped together to support Ukraine, selling bundle of almost a thousand games including Celeste, A Short Hike, and Superhot, which you can pick up from as little as $10.