Ukrainian government calls on gaming companies to cut off Russia during the invasion [Updated]

Update (March 3): Poland Project Red announced this morning It has “taken the decision to stop all sales of our games to Russia and Belarus.” This includes physical deliveries of games published on CDPR and all digital sales on the popular GOG platform. Previous purchases by players in Russia and Belarus will still be available, the company explained in Follow Tweet.

“CD Projekt Group stands firmly with the people of Ukraine,” the company wrote. “While we are not a political entity capable of directly affecting state affairs nor aspire to be a single entity, we believe that business entities, when united, have the potential to inspire global change in the hearts and minds of ordinary people. We know that the players in Russia and Belarus “Individuals who have nothing to do with the invasion of Ukraine will be affected by this decision, but with this action we want to motivate the global community to speak up about what is going on in the heart of Europe.”

at Investor Note Posted along with the decision, CDPR notes that Russian and Belarusian customers accounted for 5.4% and 3.7% of the company’s sales in the past 12 months, respectively.

Original story:

Mikhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, publicly called on “all game development companies” to “temporarily ban all Russian and Belarusian accounts” in response to the Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

at Tweet from his verified accountFedorov also called on esports platforms to “pause the participation of Russian and Belarusian teams and players in all international esports events and cancel all international events held.” [sic] On the territory of Russia and Belarus.

Fedorov suggests that these moves “will motivate the citizens of Russia to preemptively stop disgraceful military aggression” by the Russian government. “In 2022, modern technology is probably the best answer to tanks, multiple launchers…and missiles.”

In an additional note directed to Xbox and PlayStation Twitter accounts, Fedorov wrote that “If you support human values, you should [leave] Russian market! ” Follow TweetFedorov also asked Riot Games, EA, Ubisoft, Gameloft and Wargaming to “close your office in Russia” in solidarity with Ukraine. “There is no place for [an] The aggressor on the global technological map! “

Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Valve representatives were not immediately available to respond to a request for comment. We will update this article if we hear anything from the companies included in Fedorov’s requests.

Supports will lead to action?

The games industry’s open call comes as governments and companies around the world are responding to the invasion by taking important steps to punish Russia and cripple its economy. Many Western governments have Banned the export of most technology products to Russia Russian banks have been largely isolated from the global financial system. Apple has Russian sales of its products have been suspended and has Cut off sanctioned Russian banks From Apple Pay. Fedorov too Ask Apple To prevent Russians from accessing the iOS App Store, a step the company has yet to take.

It owns the International Game Developers Association publicly condemned the invasion It calls for a “flagrant violation of international law” and calls on its members to “condemn the acts of violence committed against Ukraine”. More than 400 game companies have Ukrainian offices, representing 30,000 Ukrainian employees, according to IGDA report on the state of the Ukrainian gaming industry from january.

Video game companies including bungeeAnd the Red Projekt CDAnd the 11 bit studios (This war of mines), GSC Game World (stalking), And the digital endings (the war) publicly pledged to donate a portion of their profits to Ukrainian relief efforts and urged others to do the same. Brandon Sheffield from Necrosoft Games is too Organize a standalone game collection from Itch.io To raise funds for international relief charities operating in Ukraine.

But a few video game companies have taken the most extreme steps suggested by Fedorov to ban Russian customers altogether. Ukraine-based NFT Game Market Dmarket is basic exceptionIt cut ties with Russian and Belarusian users over the weekend.

esports disorders

In the world of traditional sports, organizations including the International Olympic Committee and FIFA already have Banning Russians from participating in international competitions And cancel the planned events for the country.

In esports, the Danish league owns BLAST Premier Russian teams were banned from participating In “Foreseeable Future” events, an upcoming qualifying tournament canceled was felt “inappropriate…at this time.” Riot games too postponed brave Champions Tour Event In the Europe, Middle East and Africa The region, saying its “first priority is to support players, casters, staff and fans affected by the escalating crisis in Ukraine.”

Intel, meanwhile, I decided to host Her high-level master’s event in Katowice is as planned in neighboring Poland with “closely monitoring of the situation in Ukraine”. Ukrainian counter strike Pro Alexander “s1mple” Kostlev I used an interview at that event To emphasize that ‘esport[s] out of politics[s]. All of you have nothing to do with government decisions.”

Having said that, he added, “We all want peace for and for Ukraine [the] the whole world. all of us [are] freaked out. Each of us needs to show [an] Example in this tournament [the] the whole world. We all need to stay human first.”

Kostyliev later Advertise on Instagram He donated 1,000,000 Ukrainian hryvnia (about $33,000) to the Ukrainian army.