Since the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, protests have sprung up across America to rally against police violence and fight for racial equality. In following, numerous game developers, publishers, and other figures in the gaming industry have voiced their support for the cause. Some have gone the extra step and donated to the various charities and causes supporting the movement.
Humble Bundle has announced a $1 million fund with the sole purpose to help develop games made by black developers. This announcement was made yesterday during Blackout Tuesday, which was a movement designed to highlight and support black creators in all fields. Black creators in film, TV, art, video games, and more were all included in the movement yesterday. Humble Bundle also asked its users to support the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or Race Forward, as these organizations currently can’t be picked as supportable charities through Humble Bundle purchases.
— Humble Bundle (@humble) June 2, 2020
Ubisoft has also donated $100,000 USD to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. In a statement, the company said: “The killing of George Floyd and the systemic racism faced by the Black community is deeply disturbing and painful.” Devolver Digital contributed by donating $65,000 in support of Black Lives Matter. Its donation was made through ActBlue, which lets its users split their donations between multiple different organizations. This has been encouraged by organizations like the Minnesota Freedom Fund due to the overwhelming amount of donations that it has received.
Bossa Studios, the developer of the Surgeon Simulator series, is also donating $100 for every employee and matching individual employee donations made to Black Lives Matter. Fusebox Games, the developer of Love Island, donated all of its profits made yesterday, June 2, to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, a U.K. charity that helps disadvantaged youth.
We stand in solidarity with Black team members, players, and the Black community. We are making a $100,000 contribution to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter and encourage those who are able to, to donate. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/KpHZCF6VWx
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) June 2, 2020
Itch.io is creating a pay-what-you-want Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality. When users make a minimum $5 purchase, the funds will be split between the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and ActBlue’s Community Bail Fund. This bundle will be available from June 5 – 15. The developer of Journey, thatgamecompany, is making a $20,000 donation to Black Lives Matter and the NAACP.
Games Done Quick has also made a $2,500 donation to Lake Street Council’s “We Love Lake Street,” which is a project supporting the rebuilding of small businesses and nonprofits on Lake Street in Minneapolis. They have also pledged that all the revenue made by Twitch subscriptions and bit donations during the month of June will be donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/5jfbvvlW9Y
— Games Done Quick (@GamesDoneQuick) June 1, 2020
Square Enix has pledged $250,000 to support Black Lives Matter and other charities including Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Antiracist Research and Policy Center, Equal Justice Initiative, and Colorlines, and has also promised to match individual employee donations. The Evolution Championship Series, or EVO, has likewise donated $7,500 each to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the We Love Lake Street project.
Lastly, as of now, Electronic Arts is donating $1 million to organizations around the world, beginning with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Equal Justice Initiative. Like Square Enix, it has also promised to match all employee contributions made through its internal “Yourcause” program during the month of June.
https://t.co/4gTbBEHvnR pic.twitter.com/PUgGeUriMX
— Electronic Arts (@EA) June 3, 2020
It is a wonderful thing to see developers and publishers large and small all coming together to help those in need. We will update this list with other contributing parties as news comes in. You can also use any of the links provided in this article to make your own donations as well. We are stronger together, and together we can achieve true justice for all.
Published: Jun 3, 2020 04:30 pm