Activision-Blizzard is the latest gaming company to cut ties with Russia in the wake of the country’s recent invasion into Ukraine.
“Today, we are announcing that Activision-Blizzard will be suspending new sales of and in our games in Russia while this conflict continues,” President and COO Daniel Alegre wrote on the company’s site. “We will continue to look at ways to support the Ukrainian people. I want to reassure you that the safety of our employees is our leadership team’s top priority.”
Alegre went on to state that Activision-Blizzard is matching donations at a 2:1 ratio of any employee who donates to relief organizations in Ukraine. “Together we have raised over $300,000 in this effort,” he said. “Next week we plan to add additional charities to choose from for consideration and also will raise the company matching limit from $1,000 to $10,000.”
He also praised “colleagues in Poland” for volunteering to help out with the flood of Ukrainian refugees in the country.
“We stand with the Ukrainian people,” Alegre said.
Further reading on the game industry’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
Source: ctivision Blizzard via Wowhead
Activision-Blizzard is considered a controversial gaming company owing to a long string of scandals over the last few years, including the Blitzchung boycott, mass layoffs, labor disputes, and executive pay fiasco. In 2021, the company was sued by California for fostering a work environment rife with sexual harassment and discrimination, the disastrous corporate response to which compounded Blizzard’s ongoing pipeline issues and the widespread perception that its online games are in decline. Multiple state and federal agencies are investigating the company as employees strike and call for Bobby Kotick’s resignation. As of 2022, the company is being acquired by no less than Microsoft.
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