If you’re paying any attention to the current US news, you know that large parts of dense Los Angeles, California, are under siege by five wildfires that are consuming whole neighborhoods, with thousands of buildings destroyed, over 30,000 people evacuated thus far, multiple people killed, and firefighters trucking in from around the country to help subdue the blazes – thus far unsuccessfully.
Given how many people live in LA, chances are you know somebody affected, but even if not, you definitely know some game studios that might be, as multiple companies are headquartered in and around the city.
To wit: Activision Blizzard’s main base of ops is located in Santa Monica, which declared a local state of emergency as the Palisades fire ripped through Malibu and pushed toward the town. FOX LA reported this morning that over 10,000 Santa Monica households were already under some level of evacuation warning.
PC Gamer snagged a quote from an Activision-Blizzard rep. “Employee safety and well-being is our top priority,” the spokesperson told PC Gamer on Wednesday morning. “We’re actively monitoring the situation as it is quickly evolving. We’ve been in contact with the employees closest to the impacted areas to confirm their safety and provide resources.”
Riot Games and Insomniac (and therefore, their local staff) are also in zones under threat; Riot Games is based in West LA, right next to Santa Monica, while Insomniac is in Burbank, near the edge of the Eaton fire consuming Pasadena right now.
“My heart goes out to my former Riot fam and anyone else dealing with these horrific fires (including a half dozen FPC folks),” Fantastic Pixel Castle and Project Ghost boss Greg Street said.
My heart goes out to my former Riot fam and anyone else dealing with these horrific fires (including a half dozen FPC folks)
— Greg Street (@Ghostcrawler) January 8, 2025
Numerous TV and movie shoots are also on hold after the agency responsible for permits withdrew them, citing a lack of resources during the state of emergency. Most notably for our readers, that includes the Fallout TV show, which was set to film its second season in Santa Clarita.
Hearts going out to the devs and our readers in the region right now. Stay safe, folks.
“For Rioters reading this, please remember, the mission and the work will always be there. Right now, what matters most is taking care of yourselves and each other. It takes a village to do what we do and we are all in this moment together. For those in our offices around the world who have been reaching out, your support has been incredible — we’re reminded once again how strong a team Riot truly is. […] [W]hen the time is right, Riot will be ready to stand up for Los Angeles and give back in every way we can to all of these communities that mean so much to who we are. After all, while our reach is global, the heart of Riot Games has always been in Los Angeles. Los Angeles raised us and we are proud to call this great city our home.”
