Editor's Note: The war in Ukraine is an ongoing, painful and emotive topic. IGN urges community members to be respectful when engaging in conversation around this subject and does not endorse harassment of any kind.
Update 03/04/22: Xbox and EA have formally pulled sales of their games and products in Russia and Belarus, marking more unprecedented responses to the invasion of Ukraine.
EA announced that "games and content, including virtual currency bundles" would be pulled from sale while the conflict is ongoing. That includes sales on EA platforms, inside EA games, and on third-party platforms like console stores. This also includes elements like FIFA Ultimate Team points, one of the main money drivers for EA.
Yesterday, EA Sports announced that Russian teams would be removed from FIFA and NHL games, and EA confirmed that it is "actively evaluating" other areas where similar measures could be taken.
In perhaps the single biggest move of its kind so far, Microsoft has also pulled sales of products and services in Russia, and said that it will provide technology and financial support for humanitarian organizations in the region.
PlayStation also seems to quietly be taking a similar stance, having apparently pulled Gran Turismo 7 from sale in Russia. It has yet to make a formal comment on the matter.
Cyberpunk and The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red has announced it will stop selling games in Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine.
Announced on Twitter (below), CD Projekt said that it was "working with partners to suspend digital sales and cease physical stock deliveries of CD Projekt Red Group products, as well as all games distributed on the GOG platform, to the territories of Russia and Belarus."
Explaining the move, CD Projekt said, "we do believe that commercial entities, when united, have the power to inspire global change." The company also said it knows many Russian and Belarusian individuals will have nothing to do with the war, "but with this action we wish to further galvanize the global community to speak about what it going on in the heart of Europe."
On its investor site, CD Projekt said that it "estimates that the approximate cumulative share of Russia and Belarus in CD Projekt Red product sales and in sales revenues obtained in the GOG.com segment over the past 12-month period was 5.4% and 3.7% respectively."
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) March 3, 2022
Fellow Polish developer Bloober team made a similar announcement earlier today, saying that it will stop selling games in Russia and Belarus across "all platforms". The Medium and Layers of Fear developer said, "We believe a global joint resistance can help make a difference. We want to be a part of a world that doesn’t turn a blind eye to warmongering. And we won’t stay neutral when human lives are at stake."
The moves come a day after Ukraine's deputy prime minister called on "all game developers" to temporarily end support in Russia and Belarus. That post tagged Xbox and PlayStation in particular, who have not responsed publicly, or to IGN on the issue. CD Projekt marks the first AAA-scale developer to publicly pull game sales in the countries, and it will be interesting to see who follows.
Other industries have taken similar actions in the past days, including IKEA and Volkswagen. Notably in the tech world, Apple has now stopped selling products and limited many services in Russia. In the film world, Disney, Sony Pictures, Paramount and Warner Bros. have pulled upcoming movies from release in the country.
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many parts of the games industry have thrown their support behind Ukraine, including a number of fundraising efforts for humanitarian organizations.
A number of humanitarian aid organizations are currently accepting donations and support for their efforts to help Ukrainians impacted by the war. They include:
- Save the Children: On the ground right now providing humanitarian aid to children.
- UNICEF: Providing emergency supplies and safe water to communities, as well as care for children on the ground and who have been separated from families.
- Project HOPE: Sending medical supplies and providing health care for refugees.
Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.