After protests erupted in cities all over the United States in response to the police killing of George Floyd, a large number of studios and other game companies have made donations to the Black Lives Matter and other organizations like the NAACP and Color of Change. Companies from all corners of the industry have made contributions while encouraging others to do the same.
Pokemon Go developer Niantic is donating proceeds from Pokemon Go Fest 2020 ticket sales, committing to a minimum of $5 million, to “Black gaming and AR creators that can live on the Niantic platform” and “US nonprofit organizations that are helping local communities rebuild.” It is also donating $100,000 to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute while also matching employee donations up to another $50,00.
EA is donating $1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, and other organizations in the future. It is also double matching any funds people donate through their YourCause program during the month of June.
Ubisoft is making an $100,000 contribution to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter while encouraging others to donate.
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
Devolver Digital and its employees combined in donating $65,000 in support of Black Lives Matter.
The individual employees of Devolver Digital and the company itself have donated $65,000 in support of the Black Lives Matter movement through the link below.
We urge industry peers and partners to donate as they are able.#BlackLivesMatterhttps://t.co/6mbe9Z1xrv— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) June 2, 2020
Humble Bundle announced a $1 million dollar fund dedicated to helping publish games by black developers.
Square Enix is pledging $250,000 to Black Lives Matters and other charities, along with matches from employee donations, in order “to help combat racial injustice and positively affect change in the world.”
The Pokemon Company is making a $100,000 donation to both the NAACP and Black Lives Matter.
Bossa Studio, the development team behind Surgeon Simulator, is donating $100 per employee and matching individual donations.
Independent game storefront itch.io is hosting the “Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality” with all proceeds going to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Community Bail Fund. Any developer can offer their game as part of the bundle with a minimum price of $5. It has received more than $1.6 million thus far.
Journey developer thatgamecompany is donating $20,000 to Black Lives Matter and the NAACP.
Double Fine is donating $12,000 to Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Color of Change.
EVO, the Las Vegas-based fighting game tournament organizer, is donating $7,500 to both the NAACP and Lake Street Council’s We Love Lake Street project, a fundraising effort to rebuild businesses destroyed by looting on one of Minneapolis’s major streets.
Games Done Quick is donating $2,500 to the Lake Street Council as well as giving all proceeds received from Twitch bits and subscriptions for the month of July to the NAACP.
Untitled Goose Game developer House House is donating $10,000 split evenly between Black Lives Matter and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
Complete solidarity with everyone across the US protesting against systemic white supremacy in the face of police violence.
We’ve donated $10,000 to be split amongst 60+ community bail funds and mutual aid funds.
Abolish cops. Black lives matter.https://t.co/0Bqrn4Hn6p— House House (@house_house_) June 4, 2020
Valorant and League of Legends developer Riot Games is committing $1 million to fighting systematic racism.
GameSpot has officially kicked off Play For All–a celebration of all things gaming. Join us as we bring you the summer’s hottest news, previews, interviews, features, and videos, as well as raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts and Black Lives Matter with the help of our friends from around the gaming world. Check out the Play For All schedule for more.
