Bandai Namco Entertainmenthas announced it will be making a sizable donation in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. By doing so,Bandai Namcojoins a list of other game studios offering support to the Ukrainian people, seeking to help address the humanitarian disaster triggered by Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
Bandai Namco is a significant video game publisher based in Tokyo, Japan, with a catalog of games spanning over 40 years. The company owns and develops a number of major titles and franchises, includingPac-Man,Tekken,Dark Souls, and thecritically acclaimed and bestsellingElden Ring.
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In a message posted on Twitter by the BandaiNamcoUS account, the company announced it would be donating 100 million yen to a charity organization, Save the Children, to support humanitarian efforts for those who are impacted by the Ukraine crisis. The message concludes by expressing wishes that those affected by the war can return to “peaceful days as soon as possible.” At current market rates, the donation is the equivalent to approximately $850K USD.
The global game industry has largely condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a number of major game organizations showing support for the Ukrainian people. Recently,Humble Bundle announced it would sever business ties with Russiaand Belarus, describing Russia’s invasion as “unlawful.” Meanwhile, Sony took a huge step in announcing it would suspend PlayStation sales in Russia, as well as halting PlayStation Store services in the country. Both companies have also donated money to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Last month,CD Projekt Red was among the first game studios to donateto the Ukrainian humanitarian cause, offering 1 million PLN (approximately a quarter of a million USD) to Polish Humanitarian Action. The studio, which is based in Poland, is behind games such asCyberpunkandThe Witcher. Since then, other gaming studios have shown support for Ukraine, includingDestinydeveloper Bungie.
The ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a horrifying and dreadful situation, not only for Ukraine, but for the world. As major countries begin sanctioning Russia, multinational companies have begun pulling products and services from the country, in many cases severing business ties. The video game industry has been no exception. The wider gaming community andgame developers have come together to raise money, and Bandai Namco’s donation is another welcome display of support for those in Ukraine who have been affected by Russia’s invasion.
