SUMMARYNecrosoft Games and the United Videogame Workers-CWA union launched a pay-what-you-want itch.io bundle with nearly 150 DRM-free PC games to raise money for a hardship fund for laid-off game developers. The bundle, available through August 13, had already raised $57,859 from 3,984 contributors. The fund helps out-of-work or under-employed workers in the U.S. and Canada cover basic necessities such as food and rent.
"An itch.io game bundle put together by Necrosoft Games and The United Videogame Workers-CWA union is a new way gamers can show their support for developers who have been let go amidst the ongoing video game industry labor crisis," writes Kotaku.
Launched Thursday, it's already raised $57,859 from 3,984 contributors. (Average contribution size: $14.52)
The bundle is pay-what-you-want with a minimum purchase price of $10, offering DRM-free PC versions of games including A Short Hike, SkateBIRD, and my favorite game in the pack, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure ... The bundle will be available through August 13.
The gaming blog Rock Paper Shotgun shares more details, starting with this quote from the bundle's page on itch.io:
"Reports say 33% of the industry lost their jobs in the last two years, and the jobs they could fill are disappearing as CEOs try to replace them with AI. It's hard for companies to adjust to the new shape of the game industry, but even harder for the people they should be employing... To address this in some small way, we have created a bundle with almost 150 games. The proceeds of this bundle will go toward a hardship fund for those experiencing layoffs."
Games industry workers currently out of work or under-employed can apply to this fund, which is distributed by the United Videogame Workers, to help out with basic necessities like food and rent. As a note, this is only available to US and Canada-based devs, but there's an FAQ explaining who can apply for the fund.