A massive bundle of games has been made available as part of a charity bundle on itch.io to help support victims of war in Ukraine. Several organizations have been involved in charitable contributions towards Ukraine over the past few weeks, and gaming companies are no exception. With this bundle, itch.io is joining the likes of CD Projekt Red and 11 Bit Studios when it comes to aiding those involved in this tragic conflict.
For a while now, itch.io has been a good place to go for games that are a bit off the beaten path. It has become a hub for indie creators and smaller developers to share their more experimental or low-budget projects with the world, and often for a very reasonable price. The website is stuffed with horror, RPG, and action games from these lesser-known studios and one-person developers, though it is not uncommon to see well-established or viral titles for sale as well. On top of this, several philanthropic efforts have been made through the platform, with a recent notable example being last year's massive Palestinian aid bundle on itch.io.
Thankfully, these sorts of initiatives are continuing to find a home on itch.io, as evidenced by this recent Ukraine package. Helmed by indie studio Necrosoft, the dizzyingly large bundle comes with just under 1,000 games. Many of these games are smaller titles that most are unlikely to have heard much about, but some high-profile releases such as Superhot, Figment, and Celeste are also included in this massive package. All proceeds from the purchases of the bundle will be going to the organizations Voices of Children and International Medical Corps. The entire bundle of 992 games can be purchased for just $10.
Perhaps the most striking part of this charity event is the low price of the bundle. However, it should be noted that this is just the minimum contribution, and Necrosoft's statement accompanying the bundle urges users to offer more than that minimum. Gaming companies such as GSC Game World, developer of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, are greatly affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, so anyone who feels passionate about the world of gaming would do well to consider donating above the minimum price if they can.
Many use video games as a form of escapism and would rather not hear about real-world conflicts like the one in Ukraine while shopping for or playing games. However, it's also important for gamers to remember that the gaming industry is massive, with a globe-spanning consumer base. If that consumer base can be used to help support those suffering through initiatives like this itch.io bundle, then that is nothing but a good thing.
Source: itch.io