The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to widespread condemnation from the international community. This extends to businesses as well, with companies like Apple halting sales or suspending service in response to the Russian invasion.
Rockstar Games parent companyTake-Two Interactiveis the latest firm to take steps against the country.Take-Two Interactiverecently suspended all sales in Russia and Belarus due to their governments’ ongoing military aggression against the neighboring nation of Ukraine.
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According to a recent report by GamesIndustry.biz, the company’shalted all sales in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The publisher is also preventing Russian and Belarusian customers from installing games they already own. Take-Two’s vice president of public affairs, Alan Lewis, explained the decision in a brief statement earlier today. “We have watched recent events unfold in Ukraine with concern and sadness,” said Lewis. “After significant consideration, last week, we decided to stop new sales, installations, and marketing support across all our labels in Russia and Belarus at this time.”
WhileTake-Two isn’t the only publisher to halt business with Russia, it holds special significance. Take-Two’sGrand Theft Auto 5is the third most popular game in the country, surpassed only byDota 2andCounter Strike: Global Offensive,according to market analysis company Newzoo. The game’s popularity can likely be attributed toGrand Theft Auto Online, which accounts for a sizable portion of Take-Two’s income. However, it’s currently unclear if Russian and Belarusian players have access to online features.
Take-Two’s decision is not likely to directly affect Russian President Vladimir Putin or the rest of the Russian leadership. However, neither is it an empty gesture from Take-Two. Instead, the company’s decision is a small part of the more considerable international effort to isolate Russia from the global economy. Such a radical step also carries a degree of symbolic significance that people should not ignore.
As stated above, Take-Two is not the only part of the games industry taking a stand on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Major publishers and developers like Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, CD Projekt, and Bloober Team have all taken similar steps. Additionally,Nintendo suspended all Russian eShop paymentsand placed the service in maintenance mode, while Sony’s canceled the release ofGran Turismo 7in Russia.
Meanwhile, multiple companies have raised money to help the people of Ukraine. Last week The Pokemon Company donated $200,000 to humanitarian relief.Warhammer Vermintide 2developer Fatshark donated around $30,000, with Quantic Dream and Supercell contributing $75,000 and over $1 million, respectively. Finally,This War of Minedeveloper 11 Bit Studiosannounced last week that it was donating the game’s proceeds to the Ukrainian Red Cross.
