Gaming is very much a global passion and this is reflected in the businesses around the world, as well as the communities their work reaches. When there is major conflict happening in the world, concern is natural. There’s an update from Wargaming, the studio behind World of Warships, World of Tanks, and World of Warplanes, and world of tanks on the current situation in Ukraine and their Persha studio, also known as Wargaming Kyiv.
The company released a statement in response to the many questions and inquiries from the community regarding the situation and how Persha employees were affected. This division is, the Ukrainian studio that is primarily focused on World of Warplanes.
Their statement reads, “At Wargaming, the safety and security of our employees is the top priority. Currently, all available company resources are helping and supporting our 550+ colleagues: providing them with alternate housing, early salary payments, [and] additional funds to aid travel and relocation. We are helping our employees’ families to travel to neighboring countries and organizing accommodations for them.“
Wargaming’s effort goes on to acknowledge the situation in Ukraine and announces a donation of US$1 million to Ukrainian Red Cross in order to support Ukrainian hospitals and doctors, in addition to displaced citizens and other care needs for the people. If continued assistance is needed, the company also indicates that they may provide additional humanitarian assistance.
Some of the focus, however has also fallen on former World of Tanks Creative Director Sergey Burkatovskiy. According to PC Gamer, Burkatovskiy made repeated comments in support of Russian action in Ukraine, and the company susequently let him go, re-emphasizing its efforts helping its employees in Kyiv.
Wargaming has helped with humanitarian and other significant causes before. One recent campaign helped an organization for veterans with PTSD, K9s for Warriors ,to obtain service dogs to help them live better lives. These and other causes, especially in light of a major, changing conflict where news images show so many fleeing, it’s a reminder that while gaming is global and yes, billions of dollars trade hands in business every year, there’s always a human component that we can never forget.
