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UPDATE 6/25/22: Many more video game companies — including Xbox, Bethesda, Ubisoft, and Humble Bundle — have come out in support of abortion rights after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
According to the likes of Insomniac Games and Sucker Punch, including Sony developers Bending Studio and London studio posted similar support saying “Reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are human rights”.
The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog shared a longer message on Twitter and said it “believes that reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are fundamental human rights and essential to the health and well-being of all.”
“We will continue to uphold these values and actively support all of our employees to receive the care they need and want,” she added. God of War studio Sony Santa Monica has released one similar message.
Aside from Sony, other major publishers have also made their own statements in support of reproduction rights.
A statement shared on Xbox’s official Twitter feed Read: “At Xbox, we remain committed to our employees’ equal access to health care. We will continue to do everything we can legally do to support our employees and enrolled dependents in accessing critical health care.” It added, “Our US health plans cover lawful medical benefits such as abortion and gender-affirming care, and we have recently expanded our travel benefits to include travel expense assistance for covered medical services.”
Other Microsoft-owned studios shared similar views. “We believe that the ability to make choices about one’s body and lifestyle is a human right,” said Bethesda in a brief statement on Twitter, while Double Fine – one of the first studios to speak out after initial reports of the Supreme Court’s plans last month – wrote“The overturning of Roe v Wade is a direct attack on people’s safety and rights. Your body is your body. We encourage donations to local funds/organizations that fight for these rights.”
Ubisoft wrote“We fully support our teams in the US. Today and every day, we believe that reproductive rights are human rights, women’s rights are human rights, trans rights are human rights, and equal rights for all are essential to a world where everyone can be their authentic selves and thrive.”
EA — which came under criticism last month after it reportedly turned down requests from employees to make a public statement in support of reproductive rights and trans rights — likewise shared a statement, albeit without direct reference to reproductive rights or bodily autonomy. “Our support for our people is unwavering,” it wrote on Twitter. “We are committed to expanding our benefits for US employees and their eligible dependents – our goal is to provide care, support and services related to the health and well-being of our employees.” Apex Legends Developer Respawn shared an identical statement on your own account.
EA’s own studio Maxis was a little more direct on his Sims 4 account and writes: “We understand that it’s hard today. For those who play The Sims, play has always been about being who you want to be, loving who you want to love, and creating the life you want to live. Our game reflects our unwavering belief that everyone has the right to choose how they want to live their life without judgement, including the right to bodily autonomy.” It also included a list of resources for those in need of support.
Other developers and publishers have also spoken out. Devolver Digital shared a simple, direct“Reproductive rights are human rights.”, while Among Us developer Innersloth opted for a longer message. “Innersloth supports reproductive choice and freedom,” it wrote. “The end of constitutional abortion rights is a gender, racial, economic and human rights catastrophe for present and future generations. There are so many people and local organizations to support. If you can, lend them your voice, time, action, money, or privilege. We stand by all those affected.”
It shared links to a number of these organizations including Abortion Funds, The Brigid Alliance, Trans Lifeline, In Our Own Voice and Plan C.
Humble Bundle, as part of a lengthy statement, pledged to use its platform and community to support charities working on reproductive rights and freedom in the coming weeks. “Today’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade seriously undermines the rights that all people should have to make decisions about their bodies and their health and well-being,” she wrote. “Reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are basic human rights, period.”
“We are committed to ensuring that all Humble employees have access to safe, affordable and essential health care, including reimbursement for travel that may be required as a result of today’s decision,” it continued.
“We are also working on ways our platform and community can support charities that champion reproductive choice and freedom.
“We will have more to share in the coming weeks, but in the meantime we encourage the Humble community to donate directly to organizations dedicated to fighting for these rights, including the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Guttmacher Institute, the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, or Planned Parenthood if possible”.
Expect more companies to speak out and pledge support and support for their employees as the fallout from the US Supreme Court decision continues.
ORIGINAL STORY 14/6/22: Bungie and a number of PlayStation studios, including Insoniac and Sucker Punch, have spoken out in favor of reproductive rights following today’s decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn key laws granting individuals the constitutional right to have an abortion — a move that will… US states benefit from the power to either severely restrict or ban the practice.
Bungie was one of the first studios to issue a statement in May after the US Supreme Court’s plans to overthrow Roe v Wade were leaked to the press, calling the move a “direct attack on human rights.” In a new statement shared today, it added to that sentiment, “It is not a difficult decision to make a commitment to reproductive choice and freedom, and Bungie remains committed to upholding those values.”
“Last month we unreservedly stated that we all deserve to choose our own path and access the healthcare we need,” the developer continued. “The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade excludes millions of Americans from that access and leaves open the possibility of even further restrictions on life-saving healthcare for all of us.”
Bungie also reiterated its commitment to “ensuring that all of our employees and their families have safe and affordable access to essential health care,” noting that this will be “now as it continues to expand its digital-first workplace to more states.” expands Establishment of a travel reimbursement program for each employee, which can be claimed if he or a family member cannot access the health care he needs in his place of residence”.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to championing reproductive choice and freedom,” the developer concluded.
In addition to Bungie, a number of key PlayStation studios have released statements in response to today’s Supreme Court ruling. Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac Games wrote, “We are people who make games. Reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are human rights.” Dreams developer Media Molecule and Ghost of Tsushima studio Sucker Punch shared similar messages on their own Twitter accounts, saying, “Reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are human rights.”
The public support from these developers is particularly noteworthy given that a Washington Post report last month claimed that Sony had refused to authorize any reproductive rights statements its PlayStation studios wanted to make. Insomniac boss Ted Price reportedly told staff he believed “there would be material repercussions” if the studio went against Sony’s wishes. In response to that report, Bungie — whose acquisition by Sony was announced in February — said “there will never be a ‘muzzle’ big enough to stop us from standing up for what’s right.” It seems that Sony has since decided to reverse its alleged policy.
To conclude its recent statement, Bungie shared a list of organizations that support the right to health care for those who wish to donate:
