Activision Blizzard and Epic Games suspend their game sales in Russia

Activision Blizzard has halted new sales “of and in” its games in Russia, the company’s president Daniel Alegre declared in a widely distributed letter to workers (via Eurogamer). Russians are now prohibited from engaging in new transactions with the corporation, which includes both game sales and in-game purchases.

The press release is silent on whether the prohibition applies to both digital and physical games. It does, however, highlight some of the company’s and employees’ efforts to Ukraine and provides information for war-affected workers. The Ukraine crisis comes at a critical point in Activision Blizzard’s history – the business continues to face criticism following a lawsuit filed last year alleging that it fostered a hostile workplace culture.

Activision Blizzard joins an increasing number of video gaming firms that have ceased operations in Russia. Microsoft, which announced its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in January, has taken the unprecedented step of prohibiting “new” sales of its products and services in Russia and Belarus — a prohibition that includes not only Xbox games, but also products associated with Windows, Office, and Microsoft 365.

Meanwhile, EA Games deleted Russian teams from its FIFA and NHL games and then discontinued sales to Russia and Belarus. CD Projekt Red, the developer of Cyberpunk 2077, has taken similar measures, prohibiting physical and digital sales to clients in both nations. Notably, Activision Blizzard has not imposed restrictions on sales to Belarus, Russia’s economic partner. The Verge reached out to Activision Blizzard for comment but did not immediately receive a response.