Charity Bundle Nears $200,000 Target to Aid Workers Affected by Industry Layoffs

A charity bundle on Itch.io, curated by Necrosoft Games, is nearing its goal of $200,000 to support workers impacted by recent layoffs in the US and Canadian gaming industries. With 127 titles available for a minimum of $10, the bundle has already raised over $169,000, with just seven days remaining until its conclusion on August 13. The proceeds will be directed towards a hardship fund established by the United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA) union, which was launched on July 6. This fund, backed by UVW-CWA membership fees, provides two levels of support: the Small Fund, which offers up to $1,000, and the Major Expenses Tier, which provides between $1,000 and $5,000. Eligibility for the fund is not limited to union members; anyone affected by layoffs or related difficulties can access it. The funds can be used for various expenses, including work-related costs, groceries, rent, medical bills, and relocation expenses. Notably, the UVW-CWA hardship fund has already been utilized by a member of the Bethesda Game Studios union, OneBGS, to cover moving costs following significant layoffs at Xbox that affected 440 union members.