Indie game bundle saving buyers over $1,000 in support of laid off developers has raised over $100,000 in three days
An itch.io game bundle raising money for laid-off video game developers has generated over $100,000 in donations within just three days of launching. The bundle supports the Game Industry Hardship Fund, established in July by the CWA video game union to provide financial relief to North American developers affected by the industry's ongoing wave of layoffs, highlighting continued grassroots efforts to support workers hit by job cuts across the games sector.
The bundle offers 127 games for a minimum donation of $10, with buyers able to contribute more if they wish, representing a saving of over $1,000 compared with buying the titles individually, as their combined value totals $1,023. So far 7,194 people have contributed, with an average donation of $13.96 and a top single contribution of $2,000. Notable included titles are Skatebird and A Short Hike, and the bundle remains available for just over ten more days.
- Itch.io bundle for laid-off developers hits $100,000 in three days
- Supports CWA union's Game Industry Hardship Fund for North American workers
- 127 games, $10 minimum, over 7,000 contributors so far
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Video game layoffs have been running at a heavy pace for the past couple of years, with thousands of jobs cut across major studios and publishers as the industry pulls back from pandemic-era hiring. Many affected workers are based in North America and have limited financial support once they lose their jobs. In July, the CWA video game union set up the Game Industry Hardship Fund to offer direct financial relief to developers hit by these cuts.
To raise money for the fund, a bundle of 127 independent games has been made available on itch.io, a website where independent developers sell and share games directly with players. Buyers pay a minimum of $10, though they can give more, in exchange for access to all the games, which would otherwise cost over $1,000 combined if bought separately.
Bundles like this are a long-running tradition in the indie games community, often organised in response to disasters, strikes or causes affecting developers and workers. They rely on voluntary donations from players rather than any formal industry or government support, and their success is generally seen as a reflection of how much backing such causes attract from the wider gaming public.