A charitable bundle on Itch.io is currently supporting industry workers impacted by layoffs in the US and Canada, and it is nearing its $200,000 fundraising goal.
Necrosoft Games is the host of this bundle, which includes 127 titles available for a minimum price of $10.
With seven days remaining, the bundle has already raised over $169,000. The offer will conclude on August 13.
All proceeds from the bundle will go towards a hardship fund established by the United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA) union, which was launched on July 6.
This fund, funded by UVW-CWA membership fees, offers two tiers of support: the Small Fund, providing up to $1,000, and the Major Expenses Tier, offering between $1,000 and $5,000.
The UVW-CWA hardship fund is open to anyone affected by layoffs or similar challenges, irrespective of union membership status.
Recipients can utilize the funds for various expenses, including work-related costs, groceries, rent, medical bills, and moving expenses.
OneBGS, a union at Bethesda Game Studios, shared a story about a member who utilized the hardship fund to cover moving costs following significant layoffs at Xbox that impacted 440 union members.