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Indie Itch.io Bundle Raises Tens of Thousands for Union Hardship Fund for Laid-Off Game Workers

A pay-what-you-want sale is sending proceeds to a United Videogame Workers–CWA fund that makes fast, tiered cash grants to affected developers in the U.S. and Canada.

Overview

  • Organizers led by Necrosoft Games launched the Game Industry Hardship bundle on itch.io in late July with a $10 minimum and have gathered tens of thousands in donations for the UVW‑CWA fund.
  • The bundle donates all proceeds minus itch.io processing fees directly to the union-run fund and one outlet reported the total as just shy of $30,000 at the time of its coverage.
  • The hardship fund has two fast-track application tiers for immediate aid—under $1,000 and $1,000 to $5,000—and UVW says it has already distributed upwards of $25,000 to roughly 30 applicants.
  • The sale includes more than 100 games and related items with an estimated combined retail value around $1,000 and will remain available for roughly two weeks from its late‑July launch.
  • Organizers and coverage place the fundraiser in the context of an ongoing industry layoff crisis that has displaced large numbers of developers and left many facing housing, food, and health-care shortfalls.