Wildfires have ravaged Los Angeles, leaving a tragic aftermath in their wake: over 16,000 homes lost, drinking water tainted, and more than two dozen fatalities. As long-standing residents endeavor to rebuild, support has come in various forms—ranging from contributions to the American Red Cross to individual families’ GoFundMe campaigns. Soon, there will be an innovative avenue for donations: through the purchase of a video game bundle.
The California Fire Relief Bundle is the initiative of indie studio Necrosoft Games, spearheaded by its director, Brandon Sheffield, who organized a team of volunteers to curate the collection. From January 12 to 19, they gathered an impressive 422 games—including popular titles like Tunic, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, and Hoa—on the independent gaming platform Itch.io. Sheffield stated that the collective aims to create the California Fire Relief Bundle, which will be offered at around $10, making it an affordable option for hundreds of games. Proceeds from this bundle, which Sheffield hopes to launch “ASAP,” will support relief efforts to assist Los Angeles-area residents in regaining financial stability.
“I’ve observed many [people] being priced out since living here can be quite costly,” Sheffield, a native Californian, remarked. “So when a disaster like this decreases housing availability, prompts landlords to raise rents, and puts those experiencing homelessness in even more precarious situations, it feels essential for those of us in secure living circumstances to contribute in any way we can.”
Los Angeles occupies a vital position within the video game industry, being home to numerous developers and established studios such as Riot Games, Naughty Dog, and Santa Monica Studio. Before the closure of E3, downtown LA served as the conference’s long-time venue. It is the site of The Game Awards and many smaller gaming events that take place annually. As Sheffield explains, this connection is partly why developers from various backgrounds are joining together to help.
However, there’s another crucial factor at play: climate change. A warming planet escalates the risk of wildfires in California, along with the increased likelihood of hurricanes and other natural disasters. For video game creators, whose products also have a significant environmental footprint, these climate-related issues are “a serious concern for everyone,” Sheffield reiterated.
“This crisis has had a profound impact on our teams, with some Rioters losing their homes and many others still under evacuation orders,” Riot Games stated regarding the fires. The game company also shared plans for in-game fundraising efforts within Valorant and League of Legends. Other gaming companies, including Activision and Sony, are also making contributions to relief initiatives.
A recent report from the organizers of the Game Developers Conference revealed that 16 percent of surveyed developers reported experiencing effects from natural disasters in the previous year. Furthermore, 73 percent of respondents to the “State of the Game Industry” report—created from a survey of over 3,000 individuals—indicated they were impacted by water-related incidents, such as hurricanes, floods, and storms. “Hurricane Milton damaged my home office, leading to significant financial burdens,” shared one developer based in Florida. “Consequently, I can no longer invest as much in my business as I did before.”
