Evoplay makes emergency relocations due to Ukraine conflict

The game development studio has implemented emergency contingency plans due to Russia’s increasingly brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine.- The game development studio Evoplay has implemented emergency contingency plans to relocate its teams due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of the Ukraine. It has relocated some staff from Kiev to Cyprus and others to a new office in Lviv, in western Ukraine, away from the capital.

Evoplay said 15 per cent of its staff had relocated to Cyprus and that it was providing team members with the means to relocate. Those that remain in Ukraine are now working and living at new facilities in Lviv, which remains relatively safe from the Russian attack.

The company has launched a fund to provide support to help team members relocate and has donated to charities helping on the ground in Ukraine. Many of its staff are also helping personally with relief efforts. The studio said it would continue to operate as normal from its new locations across Europe and that its schedule for the year will not be affected.

Evoplay chief executive Ivan Kravchuk said: “As a Ukrainian company at heart, and true advocates of world peace, we can not stand idle at such a challenging time and have pledged to support the Ukrainian relief effort in any way we can.

“We will channel every resource we have at our disposal into efforts to rehouse our Ukraine-based team members. Supporting the wider needs of Ukraine during such a dark time in our history is the least we could do, and we pledge to do everything we can to support humanitarian efforts on the ground as the situation develops. We thank all of our friends and partners for their kind words of support.”

Meanwhile, Aristocrat Leisure says it has helped more than two thirds of Ukraine-based Pixel United staff and their families to relocate.

A Gaming Industry for Ukraine fundraising drive on gofundme.com has already reached £206,000, putting it well on its way towards its £250,000 target. The initiative aims to raise funds for the Choose Love charity’s Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser.

To date, the largest donation by far is £50,000 from Betsson Group. Companies including Better Collective, Enteractive, Funfair Games, Just for the Win, Microgaming and OLBG have also contributed as have FSB Technology and Clarion Gaming.

Many gaming operators have responded to the humanitarian crisis generated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Soft2Bet has announced a charity event, and SOFTSWISS has suspended all marketing activities to provide financial support to organisations that are helping Ukrainian citizens.

Slava Zhuk, advisor at Turbo Games, has called on all operators to block their services for the Russian Federation and Belarus. Genius Sports has already taken up the call and ceased commercial operations in Russia, as has the gaming provider BETER.

Meanwhile, both the Malta Gaming Authority and Britain’s Gambling Commission have warned operators to ensure they apply checks to comply with sanctions against Russia following its invasion of its neighbour.