Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has prompted a response from gaming companies all over the world, among others in different industries. Now, Sony has joined others in protest as the tech giant has confirmed that it is suspending all PlayStation sales in Russia indefinitely.
Sony confirmed its decision in a public statement that was published on its social media accounts. In addition to suspending PlayStation sales and the PlayStation Store in Russia, Sony also committed $2 million in donations to various non-profit organizations supporting the victims of the war, including the UNHCR and Save the Children.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) March 9, 2022
Sony isn’t going to be the last company to suspend operations in Russia. The longer that this conflict continues, the more that Russia’s citizens will feel the brunt of the invasion. The results of effectively halting the video game industry in Russia, as well as movies such as The Batman not premiering in the country, will snowball. However, such decisions don’t come easy for companies who stand to lose a lot by condemning Russia’s accounts. In particular, Russia is one of Sony’s biggest markets, so the company will take a huge hit in its bottom line, which was already suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting PS5 production.
While it’s important to recognize companies who have joined the case, we should remind ourselves not to chastise those that can’t. Russia is a big market for international companies. Most businesses simply cannot afford to just stop sales in the country, especially after taking the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the companies that have stepped forward to boycott Russia are hoping that their efforts can help. When combined with government sanctions, the Russian government might reconsider what it is doing in Ukraine.
In other news, Sony finally held its second State of Play showcase for the year. The event came with a handful of neat surprises, including new games from Japanese video game publisher, Square Enix. Unfortunately, Hogwarts Legacy was nowhere to be found, effectively debunking the earlier rumors.
