Highlights
- The Necrosoft Games bundle has raised $179,807.21 toward its $200K goal.
- The UVW-CWA hardship fund supports U.S. and Canadian game workers affected by layoffs.
- The $10 bundle includes 127 items from 109 creators and ends Aug 13, 2026.
A game industry charity bundle has raised $179,807.21 USD toward its $200K goal, with five days remaining before it ends on Aug 13, 2026. Hosted by Necrosoft Games on itch.io, the $10 bundle contains 127 items from 109 creators and has attracted 12,928 contributors, with an average contribution of $13.92 and a top donation of $5K.
The fundraiser initially targeted $100K and passed that figure within four days. By Aug 5, it had exceeded $130K with almost 10K purchases. Necrosoft director Brandon Sheffield launched the bundle after describing the current layoffs as an “unprecedented number” of game-developer job cuts. The proceeds support the United Videogame Workers-CWA (UVW-CWA) Game Worker Hardship Fund.
Who Can Access the Game Worker Hardship Fund?
Launched July 6, 2026, the fund covers U.S. and Canadian game workers affected by layoffs or related hardships from January 2024 onward. Mobile, AAA, and indie workers can apply regardless of full-time, part-time, or contract status, and union membership is not required.
The assistance covers expenses such as rent, food, medical bills, and relocation.
The Small Funds Tier handles requests below $1K, while the Major Expenses Tier covers $1K to $5K and requires additional verification. Applications are reviewed according to need and urgency, with responses generally expected within two to three weeks. The fund is available to workers who have been laid off, as well as those who have not been directly laid off but have experienced related hardship.
How the Hardship Fund Supports Developers
OneBGS stated that a member used assistance for relocation after Xbox layoffs affected 440 union members. The fund accepts applications from workers impacted by studio closures, lost freelance work, and other employment-related difficulties, but not companies.
The campaign comes as Lightspeed cut 68 Los Angeles jobs, Refactor Games reportedly closed, and Double Fine cut 23 positions after leaving Microsoft. Microsoft had also announced 3.2K gaming job eliminations.
All bundle proceeds, minus itch.io processing fees, go toward the fund. The organizers and UVW-CWA take no share. Direct donations were not initially available, and the union suggested that future options could use Action Network. Recipients are currently advised to treat assistance as taxable income.
However, AI-generated applications are rejected.
The bundle includes games such as Arranger, SkateBIRD, A Short Hike, Gunhouse, and Hyper Gunsport. Players can support the fundraiser while receiving games from participating creators.
