Charity
Ongoing coverage on Charity.
Latest coverage
The MOP Up: World of Warcraft’s doggo raises $1.3M for Habitat for Humanity
World of Warcraft successfully raised over $1.3 million for Habitat for Humanity through sales of the in-game pet Roofus. Blizzard donated 100% of the purchase price during the promotion. The article also rounds up other smaller MMO news, including updates for Pokémon Go, Myth of Empires, MapleStory, and Raven2, alongside announcements for RuneFest 2026 and delays for No Rest for the Wicked.
CoD: MW4 DLC Honors Real-Life Medal Of Honor Recipient Who Lost His Eye And Teeth In Grenade Blast
Activision announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will feature a day-one DLC pack called the "Call of Duty Endowment Valor Pack," which includes real-life Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter as a playable character. Proceeds from the pack, launching October 23, will benefit the Call of Duty Endowment charity, which supports military veterans in finding employment.
$62m raised for charity, a sanctuary for marginalised gamers, and a platform for indies: Why Games Done Quick is a beacon of hope for the gaming community
Games Done Quick (GDQ) has raised over $62 million for charities like Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation through its bi-annual speedrunning marathons. The organization has become a vital community hub, providing a safe and inclusive space for marginalized gamers, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, and also serves as a platform to showcase and boost the visibility of indie game developers. GDQ organizers aim to foster greater philanthropy within the gaming industry.
Save the Children announces its first game and streaming fundraising event called Save Point
Save the Children is launching its first game and streaming fundraising event, Save Point, on December 5-6, 2026. The initiative aims to engage the gaming community in supporting charitable causes, with senior fundraising manager Fiona Baxter highlighting its accessibility compared to traditional fundraising methods. The event is part of the 'The One Delivery That Matters' campaign, focusing on essential deliveries for children this Christmas.
GamesAid appoints six new trustees as it raises £82,000 in funding during 2025/26
GamesAid has appointed six new trustees, including Dom Shaw as vice chair, Catherine Anderson as secretary, and Amelia Suchy as treasurer, to its board. The charity successfully raised £82,000 during the 2025/26 period, distributing the funds equally among four children's charities: AFK, Autistica, Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity, and Solving Kids' Cancer UK. These funds will support various initiatives, including providing mobility equipment, granting wishes for ill children, and supporting neurodivergent youth.
Grand Theft Auto Players Fundraise $50k for Sick Fan Trying to Make It to GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto players have raised over $50,000 to support a fan awaiting a lung transplant, aiming to help him live long enough to play Grand Theft Auto VI. The community rallied together to contribute to his medical expenses.
Issues and Activism
Necrosoft Games is hosting a charity bundle that is nearing its $200,000 goal to support workers affected by recent layoffs in the gaming industry. The initiative aims to provide financial assistance to those impacted by job losses.
Charity bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games nears $200,000 goal to support workers affected by layoffs
A charity bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games on Itch.io, offering 127 titles for $10, is nearing its $200,000 goal to support workers affected by recent layoffs in the US and Canada. The proceeds will go to a hardship fund established by the United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA) union, which provides financial assistance for work-related or personal expenses, regardless of union membership.
Devs raise $130,000 in just five days to support laid-off peers
A charity bundle organized by Necrosoft Games has raised over $130,000 in five days to support game developers who have been laid off. The bundle, featuring over 100 games, surpassed its initial goal and is now aiming for $200,000. Funds are distributed by the United Videogame Workers union to provide financial assistance to affected workers.
On Sale
Several games are currently on sale, including the Octopath Traveler franchise and Marvel's Spider-Man on Steam, with Venba offering a 75% discount. Necrosoft Games has also contributed to a hardship fund for the game industry.
On Sale
Wizdom Academy is available on Steam with a 20% discount. Humble is offering several charity bundles, including a 'Rage Inducing Difficult Games' pay-what-you-want bundle and a 'Narrative 12 for $10' bundle.
Issues and Activism
Disney Dreamlight Valley has partnered with the Nature Conservancy of Canada for a charity initiative. Separately, Grand Theft Auto Online players in Australia will no longer be able to use virtual currency for in-game gambling.
On Sale
Several games are currently on sale on Steam, including Animal Shelter 2, Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, and Hell Clock, all with significant discounts. Twin Sails Interactive also announced a "pay what you want" model for 2026, with proceeds going to charity.
EverQuest and EverQuest II offer community and individual incentives for Extra Life fundraising
Daybreak Game Company is encouraging players of EverQuest and EverQuest II to participate in the Extra Life fundraising campaign for Rady Children's Hospital – San Diego. Community fundraising milestones will unlock in-game bonuses such as increased XP and loot, with individual rewards also available for donors and fundraisers.
Guild Wars 2 delivers its delayed balance patch along with a new promo video
ArenaNet released a delayed balance patch for Guild Wars 2 on a Wednesday due to a hardware failure impacting their network. The patch addresses game balance, particularly for PvP, and also reintroduces cats and other pets associated with the 2025 Extra Life charity drive. A new promotional video highlighting all game classes has also been released.
Issues and Activism
Summer Games Done Quick successfully raised $2.4 million for charity. However, the event canceled a sponsored stream with SNK due to ties with Saudi Arabia, sparking discussion about activism within the gaming community.
Summer Games Done Quick raises $2.4 million for charity, cancels sponsored stream with SNK over Saudi Arabia ties
Summer Games Done Quick successfully raised over $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders. However, the event faced backlash and canceled a sponsored stream with SNK due to the company's majority ownership by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, citing human rights concerns. Games Done Quick apologized for the oversight and committed to strengthening its sponsor evaluation process.
Summer Games Done Quick 2026 Raises $2.4 Million for Doctors Without Borders
The Summer Games Done Quick 2026 speedrunning marathon successfully raised over $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders. The event, held in Minneapolis, featured numerous speedruns and raised funds through donations, with proceeds going directly to the humanitarian organization. Future Games Done Quick events include Flame Fatales, a gamescom appearance, and Awesome Games Done Quick 2027.
Weekend Discussion - July 12, 2026
This Weekend Discussion post from Shacknews reflects on various topics including playing Dark Souls 3, a new Bismuth documentary, and the Dune franchise. It also highlights Shacknews articles from the week, such as coverage of QuakeCon 2026, Games Done Quick, and Warframe's future. The post encourages reader engagement in the Shacknews Chatty comment thread.
Summer Games Done Quick 2026: Watch Day 4 here
Summer Games Done Quick 2026 is underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raising money for Doctors Without Borders. Day 4 features a diverse schedule of speedruns across various platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, and retro consoles. The event has already raised over $485,000.
