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Rovio, Zynga, and Supercell suspend operations in Russia and Belarus

All three have suspended sales across app stores in both countries and disabled monetisation.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

March 10, 2022

1 Min Read

Major mobile game companies Rovio, Zynga, and Supercell have halted sales in Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine.

Angry Birds maker Rovio has pulled all of its titles from app stores in both regions. The Finnish company has also disabled in-app purchases, and won't be releasing any game updates for the foreseeable future.

Notably, Rovio has also pledged all of its in-game ad space in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus to humanitarian organizations such as Unicef.

Zynga, meanwhile, said it has been watching Russia's invasion of Ukraine unfold with "great concern," adding that "after careful consideration we have begun to suspend all installations, monetization, and marketing support across all titles in Russia and Belarus."

The FarmVille and Words with Friends developer also pledged $200,000 to three organizations that are providing relief and support for refugees, and said it would match the donation of any employee who made an additional contribution.

Clash of Clans developer Supercell has adopted a similar stance, pulling its games from app stores in Russia and Belarus, halting new downloads, and suspending access for existing players with a client update.

Outlining its position on social media, the company added that it stands with those calling for peace, and donated €1 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help those displaced by the Russian invasion.

The news comes after other influential game companies including Microsoft, PlayStation, and CD Projekt suspended operations in Russia in solidarity with Ukraine.

About the Author(s)

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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