Game developers voice support for abortion rights following US Supreme Court ruling

The games industry has widely condemned the US Supreme Court’s decision to allow the criminalization of abortion.

Abortion was made legal across the US after a landmark legal ruling in 1973, which is often referred to as Roe vs Wade.

On Friday, the US Supreme Court overturned that ruling, and nearly 30 US states are expected to introduce restrictions or bans on abortion.

In the games industry, many companies have felt compelled to speak out on the issue. Bungie updated its earlier statement, which it made when a draft of the decision was first leaked.

“Bungie is committed to ensuring that every one of our employees and their families have safe and affordable access to essential healthcare needs,” it said. “As we continue to expand our digital-first workplace to more states, we will now be implementing a travel reimbursement program for any employee to use when they or a dependent cannot get access to the healthcare they need where they live.”

Various PlayStation studios  also issued statements. Insomniac wrote on Twitter that “reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are human rights”. Santa Monica Studio echoed this statement, adding that it will “continue to uphold these values and support our team members in receiving access to the care they need.”

Naughty Dog’s statement reads closely the same, while Guerrilla simply stated: “reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are human rights.”

In a statement issued to GI.biz, a Microsoft spokesperson said it would “continue to do everything we can under the law to support our employees and their enrolled dependents in accessing critical healthcare — which already includes services like abortion and gender-affirming care — regardless of where they live across the US.”

It added: “This support has been extended to include travel expense assistance for these and other lawful medical services where access to care is limited in availability in an employee’s home geographic region.”

An Activision Blizzard representative said the company had already expanded its employee coverage.

“Maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all is a top priority for Activision Blizzard and includes supporting the physical and mental well-being of everyone who works here, including their dependents.

“Earlier in June, we announced our expanded medical travel benefits to include coverage for US employees and their dependents who participate in our medical plans and live in areas where access to medical care, including reproductive health, gender-affirming treatment, transplant care, and any other medical care covered by our plans that is not available in a covered person’s state, or within 100 miles of where they live.”

In its own statement, Electronic Arts said it was working with its healthcare provider to soon offer expanded travel health benefits for eligible US employees.

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