How studios support their devs in wartime
Alexis Ong
Tuesday 10th May 2022
Speaking to game companies with staff in Ukraine, despite the devastation of war around them, it seems that some people just want to carry on with their work.
"When you're in a terrible situation you can't control, there's solace in doing something you can control -- which is the project you're working on," says Alex Nichiporchik, CEO at indie label TinyBuild. "Several of our directors have already seen their lives upended by conflict. My own family left everything behind in Donetsk during the Orange Revolution, and are now repeating that nightmare again in Kyiv."
Nichiporchik is originally from Latvia and lives in the Netherlands, where he oversees an international team with offices in the US and Europe. Normally, his role involves playing games, providing feedback and motivating his team. But in the wake of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, he's refocused to help his management team relocate their staff away from danger.
"Many producers have taken to crisis relocation management. The rest of the team are readjusting priorities and focusing on crucial aspects of production and publishing. It's a massive challenge to relocate dozens of people and to re-establish work/life balance."
He adds that the company is also helping its staff to leave Russia. "We will support everyone financially and logistically. They didn't choose the people responsible for these stupid decisions, and we will not abandon people."
Alex Nichiporchik, TinyBuild
TinyBuild isn't alone. Mobile publisher-developers Nordcurrent and Gameloft have been working to get their Ukraine-based employees to safety, while for others, relocation isn't a first option . Frogwares CEO Wael Amr told Financial Times that for them, relocation is a
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