Ukrainian official calls for Xbox, PlayStation, and others to bar Russian players amid invasion
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, is urging gaming companies like Microsoft and Sony to temporarily pull out of Russian markets and block Russian accounts amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In an open letter published Wednesday on Twitter, Fedorov suggested these actions will “motivate the citizens of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression.” The deputy prime minister specifically called on Microsoft and Sony to bar players on their Xbox and PlayStation platforms. “You are definitely aware of what is happening in Ukraine right now,” Fedorov tweeted. “If you support human values, you should [leave] the Russian market.”
Polygon has reached out to console makers Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo for comment. We’ve also contacted platform holders and esports tournament organizers — like Valve, GOG, Epic Games, Riot Games, ESL Gaming, Intel, and Activision Blizzard. We’ll update this story with information as it comes in.
<a href=«https://twitter.com/Xbox?ref_src=» https: www.polygon.com>@Xbox
<a href=«https://twitter.com/PlayStation?ref_src=» https: www.polygon.com>@PlayStation You are definitely aware of what is happening in Ukraine right now. Russia declare war not for Ukraine but for all civilized world. If you support human values, you should live the Russian market! pic.twitter.com/tnQr13BsSv
The full text from Fedorov’s letter is republished below.
To all game development companies and esports platforms,
The Russian Federation has carried out a deceptive and outrageous military attack on my country! Just imagine, in 2022, cruise missiles attack residential neighborhoods, kindergartens and hospitals in the heart of Europe.
The armed forces and citizens are defending Ukraine
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