Yesterday, the Supreme Court shocked (sort of, if you don’t consider the original SCOTUS leak) with news that it overturned Roe v. Wade. The ruling promptly shifts the responsibility of abortion law to the states, where 6 SCOTUS Judges ruled it belongs.
Of course, outrage over the decision ensued immediately in the form of protests and some riots.
Scenes out of Los Angeles, at times, appeared dramatic and violent as some protesters attacked police.
View this post on Instagram
The decision, the result of a 6-3 vote, triggered many states to issue partial or full abortion bans.
The gaming community was quick to respond. Porn Games is currently making decisions in regards to potential ways to reimburse employees who may need an out of state health procedure.
The gaming community was quick to respond. Bungie CEO Pete Parsons described yesterday as “a difficult day for our country.”
This is a difficult day for our country. Good people will be hurt by this decision. Bungie will do whatever we can to protect our people and ensure they can live happy, healthy lives.
— pete parsons (@pparsons) June 24, 2022
Shortly behind Parsons, Insomniac Games called for “reproductive freedom.”
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) June 24, 2022
Sony Santa Monica deemed reproductive freedom a fundamental human right in a tweet.
— Santa Monica Studio – God of War Ragnarök (@SonySantaMonica) June 24, 2022
However, there was a bit of an awkward take regarding gaming companies going public over their opinions. PlayStation president Jim Ryan urged PlayStation employees to respect differences in opinions and didn’t want gaming companies to share public their sentiments either way. Some Sony studios did so anyways.
Ryan later reversed his stance coming out for abortion rights.
The list of gaming companies lending their voice and contempt to the overturning of Roe v. Wade was seemingly endless by yesterday evening.
— PlayStation London Studio is Hiring! (@LondonStudioHQ) June 24, 2022
— Sucker Punch Productions 🎮 Ghost of Tsushima (@SuckerPunchProd) June 24, 2022
There is no doubt we’re in for a rocky ride as partisan politics, protests, and divisiveness over the issue continue into the summer. For gaming companies who offer health insurance, they’ll need to decide if they plan to pay for travel expenses for women seeking procedures out of state.