Before I discuss this topic, I want to highlight again the drive for people in crypto to donate to Ukraine and help the victims of the war. If you have $WAXP, you can click here to read how you can contribute as we have. For Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, or Polkadot, here are the official addresses:

Please remember, this is a difficult and emotional topic, so be respectful when discussing it. We proudly support Ukraine and want to do anything we can to help the innocent caught in the war.

Mythical Games Suspends Russian Users

Mythical Games, creator of the popular social blockchain game, Blankos Block Party, has announced on its Twitter that as of Friday 4th March 2022, their websites and servers will be blocking Russian users.

We have seen action taken all across the gaming industry in a similar fashion, with the likes of Activision Blizzard, EA Games, Microsoft, and Epic Games, all banning new sales of their games in Russia. Mythical’s move is slightly more aggressive as it is banning current players as well as new players.

Thoughts and Analysis

Token Gamer has little business talking about politics generally, but this is an instance with a huge overlap. We are actively supporting the humanitarian aid efforts to help victims in Ukraine and will continue to do so, but I must admit, I find some of these bans conflicting, even if necessary as part of a larger effort to halt Russia’s attack.

What I believe most of us take umbrage with is the murdering, displacement, suffering, and fear inflicted upon innocent people, wherever they may be from, and for me at least, that does include Russians who oppose Putin’s war.

Plenty of people in Russia are against Putin’s move into Ukraine, but loud opposition can have dire consequences, with reports of beatings, imprisonment, and worse, at protests in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Despite being powerless and under dictatorial rule, Russian citizens are being crushed under the weight of sanctions and an impending recession.

The moves made to put pressure on Russia are necessary, but there is a strong Russian presence in blockchain gaming and I can’t help but feel sorry for the Russian citizens who oppose the war and are caught very much in the crossfire.

This isn’t a criticism of Mythical Games or any other sanction, to be clear, but rather an observation of yet another (far) smaller consequence of a horrifying situation.