As an unprecedented snowstorm continue to spread throughout Texas, many communities are struggling to adapt, including the video game industry. Many studios in the area, including giants like Electronic Arts, have now been forced to shut down due to power outages.
Due to the storm, Texas ordered a statewide blackout to ensure that the power grid does not collapse. Some of the studios that have been affected by these regulations are EA, Aspyr Media, Certain Affinity, and Owlchemy Labs, which have all halted operations in Texas for the week, according to statements received by Kotaku. This, in turn, forced many people to work from home.
EA in particular contracts over 700 people in the Austin, Texas, area. In a public statement to the community, the company said it decided to allow workers to prioritize their families’ well-being. Electronic Arts has also assured the public that it will conduct daily wellness check-ins, and offered support for hotel accommodations to help employees suffering from the extreme challenges.
Certain Affinity, a company that employs another 200 people and is known for working on Halo, isn’t pleased with how the state is handling the issue, according to Kotaku. CEO Max Hoberman released a statement saying that the company was given no advanced warning about prolonged power outages. Although Hoberman is thankful for the individual leaders and civic organizations stepping up to help, there has still been no constant communication on the state level.
Some other studios in the area are able to maintain productions. Cloud Imperium Games has been able to keep operations up and running because of backup power systems in place, for example. However, many of its employees have still been affected regardless. Many of the team members worked together to help each other out by doing things such as letting others stay at their places when services gave out.
Many of the smaller studios in the area have not been lucky enough to survive through this endeavor. Gabrielle Genevieve, a narrative game designer, told Kotaku that this is the most traumatic experience of her life. Genevieve’s whole family, including her older mother, finds themselves out of power and running low on supplies. Since many of the roads are down, she said she is unable to much about it. Much of Austin has gotten its power back by now, but there are many people still in need, and hopefully, people who are in a position to help are able to donate whatever they can provide.
Source: Kotaku
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