Blizzard has raised over $2 million for the charity CureDuchenne, using the seemingly irresistible lure of microtransactions for good. World of Warcraft players accomplished this via The Reven Pack (a cute little fox companion and a backpack to go with it), which Blizzard donated 100% of the purchase price of to CureDuchenne.
Duchenne is one of many muscle wasting conditions—being one of the most common and, sadly, one of the most debilitating, as those diagnosed with the disease have a life expectancy of around 18 to 25 years. CureDuchenne is a charity dedicated to raising research funding to tackle Duchenne, as well as education and outreach.
Debra Miller, founder and CEO of the charity, offered her thanks in a blog post by Blizzard: "This campaign has been truly extraordinary—not only in the critical funds raised for research, but in the awareness it has generated for Duchenne muscular dystrophy … The World of Warcraft community has shown that gaming can be a powerful force for good, and we are deeply grateful to Blizzard, the Steen family, and to every player who joined us in honoring Mats Steen and making a real difference in the lives of those affected by Duchenne."
The unexpected importance of videogames to people with disabilities is something I've felt myself. During an event hosted by Netflix that I attended last year, I was struck by how vital videogames can be to people suffering from all sorts of physical disabilities—giving them communities, friends, and relationships that they wouldn't otherwise have. This was echoed by members of Muscular Dystrophy UK (another charity dedicated to fundraising and support) who were invited to the roundtable, many of whom have similar muscular dystrophy conditions.
