Ori developer Moon Studios, along with iam8bit and Skybound Games, have pledged to donate five percent of the profits from each Ori Nintendo Switch sale and the Wisps will from December 8 to 13 to the Rainforest Trust. This included all versions of the game, from downloads on the eShop to collector’s editions sold on the iam8bit website. Originally, there was a $ 25,000 guarantee, but now companies will donate more than $ 58,000 in revenue from that period to the charity.
The Rainforest Trust is a charity that works to conserve tropical forests worldwide, establishing protected areas in partnership with local organizations and communities. They have already protected 33 million acres and are working to protect another 50 million. Thanks to the donation from Moon Studios, Skybound Games and iam8bit, the Trust will be able to secure another 29,000 acres, which is roughly the size of Manhattan.
Iam8bit co-owner Jon Gibson explained the reasons for the donation in a post published in December. Because of the stories they tell, companies felt it was essential to do their part to protect our own environment. The Ori franchise, for example, is about a spirit that watches over the forest and its diverse inhabitants, trying to keep them safe. According to Gibson, the decision to join the Rainforest Trust came from a desire to use Ori’s marketing budget to try to make some positive change.
“As its publisher, we had to make the critical decision on how to spend the game’s marketing budget,” said Gibson in the video. “We decided to shake things up and try to make a difference with this money, so we are trying something bold in the hope of activating players like you around the world.”
