Since users from Russia can’t legally buy Loop Hero on Steam, Four Quarters has encouraged players to pirate the game. Devolver Digital has now stated that it fully supports the indie studio’s decision.
“Devolver Digital fully supports Four Quarters as they navigate this incredibly difficult period,” the statement reads,” the publisher told PC Gamer.
Devolver knew about the statement in advance and backed it 100%. The company also noted that it has been “communicating consistently with the team to help them wherever possible.”
Four Quarters encouraged Russian players to “raise the pirate flag” over the weekend, sharing a torrent link to Loop Hero. The studio also refused to accept any donations, saying that people should rather take care of their relatives and friends during these times.
Steam stopped accepting payments from Russian users following a series of sanctions, including Visa and Mastercard’s decision to suspend operations in the country. Valve, however, also temporarily stopped sending payments not only to Russia and Belarus but to Ukraine as well, making a lot of indie developers angry.