Blizzard donated $1.1 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation today, the result of selling 220,000 digital Pandarens.
Last year, Blizzard ran a promotion selling an in-game Pandaren Monk minipet to World of Warcraft players for $10. Blizzard promised that half the proceeds from selling the cute little guy up until December 31st would go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Today, the Irvine developers made good on their promise and delivered a big fat oversized check worth $1.1 million to the charity. As part of the ceremony, Blizzard invited 15 “wish” kids and their families into the company’s hallowed headquarters to offer a glimpse at how its games are made.
“We’ve had a long relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and we’re proud to support the priceless work they do for children,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “This donation also reflects the spirit and generosity of our players — their enthusiasm for World of Warcraft and for supporting a good cause made this possible.”
While I think it’s great that Blizzard is so charitable, I think it’s more remarkable that all of that money was generated through the sale of something that exists only in a game. A digital object, which exists only on computer screens, is helping to make real wishes come true.
I’m not sure what that means, but it brings a smile to my face.
