Valve sparks outrage by removing the LGBTQ+ inclusive game Flick Solitaire from Steam in Russia, bowing to Kremlin censorship demands while Apple and Google refuse.
When “the right thing to do” enters in conflict with “what maximises profits”, businesses almost always pick the later.
What makes this decision particularly stark is the response from other tech giants. The same censorship notice was sent to Apple and Google, as the game has been available on their Russian mobile stores since 2020. Both companies reportedly ignored the request, leaving Flick Solitaire available for download.
When “the right thing to do” enters in conflict with “what maximises profits”, businesses almost always pick the later.
It’s a matter of relative power.