The Bungie Foundation has selected Make-A-Wish as a beneficiary partner to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. When a wish comes true, it creates strength, hope, and transformation in a child – and their community. Research shows that a wish can give kids the strength to fight against – and even overcome – a critical illness. A wish renews hope, uplifts spirits, and encourages the belief in the impossible. It forever transforms the lives of children and their families while uniting their neighbors, friends, and entire communities through life-changing experiences.
Bungie asked their community members to support their goal and help raise funds, and their highly engaged community has stepped up significantly. Since July 7, the Bungie Foundation has raised $1,051,693 in direct donations.
Another way the Bungie Foundation has enabled their community to show their support is through their Loyal Companion emote, found in the Destiny 2 Eververse. More than a cute feature in the game, this emote holds significant meaning.
The Loyal Companion emote was inspired by a young Make-A-Wish recipient named Cristian. His wish was for Bungie to create and feature his beloved dog Artemis in Destiny 2. Artemis was a source of comfort in dark times. Cristian has a rare and often deadly genetic disorder which caused problems with his kidneys. He underwent his first surgery when he was 17 days old and spent the first five years of his life in hospitals. A kidney transplant helped him stabilize, but recovery was still an arduous process.
Cristian described a sense of hopelessness on his most difficult and painful days, but “[Artemis] made me think the world wasn’t so bad, that things weren’t so bad after all.” Anyone who has had a close relationship with a pet or service animal knows the impact that friendship can have. Cristian’s story is a moving example of how much that connection can mean. (Learn more about his story here).
Bungie made Cristian’s wish come true. Now, gamers, content creators, streamers and donors can find the Loyal Companion emote — inspired by Cristian's wish to have his dog Artemis immortalized, at the Eververse store until Season 17 ends on August 22. They also can take home a real-life plushy version of Prime-40's Artemis through the Bungie Store. In addition, 100% of the profits from the Loyal Companion emote and Artemis plush will support the Bungie Foundation. Currently, over 165,000 emotes have been download to date.
In a brief and impactful documentary Bungie released about Cristian and the Make-A-Wish project, Cristian discussed his relationship with the game and Artemis. He particularly emphasized playing the game with friends and the connective power of the community, saying, “Destiny to me isn’t just a game. It’s taught me a lot of stuff… it’s because of the people I met along the way.”
“I truly believe we have the greatest community in the industry,” said Christine Edwards, Sr. Foundation Manager of the Bungie Foundation. “Time and time again, they have stood up to support each other and address the needs of the world around them with enthusiasm and compassion – there is a culture of giving that is unmatched.”
During the Bungie Day Giving Festival, over fifty members of the Bungie Community will host live streams to fundraise. Players can donate to unlock a lineup of impressive incentive prizes, including the brand-new “Seven of Seven” emblem, "Circadian Guard” emblem, "Buoyant Shell” ghost, "Hearts Emblem Package,” "Bungie Day Emblems Package,” "Metagalactic Bloom" emblem, and "Function of Grace" emblem And of course, the Loyal Companion emote from the Eververse in Destiny 2 and the Artemis Plush.