Mick Gordon Gives His Commision for Atomic Heart to Ukraine [UPDATE]

Composer Mick Gordon has announced that he has donated his entire commision, which he received for his work on the Atomic Heart soundtrack, to the Australian Red Cross to help Ukraine.

Update

Mick Gordon saw fit to expand on his Tuesday statement. He did so in a comment to the editors of Eurogamer. The overriding goal behind the composer's decision was the desire to "contribute to providing long-term humanitarian support to people and communities affected by the war in Ukraine." At the same time, he made it clear that he has an excellent understanding of the situation we have been dealing with for nearly a year:

"As someone who started working on Atomic Heart almost two years before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, I understand that the situation in the region is incredibly difficult and that many people have been affected by the conflict. I want to make it very clear that I vehemently condemn Putin's violent aggression toward Ukraine and stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. It is unacceptable for any government to use military force to annex another country's territory and violate international law and human rights principles. The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread human suffering, and it is our collective responsibility to support those affected and work towards a peaceful resolution.

My motivations are solely to support the Ukrainian people affected by the conflict. While I understand the appeal of making a private donation, transparency is important, especially regarding issues as serious as the conflict in Ukraine. By making my donation public, I hope to show my support for the Ukrainian people, raise awareness about the conflict, and encourage others to consider donating."

Gordon was also tempted to praise devs at Mundfish and the international team of artists:

"I believe it is important to separate the actions of a government from the actions of individual citizens. The talented team at Mundfish has worked hard for many years to create a unique and imaginative project, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to it. The game is a truly international effort, with 130 developers contributing to the project from more than ten different countries. I deeply respect the artistry and creativity that went into the development of Atomic Heart, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Mundfish team. I also have a strong ethical and moral obligation to help those in need and stand up for what I believe is right. I hope that by making my donation public, I can also encourage others to consider making a difference."

The composer also spoke a bit about his work on Atomic Heart:

"I developed custom-tuning scales for my synthesizers specifically designed to reflect the game's insane robots and imaginative world-building. One of the instruments I used to achieve this sound was the Aelita synthesizer, a rare Soviet-era synth known for its unusual sound and quirky design. Its distinctive sound helped me to capture the game's surreal and imaginative qualities while also adding an authentic Soviet-era vibe to the music. I am incredibly proud of the work that my fellow composers and I did on the score for Atomic Heart."

Original message (14.02.2023)

It has been known for some time that Mick Gordon is working on the soundtrack of the soon-to-be released (February 21) game Atomic Heart - he was asked to do so by Mundfish in 2020. The Australian-born composer of music for such games as Doom or Doom Eternal announced today on his profile on Twitter that his work on Atomic Heart will benefit a greater cause. Gordon donated his entire commision to a collection organized by the Australian Red Cross in support of Ukraine during the war with Russia.

As the Australian Red Cross collection page reads, donations will help provide humanitarian support to those affected by the war. The money goes to provide shelter, sanitation or medical assistance. You can find out more about the collection here.