Video Game Developer Behind Open-World Stray Is Raising Money For Homeless Cats

Stray publisher Annapurna Interactive has teamed up with two cat charities to rescue real-life homeless cats through a special giveaway.

It’s no secret that Stray has been one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year, with virtual videos circling the internet for what seems a lifetime. 

However, with Stray being released earlier this week, its new charitable driving force just gives us more reason to rally behind the video game.

Stray centres around the story of a stray cat who must return to his family after falling into a dystopian world full of robots and carnivorous bacteria.

Now, the game is now helping real-life strays look for a home.

Annapurna teamed up with Nebraska Humane Society and Cats Protection and has called on gamers to donate to the animal shelters for their chance to win a PS4 or PS5 code to get their hands on Stray. 

While entries have now closed, Nebraska Humane Society and Cats Protection will be giving away six copies of the popular game and will soon announce the winners.

The game has been getting overwhelmingly positive reviews.

One Google user wrote: “This game is absolutely wonderful. At no point in the story line did I even feel like I could assume what would come next. 

“The sound design is incredible, everything was clear, but not overwhelming. I must say it's always exciting when a game adds the little details like sound changes based on terrain, and the realistic thud of a cat jumping from various heights.”

Another said in part: “This game is so good!! It’s really refreshing to see a totally new idea in the gaming world these days. I’ve been excited about this game since i watched the PS5 reveal years ago, and to have it added to ps plus “for free” is amazing. It did not disappoint.”

The Guardian game reviewer Keza McDonald gave it five stars, calling it unexpectedly ‘moving’. 

She added: “Stray is an excellent example of how a change of perspective can enliven a fictional setting to which we’ve become habituated. Post-apocalyptic narratives have been done to death lately, but this one feels interesting because we experience it from such an unusual point of view.”

I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t wait to sink my paws into this.