World of Warcraft Raises more than $2 Million for CureDuchenne to Support Research

Rare Daily Staff

CureDuchenne said that a fundraising partnership with video game developer Blizzard Entertainment and the online role-playing game World of Warcraft raised more than $2 million to support research and care programs for people affected by the rare neuromuscular disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The award-winning Netflix documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin inspired the campaign. The film recounts the story of Mats Steen, a World of Warcraft player known as “Ibelin.” Steen, who was diagnosed with Duchenne as a boy, died at the age of 25. Though his parents had thought he lived in total isolation, they discovered after his death that he had an active social life filled with friendship and love as a result of thousands of hours he spent in the online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Steen found it allowed him to free himself from the constraints of his body.

The game opened a world of community and connection that his family never knew existed and gave him a rich network of friends and experiences that would not have been possible outside of the game environment. Mats was a supportive friend and trusted advisor who made a tremendous impact on the lives of all he encountered in the game.

CureDuchenne said it is the most significant contribution the organization has received from a corporation to date.

World of Warcraft players had the opportunity to build on Mats’ legacy by adopting a limited-edition pet fox, named Reven (“fox” in Norwegian), to accompany them on their adventures in the game while supporting CureDuchenne. All proceeds from The Reven Pack support CureDuchenne’s mission to accelerate research toward a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and improve care for individuals worldwide living with the disease.

The global gaming community rallied behind the initiative, making this one of World of Warcraft’s most successful fundraising collaborations. The tribute to Mats Steen within the game honored his legacy and sparked worldwide awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, reinforcing the power of community, connection, and storytelling in making a real-world impact.

“This campaign has been truly extraordinary—not only in the critical funds raised for research, but in the awareness it has generated for Duchenne muscular dystrophy,” said Debra Miller, founder and CEO of CureDuchenne. “Through this partnership, thousands of families affected by Duchenne have felt seen, heard, and supported in a way that is truly remarkable. The World of Warcraft community has shown that gaming can be a powerful force for good, and we are deeply grateful to Blizzard, the Steen family, and to every player who joined us in honoring Mats Steen and making a real difference in the lives of those affected by Duchenne.”