Plague Inc developer Ndemic Creations announced a substantial donation to help the fight against Coronavirus, but there is more to this story.
First and foremost, the studio made a $250,000 donation split between the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Plague Inc creator James Vaughan accompanied the news with a comment.
“Eight years ago, I never imagined the real world would come to resemble a game of Plague Inc. or that so many players would be using Plague Inc. to help them get through an actual pandemic.
We are proud to be able to help support the vital work of the WHO and CEPI as they work towards finding a vaccine for COVID-19”.
CEPI CEO Richard Hatchett also commented:
“We are delighted that Ndemic Creations have so generously contributed to our crucial vaccine development work, especially as we tackle the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19.
Games have an important role in raising awareness of the challenges the world is currently facing. Only through a concerted, global response—with the private sector working together with Governments and philanthropies, pooling resources and expertise—can we hope to stop such emerging epidemic threats.”
UN Foundation President Elizabeth Cousens provided a comment as well.
“In this unprecedented pandemic with unprecedented needs, global cooperation is more important than ever.
I am so thankful to Ndemic Creations’ contribution to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Their donation will support the World Health Organization’s lifesaving work.”
As mentioned above, there is more to this story. As you may know, Plague Inc lets you play the bad guy of a pandemic, nurturing your pathogen to basically bring about the end of the world.
Yet, Ndemic Creations is now collaborating with experts from the World Health Organisation and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network to offer the oposite mode which will let you save the world from a deadly pandemic.
The new mode will let players “balance managing disease progression and boosting healthcare systems as well as controlling real-world actions such as triaging, quarantining, social distancing and closing of public services.”
It will be free for all players during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more information will follow as soon as possible.
Plague Inc is currently available for iOS, Android, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
