The strategy simulation game that has seen a massive popularity boost in recent times, Plague Inc, has a new game mode coming for it. The UK-based developer Ndemic Creations has announced that the game that normally involves creating and spreading a pathogen to wipe out humanity will be giving the opportunity for players to try and curb a disease outbreak.
The announcement arrived in a blog post where the studio revealed it has made a $250,000 donation to the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization"s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
"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," said Plague Inc. creator James Vaughan. "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".
The developer will begin promoting the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in-game soon as well, letting interested players donate to the valuable cause.
While organizing these donations, Ndemic had received multiple queries regarding a mode where the player is saving the world, and due to that, the developer is "accelerating work on a new Plague Inc. game mode which lets players save the world from a deadly disease outbreak." It is being developed with help from World Health Organization experts.
There isn"t a release date attached to this mode just yet, but it will have players managing the spread of the disease and propping up healthcare systems. Things we are starting to see in the real world like "triaging, quarantining, social distancing and closing of public services," will be a part of the game too.
More information will be shared at a later date. The mode will arrive as a free update to Plague Inc.