"Stay at home, save lives": UK studios are using their games to encourage social distancing

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Several big games are now spreading the good word of social distancing directly

(Image credit: Rebellion)

The UK government is now working with several game developers to encourage social distancing amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

In a joint effort to convince people to stay home and limit their interactions with others, Activision Blizzard, King, Rebellion, and Codemasters are now sharing the message "Stay at home, save lives" directly within their games through informative pop-ups. Respectively, those games are: Candy Crush Saga, Sniper Elite 4, Dirt Rally 2.0, and Farm Heroes Saga.  You can see an example of it below 

"Getting through the crisis will require a collective national effort and every generation has a role to play, everyone’s actions right now can have a direct impact upon the lives of others," the UK government's Department for Culture, Media, and Sport said in a statement. "Young people spend more time playing video games than the rest of the population, which is why in-game messaging represents a creative, targeted, and immediate way to help reinforce the government’s Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives message, to gamers." 

In addition to in-game messaging, some game developers, such as Activision Blizzard, have begun using some of their digital ad space for public health messaging. Activision is also looking to bring similar messaging to the United States in the near future. In the same vein, Rebellion, which also publishes comics and books in addition to games about sniping dudes right through the eyeballs, is promoting social distancing through print as well. 

The DCMS is actively looking for more UK games companies willing to spread the word of social distancing through their games or networks, and those interested can reach out at enquiries@culture.gov.uk. 

This is just one of the many ways that the games industry has come together to help with coronavirus relief efforts. 

Austin Wood
Austin Wood
Senior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.