Video Game Companies Launch #PlayApartTogether Campaign Against COVID-19

Here’s today’s dose of COVID-19-related MMO and gaming news. Eighteen game companies, including Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, Unity, and Twitch among others, have teamed up with the World Health Organization to launch the #PlayApartTogether campaign in an effort to combat the spread of the deadly virus.

“It’s never been more critical to ensure people stay safely connected to one another,” says Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. “Games are the perfect platform because they connect people through the lens of joy, purpose and meaning.”

“#PlayApartTogether can galvanize players to protect themselves and their families. We look forward to working with the global games industry to do our part as global citizens to flatten the curve.” adds Unity Technologies CEO John Riccitiello.

The #PlayApartTogether campaign encourages the gaming community to follow WHO’s guidelines of proper hand hygiene, social distancing, and other measures to stop the pandemic in its tracks, which includes staying home and only going out when it’s absolutely necessary. Ironically, the World Health Organization is one of the main advocates against video game addiction which is a perfect example of how various industries and communities can put aside their differences to fight a much bigger threat.

Other video campaign companies participating in the campaign include Amazon App Store, Big Fish Games, Dirtybit, Glu Mobile, Jam City, Kabam, Maysalward, Playtika, Pocket Gems, SciPlay, Snap Games, Wooga, YouTube Gaming, and Zynga.

Aside from being part of the #PlayApartTogether campaign, Twitch also raised over $2.7 million to help WHO in their fight. The proceeds will go to WHO’s Solidarity Response fund in cooperation with the United Nations Foundation. Donations are still being accepted here.

Meanwhile, NCSoft is encouraging Blade and Soul players to stay home with various in-game goodies, including a free 7-day premium subscription, a second week for just 1 NCoin, 3x Battle Bonus, extra daily challenge and daily login rewards, and more. Square Enix has also temporarily suspended automatic housing demolition for inactivity.

Currently, there have been over 750,000 reported cases of COVID-19 all over the world and over 36,000 people have died from the virus. We at MMOs.com are also in full support of the gaming industry’s #PlayApartTogether campaign. Let’s all help to flatten the curve. Stay safe everyone.

You can watch the latest COVID-19 update from the World Health Organization below.