Plague Inc. first launched eight years ago, but the strategy game is seeing new life thanks to growing fears of the coronavirus, a new strain of which has started gaining widespread media attention. As reported by the BBC, Plague Inc.'s sales have spiked in recent weeks, particularly in China, where there have been hundreds of reported cases.
Plague Inc. studio Ndemic Creations has acknowledged that Plague Inc. sales typically rise whenever there's a global health concern like the coronavirus. Ndemic Creations has also reported receiving "a lot of questions" about the coronavirus outbreak in China, and has directed those concerned to the World Health Organization. In the meantime, the rise in Plague Inc. player numbers appears to be causing technical errors, with people struggling to connect to the Ndemic Creations website.
For those wondering why Plague Inc.'s sales have increased in China in the wake of the coronavirus situation, the answer may be due to growing anxiety of the real-world threat of the virus. According to the BBC, a user on the Chinese social media platform Weibo explained, "The best way to eliminate fear is to look fear straight in the face."
Those interested in trying Plague Inc. for themselves have a number of options at their disposal. The core game is available on PC and mobile devices, but a different version also came to modern consoles, including PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. Called Plague Inc.: Evolved, this version of the game includes co-op and multiplayer functionality, scenario creator tools, improved visuals, new gameplay features, street level images of the outbreak's impact on the world, and much more. It's unclear which version of the game is seeing a sales increase in China, but it's most likely the mobile version.
For those who have not been following the coronavirus situation closely, the first reported case was in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. Since then, at least 25 people have died from coronavirus, with nearly 600 reported cases to date. While it's mainly impacting China, coronavirus has been discovered elsewhere in the world, with two cases reported in the United States at the time of this writing.
Plague Inc. is out now for PC and mobile devices.
Source: BBC