Epic Games has had a change of heart regarding one of its free game downloads, and I think it’s pretty darn obvious why. Pandemic, the board-game-turned-digital-download, was one of the next slew of free offerings about to hit the Epic Games Store, but with the coronavirus outbreak sweeping China, it seems the company has shelved the idea.
Epic Games was planning to offer Pandemic, along with other board game-based PC games, Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne, to its users for free starting this Thursday.
However, when approached by VGC, an Epic spokesperson told the publication that the plan is now off the cards.
“We’ve shifted the release of Pandemic as a free game in our store schedule to a later date. Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne will still be available as the free games of the week from February 6 – February 13,” said the spokesperson.
Epic Games hasn’t formally confirmed the reason as to why Pandemic has been shelved, but it’s more than likely down to the coronavirus.
Pandemic’s themes and gameplay may fall just a little too close to the current widespread panic over the IRL coronavirus.
The official game description for Pandemic reads as follows: “Humanity is on the brink of extinction. As members of an elite disease control team, you’re the only thing standing in the way of the four deadly diseases spreading across the world.”
The World Health Organisation has issued the following statement on the outbreak: “WHO has been working with Chinese authorities and global experts from the day we were informed, to learn more about the virus, how it affects the people who are sick with it, how they can be treated, and what countries can do to respond.”
Featured Image Credit: Asmodee Digital