The deadly coronavirus outbreak in China has had a knock-on effect within the video games industry as Plague Inc: Evolved has seen a massive surge in player numbers.
According to new numbers from Steam Charts, the last 30 days have seen a average of 1,889 daily players logging into Plague Inc. The surge is almost three times the number of players seen in December 2019, when the game was averaging 673 daily users.
The peak number of players has also seen an unbelievable rise, hitting the lofty heights of 17,889 players – the highest peak number for the game since 2014.
The mobile version of the game, Plague Inc, has also hit the top of the download charts in China, where the coronavirus outbreak has claimed multiple lives.
In a statement, developer Ndemic Creations said the following: “Plague Inc. has been out for eight years now and whenever there is an outbreak of disease we see an increase in players, as people seek to find out more about how diseases spread and to understand the complexities of viral outbreaks.
“We specifically designed the game to be realistic and informative, while not sensationalising serious real-world issues. This has been recognised by the CDC and other leading medical organisations around the world.”
The developers also reminded players that “Plague Inc. is a game” and “not a scientific model.”
“We would always recommend that players get their information directly from local and global health authorities,” reads the statement.
Though the knock-on effect of the coronavirus has been unprecedented, concern over the outbreak in China continues.
The World Health Organisation has issued the following statement: “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: Ndemic Creations