The Entertainment Software Association of Canada and our member companies remain committed to supporting our stakeholders as we adapt to the reopening of the economy and consistent social distancing practices in order to curb the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As video game creators and enthusiasts, we believe play is a profound part of the human experience and connects people and communities in important ways. Canadian gamers are using video games to socialize, stay connected, and to relax; we are encouraged by this and heartened by the power of play.
Here are resources, updates and more about how the video game industry is responding.
Global Resources
Reliable, up-to-date information on the current COVID-19 outbreak can be found at:
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Public Health Agency of Canada
- World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus Disease
How to Help
Help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following public health advice:
- Practise social distancing.
- Practise proper hand hygiene.
- Wear masks or face coverings.
For an in-depth list of measures you can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19, visit Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks.
You can also show your support by:
- Donating to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO.
Resources
- ESRB – for more on video game ratings and resources for parents
- What Parents Need to Know About Managing their Kids’ Video Games During the Pandemic
- ESAC Parental Tools – specific tools to help with parental controls
- Game Generation – a community promoting the value and power of play
- Take This – promoting mental health resources
- Xbox Family Settings – responsible gaming resources
- Family Settings on Xbox – tutorial video
INDUSTRY RESPONSE
In addition to amplifying the #PlayApartTogether initiative to spread key messages from the World Health Organization, ESAC members and the video game industry have responded to COVID-19 in the following ways:
Activision Blizzard
- The company behind ‘Call of Duty’ says it’s funding COVID-19 treatment research while it figures out how to produce video games remotely
- All Heroes of the Storm characters are free to play until April 2
- All StarCraft 2 co-op Commanders are free to play until April 2
- Overwatch League Matches Moving Online
- Call of Duty League Shifting Currently Scheduled Live Events to Online Competition
- World of Warcraft is doubling all XP gains to keep its players indoors
- Blizzard and Paradox arrange care packages for remote-working staff during coronavirus lockdowns
Electronic Arts (EA)
- Electronic Arts pledges up to $2m in match-funded support for COVID-19 relief
- Stay safe. Stay home. Play together.
- An EA Update on the Coronavirus Situation
- An Important Update on EA’s Upcoming Competitive Gaming Events
Microsoft/Xbox
- UNICEF and Microsoft launch global learning platform to help address COVID-19 education crisis
- Donate to the CDC Foundation By Playing Xbox
- Responding to COVID-19
- A Message to the Gaming Community on What We’re Doing to Help Today
- Free Educational Content in Minecraft Marketplace!
Nintendo
- Nintendo donates 9,500 face masks to US emergency services
- The creators of Animal Crossing hope New Horizons can be ‘an escape’ in difficult times
Sony Interactive Entertainment/PlayStation
- Announcing the Play At Home Initiative
- Sony is setting up a $100 million COVID-19 global relief fund
- Preserving Internet access for the entire community
Square Enix
- Square Enix: Stay Home and Play
- Square Enix gives away 2 Tomb Raider games on Steam and asks us to ‘stay home and play’
Take-Two Interactive
- Rockstar Is Donating 5 Percent of In-Game Revenue to COVID-19 Relief Efforts
- Take-Two’s COVID-19 Response
Ubisoft