Video game 'Plague Inc' tops charts in China as coronavirus spreads

Plague INC's developers warned players not to rely on the game to learn about the deadly virus spreading around the world.

By DEBORAH DAHAN

JANUARY 27, 2020 18:19

People waiting for passengers wear masks at Pearson airport arrivals, shortly after Toronto Public Health received notification of Canada's first presumptive confirmed case of coronavirus, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 25, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/CARLOS OSORIO) — People waiting for passengers wear masks at Pearson airport arrivals, shortly after Toronto Public Health received notification of Canada's first presumptive confirmed case of coronavirus, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 25, 2020

(photo credit: REUTERS/CARLOS OSORIO)

A video game about a contagious disease that kills the world's population is now China's best-selling app, and has also reached the top of charts in the United Kingdom and the United States, The Guardian reported.

Created by Ndemic Creations, Plague Inc was first released in 2012. The game is a strategy simulation game in which players must bring about the end of humanity by spreading a deadly disease and by preventing any cure from being found.

The increase in players was so high that Ndemic had to turn off its website.

Our website is currently offline due to very high player numbers. I'm copying our statement on the coronavirus outbreak here so people can still see it.https://t.co/pA6CUS7nJI pic.twitter.com/StXP6aemDe
— Plague Inc. / Rebel Inc. (@NdemicCreations) January 24, 2020

It is most-likely that the boost in the game's popularity was caused by the spread of the coronavirus across China and several other countries, including the United States and Australia. Dozens of people have died and thousands more are infected.

In a statement, Ndemic Creations declared that “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.”

However, the company warns that, while the game is very realistic, players should rely on local and global health authorities to receive information on the virus.

“Remember that Plague Inc is a game, not a scientific model, and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people," they said.