NHS healthcare workers in the UK have been given over 85,000 free video games to download, with publishers and independent studios uniting to offer a “thank you” to frontline staff working through COVID-19.
The Games For Carers initiative was first proposed by games journalist Chris Scullion, before UK video game trade association Ukie helped make it a reality. Game companies such as Xbox, EA, Sega, Media Molecule, Bungie, and Bethesda are now either providing frontline staff with a free game or game subscription. The intention is to either provide some entertainment for those working through the lockdown, or to provide light relief to their families while they help combat the pandemic.
Last month I was talking about trying to get more free games sorted for NHS workers.
I'm so happy to show you the result: #GamesforCarers, a collaboration with @uk_ie & @Keymailer that launches today at 9am with over 85,000 free games from 63 publishershttps://t.co/ifrnpUzwo5
— Chris Scullion (@scully1888) April 29, 2020
“The UK games industry has been proud to play its part in conveying these vital public health messages during this national emergency, said Ukie CEO Dr. Jo Twist. “Now our community has united again to say thank you to the truly extraordinary people who make up the NHS frontline team.
“Games companies of all sizes and players everywhere recognize their exceptional dedication and hope this initiative goes some way to help them to understand how respected and valued they are.”
NHS workers can apply for a free game by providing their NHS email address to the Games For Carers giveaway. Free games are available across every platform, including PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, and mobile.
The full list of sponsors for the movement is below:
101XP, 1939 Games, 4MB Interactive, Absolutely Games, Activision, Apache, ASA Studio, Auroch Digital, Bare Knuckle Development, Beast Inc, Bedtime Digital Games, Bethesda, Born Ready Games, Bossa Studios, Brainbox, Bungie, CCP, Coatsink, Codemasters, Curve Digital, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Double Fine Productions, Dovetail Games, Electronic Arts, Evil Twin Artworks, Excalibur, FitXR, Flying Interactive, Greenlight Games, Hi-Rez, Huey Games, Indie Champions, Introversion Software, Irregular Corp, Jagex Games Studios, Japster’s Cavern, Junkfish Limited, Koch Media, Konami, Kupo Games, Marvelous Europe, Maximum Games, Media Molecule, Milestone, Mode 7, Modus Games, nDreams, NerdyBGird Studios, Niffler, Numskull Games, Outright Games, Payload Studios, Phantom Compass, Placeholder Gameworks, Playsport, PQube, QCF Design, Quack Quack Games, Quantum Soup Studios, Raiser Games, Rare, Renegade Sector Games, Reverie World Studios Inc, Revolution Software, Ripstone, Roll7, Salix Games, SEGA, SFB Games, Spilt Milk Studios, Sports Interactive, State of Play, Team 17, Team Cats & Bears, The Game Creators, The Pixel Mine, The Yogcast, THQ Nordic, tinyBuild Games, ToastieLabs, Wired Productions, Wizards of the Coast LLC, Wreck Tanghle Games, Xbox Game Studios and ZA/UM.
