ChatGPT's New Skills Resident Evil 4 Remake Galaxy A54 5G Hands-On TikTok CEO Testifies Huawei's New Folding Phone How to Use Google's AI Chatbot Airlines and Family Seating Weigh Yourself Accurately
Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you
Accept
Tech Gaming

UK government encourages social distancing with in-game health messages

The "Stay home. Save Lives" message appears in popular games like Candy Crush Saga, Sniper Elite 4, Dirt Rally 2.0 and Farm Heroes.

Shelby Brown headshot
Shelby Brown
gettyimages-1134410016
The government is teaming up with video game companies to keep people healthy during the pandemic. 
Carol Yepes/ Getty Images
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

To help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is using advertisements in mobile games to encourage social distancing. The message "Stay Home. Save Lives" has begun to appear in popular games like Candy Crush Saga, Sniper Elite 4, Dirt Rally 2.0 and Farm Heroes. 

The DCMS teamed up with leading gaming companies in the UK like King Games, Rebellion and Codemasters to include the messages, with the help of geotargeting technology. 

"It is absolutely vital that we all follow the simple government advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. I'm delighted to see the UK's brilliant video games industry stepping up to strongly reinforce this message to gamers across the UK," Cultural Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a release Monday. 

Coronavirus updates

Now playing: Watch this: Coronavirus lockdown: Why social distancing saves lives
5:41