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Long COVID spreads to in-game gaming characters adding a new level of difficulty.

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Educating the public about Long COVID

Although the global health emergency caused by COVID-19 was declared over in May, it has not disappeared and is still affecting people around the world with its long-term effects. Currently, an estimated 100 million people are affected by Long COVID, and this number continues to grow. Unfortunately, diagnostic and therapeutic options are currently inadequate, which could result in many of those affected suffering from health limitations for the rest of their lives.

It is a common misconception that Long COVID only affects older age groups or people with previous health conditions. However, it can affect anyone, including children and adolescents. Despite this, many people are not aware of this debilitating condition, and they may not understand the hardships faced by patients. To raise awareness, especially among a younger audience, Saint Elmo’s and the Long COVID Europe patient network have launched a campaign using the world’s most popular single-player games.

Ann Li, Co-chair, Long COVID Europe, said:

“The challenges presented by an invisible condition like Long COVID pushed us to find novel means to show people, who have never experienced this debilitating condition, what it really feels like to live it. Long COVID forces us to face new levels of difficulty every day. Gamers love new challenges in their favourite games. We simply connected these dots to create a vivid simulation of a life with Long COVID.”

About the Long COVID Mode gaming mod

Long COVID Mode uses gaming modifications, aka “mods”, to simulate typical Long COVID symptoms in gaming characters. Long COVID Mode adds a layer of difficulty to life in the game, reflecting the challenges that Long COVID patients are dealing with in reality. Together with some of the most prominent modders, LCE and Saint Elmo’s have created Long COVID Mode for Elden Ring, Minecraft, and The Witcher 3.

Real-world symptoms turn into in-game status effects

Long COVID Mode demonstrates how life can become significantly more challenging for individuals suffering from Long COVID. While fatigue and cognitive dysfunction are more commonly associated with the long-term effects of COVID-19, these mods also draw attention to some of the lesser-known symptoms, such as exertion intolerance, post-exertional malaise (PEM), unrefreshing sleep, indigestion, and others. This is how some of these symptoms are represented in the gaming world.

Occasionally, the player will suffer from one of the following random symptoms:

  • Exertion Intolerance: You are forced to stop for 3-5 seconds.
  • Blackouts: Your vision fades, leaving you confused.
  • Losing track of time: Time passes without you noticing.
  • Weak Memory: You lose a items from your inventory.
  • Indigestion: Healing might hurt instead of regeneration.
  • Post-Exertion Malaise (PEM): You feel immensely drained and get stunned for a few seconds.
  • Always-active symptoms include the following effects:
  • Fatigue: All movements are 25% slower.
  • Exhaustion: Your stamina regeneration in combat is much slower.
  • Cognitive Dysfunction: Hitting targets with spells and arrows becomes much harder.
  • Joint pain: Using charged attacks or repeated actions hurt you.
  • Unsatisfying rest: You cannot rest without interruptions and getting up from resting places takes longer.

For example, Elden Ring is the most popular game of 2022, but it is also known for being difficult for new players. However, this challenge is what makes it so popular. Long COVID Mode takes this challenge to an even higher level.

“As gaming has become the most popular form of entertainment, overtaking film and TV, what better way to really show the impact of Long COVID than trying to beat Elden Ring, the notoriously difficult game of the year, while suffering from the same symptoms in- game. I think this is such a poignant demonstration of the real problems people face, and a great way of spreading the message.”

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