Codemasters adds "Stay Home Save Lives" messaging into rally game
Codemasters has added "Stay Home Save Lives" messages to its DiRT Rally 2.0 game in an effort to increase public safety amid the coronavirus crisis
With almost 48,000 COVID-19 cases in the UK, the government has reinforced its instruction for all citizens to stay at home aside from essential travel or work.
To assist with the delivery of the message, UK gamers playing Codemasters' DiRT Rally 2.0 title will now see road-side banners displaying Public Health England's "Stay Home Save Lives" slogan.
"We came to realise that technology within our games, which enables the remote updating of banners within the virtual environment, could be repurposed to assist with the coronavirus communication effort," said Codemasters' vice-president of business development Toby Evan-Jones.
- More from the world of Esports
-
Check out Motorsport Games and all of its exciting Esports products
- Red Bull driver wins F1 Pro Esports Exhibition race
- Ferrari F1 star Leclerc dominates Virtual GP on Esports debut
- Norris triumphs in latest #NotTheGP event
- Norris enjoys "more serious" Veloce/Motorsport Games Pro Series
- Why entertainment isn't Esports' greatest virtue right now
"This week, through collaboration with Bidstack Group PLC [providers of the ad-replacement infrastructure], we began delivering a version of Public Health England's "Stay Home Save Lives" message into DiRT Rally 2.0.
"It's fantastic to see conversations already being sparked amongst our community."
Codemasters hopes to expand this messaging beyond the UK to aid coronavirus prevention efforts across the world.
It comes as more motorsport companies and figures have volunteered resources and services to assist in the fight against COVID-19.
Former McLaren CEO Ron Dennis has contributed £1m towards a new initiative to provide meals for front-line NHS workers, while World Endurance Championship LMP2 squad Jota Sport has produced its first batch of 3D-printed facemasks that will be donated to the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Last month, Codemasters released DiRT Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition, which includes 81 rally and rallycross cars and 26 locations.
It features officially licensed World Rallycross Championship content, as well as bonus content centred around 1995 world rally champion Colin McRae.
The bonus content features 40 scenarios of varying difficulty across stages from McRae's career through the 1980s to the 2000s.
For more Esports, head to Motorsport Games to check out the Motorsport Network's exciting virtual racing products.
Red Bull driver wins F1 Pro Esports Exhibition race
Why Leclerc's Virtual GP annihilation deserves great credit
St Petersburg IndyCar: Newgarden wins as Dixon claims sixth title
St Petersburg IndyCar: Newgarden wins as Dixon claims sixth title St Petersburg IndyCar: Newgarden wins as Dixon claims sixth title
St Petersburg Indycar: Power takes pole as title chasers struggle
St Petersburg Indycar: Power takes pole as title chasers struggle St Petersburg Indycar: Power takes pole as title chasers struggle
Analysis: How an unlikely tie-up won sim racing's biggest race
Analysis: How an unlikely tie-up won sim racing's biggest race Analysis: How an unlikely tie-up won sim racing's biggest race
Mercedes fears it has lost race-day F1 tyre edge over Ferrari
Mercedes fears it has lost race-day F1 tyre edge over Ferrari Mercedes fears it has lost race-day F1 tyre edge over Ferrari
Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship"
Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship" Martin "wouldn't have won" wet Japan MotoGP race "thinking about championship"
McLaren eager to avoid any more Norris/Piastri F1 team orders
McLaren eager to avoid any more Norris/Piastri F1 team orders McLaren eager to avoid any more Norris/Piastri F1 team orders
BTCC leader Motorbase changes its name for finale
BTCC leader Motorbase changes its name for finale BTCC leader Motorbase changes its name for finale
Analysis: How an unlikely tie-up won sim racing's biggest race
Analysis: How an unlikely tie-up won sim racing's biggest race Analysis: How an unlikely tie-up won sim racing's biggest race
How poor driving standards ruined IndyCar's golden opportunity
How poor driving standards ruined IndyCar's golden opportunity How poor driving standards ruined IndyCar's golden opportunity
Why Leclerc's Virtual GP annihilation deserves great credit
Why Leclerc's Virtual GP annihilation deserves great credit Why Leclerc's Virtual GP annihilation deserves great credit
How the hidden side of being fast has been exposed
How the hidden side of being fast has been exposed How the hidden side of being fast has been exposed
Why F1’s pantomime Virtual GP is fun but unsustainable
Why F1’s pantomime Virtual GP is fun but unsustainable Why F1’s pantomime Virtual GP is fun but unsustainable
The latest Red Bull exile to return in Esports
The latest Red Bull exile to return in Esports The latest Red Bull exile to return in Esports
Mercedes can be toppled in F1's other title race
Mercedes can be toppled in F1's other title race Mercedes can be toppled in F1's other title race
Why World's Fastest Gamer is returning to real-world racing
Why World's Fastest Gamer is returning to real-world racing Why World's Fastest Gamer is returning to real-world racing
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.