Put Down Your Weapons And Join War Child’s Armistic

Children’s charity, War Child UK, has joined forces with some of the biggest games in the world for War Child’s Armistice – the award-winning fundraising campaign, which encourages peaceful gameplay in support of children affected by conflict.

Launching today (9 November) and running throughout the festive season, War Child’s Armistice offers players a mixture of thrilling in-game events, peaceful playthrough options, exclusive downloadable content (DLC), and timed exclusive purchasable in-game items, all in aid of War Child UK.

The campaign, which first launched in 2016, is supported once again by BlackMill Games & M2HWargaming.net, Positech Games and joined for the first time by, Big Huge Games, Flaregames, 11 bit Studios, Focus Home Interactive,  XSplit and Extra Credits, with more exciting partners to be announced soon.

War Child’s Armistice aims to build on last year’s success, where over a million gamers engaged in the campaign, in an effort to create a global movement that inspires the gaming community to take action and raise vital funds for children whose lives have been torn apart by war.

Children like Malak, 12, from Mosul who was kept hostage by Daesh and denied access to education for three years, leaving her vulnerable and extremely distressed. Today, Malak enjoys playing games on the mobile phone she shares with her family and finds it is therapeutic and supporting of her journey to recovery.

Wayne Emanuel, Gaming Development Manager at War Child, says:  “We are thrilled to be working with some amazing studios for a second year and are really excited to be uniting new developers across mobile and console* in what has now become an annual fundraiser for War Child UK.

“Together, we want to give players access to new content in their favorite games and for them to join us in raising vital funds and awareness of some of the challenges faced by the world’s most disadvantaged children.

“All the money raised will help us reach even more children like Malek affected by conflict, rebuild their shattered societies and foster a more peaceful future.”

Speaking about the campaign, Jos Hoebe from Blackmill Games and Verdun Co-Founder says: “We hope our two minute silence Armistice event will lead people to reflect on the First World War and how it has had lasting consequences for adults and children long after the fighting stopped, as all wars do. War Child is doing great work to raise awareness of the long term effects of war and to help children affected by war, and we are glad to support them.”

 

Tim Train, Chief Executive at Big Huge Games, says: “We are deeply thankful for War Child’s commitment to help the most vulnerable children living in war-torn countries. Big Huge Games is proud to support the Armistice initiative, and we are happy to give DomiNations players the opportunity to help fund these critical programs.”

Last year War Child’s Armistice raised over £100,000 in just eight weeks, making it one of the most successful campaigns in War Child’s history.

War Child UK, together with its partners, work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America providing protection, education and standing up for the rights of children caught up in conflict.

For more information about Armistice and the gaming studios that are participating, visit www.warchildarmistice.org or follow @WarChild_Gaming on Twitter.

ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF ARMISTICE 2017

 

To kickstart the campaign, the ‘Armistice Steam Sale’ of best-selling titles that promote or have non-violent playthrough options will be available to purchase until 13 November on PC Games platform, Steam. The sale includes Styx: Shards of Darkness, Styx: Master of Shadows, This War of Mine, Democracy 3 and Verdun, all in support of children affected by conflict. Up to 100% of the proceeds will be donated to War Child UK.

 

Other highlights include, a ‘Two Minute Silence’ by BlackMill Games & M2H in their WW1 game, Verdun on 11th November, giving players the opportunity to take part in a ceasefire to mark their respect for the millions of people who have been impacted by war.

Verdun will also reactivate their ‘Christmas Truce’ downloadable content (DLC), which raised over £17,000 last year, for a limited time in December. Players will be able to purchase the re-enactment of the famous 1914 Christmas Day Truce, which allows them to lay down their virtual weapons and pickup snowballs, play football matches and send post cards to their loved ones.

Wargaming.net’s global phenomenon, World of Tanks will launch their popular peace emblems, a purchasable cosmetic item that players can brandish to show their support for Armistice. More than 22,000 gamers downloaded the emblems last year, raising a total of £68,000.

For the first time, Armistice will also be available for mobile gamers as Big Huge Games will also hold a ‘One Minute Silence’ at 11am CET on 11th November in their popular game, DomiNations and give players the opportunity to purchase a ‘Peace Bundle’ to raise money for War Child. The bundle will include a number of non-violent in-game items, including ‘Peace Treaties’ – a consumable that gives players immunity from attack for 24 hours.

 

ABOUT WAR CHILD UK

 

War Child is striving for a world where children’s lives are no longer torn apart by war.

We protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children caught up in conflict. We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out, and stay to support them through their recovery – helping to keep them safe, give them an education, and equip them with skills for the future.

We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution – from supporting Syrian children to access education, to reintegrating child soldiers in the Central African Republic and promoting justice for young people in detention in Afghanistan. Together with our partners we work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America.

We also work with children and young people to change systems and practices that affect them – campaigning on the root causes of conflict and demanding that children are at the centre of humanitarian response.

Web: www.warchild.org.uk/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/warchilduk/

Twitter: twitter.com/WarChildUK

Instagram: www.instagram.com/warchilduk/

Charity number: 1071659

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.