Electronic Artsis a well-known video game publisher who has been responsible for titles and franchises such asApex Legends,Dragon Age, andNeed for Speed. But while theEA has been the focus of criticismover its monetization practices it has also been making some great strides in the community lately.
Recently,Electronic Arts donated $1 million to racial injustice charitiesand the company is supporting another noble cause in the UK this week. EA has teamed up with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) as part of the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s #LetsTalkLoneliness initiative. This initiative seems particularly relevant because of the ongoing global pandemic and its effects on people’s mental health.
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There has been anincreased focus on how gaming can help people during self-isolationand many are praising the way games give players daily tasks to complet and an outlet for their emotions. The Head of EA UK, Samantha Ebelthite, commented on the initiative with CALM saying, “In times like these, it’s more important than ever for people to talk and share their feelings with friends. We’re therefore encouraging all gamers to set up a game with friends or family and use the opportunity to talk about how they’re feeling. We may be far apart but games can bring us much closer together.” Many would agree with this statement, as gaming has increasingly become a way for people to communicate and socialize during trying times.
Research by CALM has uncovered that 30% of people in the United Kingdom are unlikely to talk to someone if they are struggling emotionally and 60% of people claimed to be feeling anxiety about the coronavirus situation. EA’s might not be the onlyinitiative to help during the pandemic, but it is still a worthy cause worth supporting.
While some players may still have concerns about the practices ofElectronic Arts, the recent news surrounding the company has been overwhelmingly positive. Furthermore, with a host of games set to be announced at the EA Play Event later today, some players may find themselves looking at the products of the company with renewed interest.
