Long COVID Europe - "Long COVID Mode"

Saint Elmo

Saint Elmo Hamburg, Germany

761

Title	Long COVID Mode
Agency	Saint Elmo
Campaign	Long COVID Mode
Advertiser	Long COVID Europe
Brand	Long COVID Europe
Date of First Broadcast/Publication	2023
Business Sector	Disease Awareness, Support Groups & Associations
Story	Long COVID has affected over 100 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, knowledge about its symptoms is not as widespread as the condition itself, especially among younger generations.Long COVID Europe, a patient-led charity, wanted to change that.To reach a younger audience, we turned to gamers. Gamers have a habit of replaying their games on higher difficulties. Known as ‘Challenge Running’, it is one of the most viewed formats in gaming.With Long COVID Mode, we gave gamers a whole new difficulty level by letting them experience Long COVID symptoms through game characters.Long COVID Mode highlighted 20 symptoms by altering in-game stats like stamina, vitality and more in 3 big games - Elden Ring, Minecraft and The Witcher 3.Influential gamers worldwide played Long COVID mode as a challenge and, in the process, educated millions of young viewers about the symptoms and encouraged them to seek the right care.
Media Type	Digital
Length	96 seconds
Chief Creative Officer	Matthias Harbeck
Copywriter	Rasesh Patkar
Copywriter	Swarna Thomas
Art Director	Silvia Raquel Vega Bellido
Developer	Leopold Ferdinand Lotz