UK-based games studio Ndemic Creations has once again had to say that while its wildly successful Plague Inc is realistic, it shouldn't be used as model for the coronavirus outbreak.
In a blog post, the company said that folks concerned about the virus should turn to the Centre for Disease Control as well as the World Health Organisation.
This follows the game topping the charts in China following the coronavirus' outbreak in the region. To date the virus has killed 106 people.
"Plague Inc. has been out for eight years now and whenever there is an outbreak of disease we see an increase in players, as people seek to find out more about how diseases spread and to understand the complexities of viral outbreaks," the company wrote.
"We specifically designed the game to be realistic and informative, while not sensationalising serious real-world issues. This has been recognised by the CDC and other leading medical organisations around the world.
"However, please remember that Plague Inc. is a game, not a scientific model and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people. We would always recommend that players get their information directly from local and global health authorities."