Covid-19 in sports games?

[Andycyca]

I don't need to look at Steam's new releases to know there's already covid themed games. It is possible some of those fall in the sports category.

If you ask me, I liked the idea of "esports" replacing traditional sports at the beginning of the quarantine (e.g. that "MLB The Show" tournament some actual MLB players did)

[Andycyca]

will we see COVID represented in sports games such as Madden and the like?

I've been mulling about this for the past few days.

First of all, the "well, technically..." answer: I don't believe it will ever be represented in any official sports games, Madden or the like. I also don't believe that it would be referred to as COVID, specifically.

But of course that's not the question. And (I'm 99%sure) you don't mean a meme-y game that uses COVID for its own ake.

What kind of sports game could integrate COVID as a true in-game mechanic (other than Blaseball of course)? My guess is that it would have to be some kind of manager-style game (

Out Of The Park

comes to mind). What kind of mechanic would it be?

Any game that would go for including it beyond its meme-y aspect would include either:

1. The plague's impact at individual level, and/or
   
2. The plague's impact at interpersonal/societal level

If you ask me, the 2nd one is a lot more interesting to integrate in a game---mostly because at the individual level it would be essentially indistinguishable from a player sitting out due to regular injuries.

What kind of sports game would integrate that? My guess is still zero or very few. If it's a legitimate game mechanic it is by definition taking away from the sports core of the game (not that the AAA industry is against integrating extraneous bullshit to pad out games)

[Andycyca]

I could see EA/Disney doing something like a player gets COVID and has to sit until cleared

You really could see it? Actual question, though. In my opinion, major brands (Disney, sports leagues, etc) would never want to associate anything about them with COVID. In any case, as I said, they could integrate a COVID-like illness/factor to the games, but if I'm correct, it wouldn't be named COVID or be otherwise strongly associated with it. And if it's not named as such and it's not that associated with COVID, it would be practically indistinguishable from other illnesses. But that hinges on my opinion that they don't want to talk about it, ever.

(and yes, MLB players aren't wearing masks on the dugout which is weird to me)