The America’s Got Talent judge has teamed up with ePlay Digital Inc. to announce the Breakout the Masks Charity Campaign as well as theHowie’s Games project, PEOPLE can exclusively announce.
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The first challenge, an Outbreak mini-game — which is similar to Candy Crush, but with viruses and bacteria — launches on Friday, and will be available to play on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The game will also feature reactions from Mandel.
“I have spent most of my life in fear of a disease outbreak like COVID-19,” said Mandel, who is a known germaphobe. “Let’s work, and play, together, while in self-isolation and keeping social distance, to ensure front line workers — doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers — are safe, so that they can keep us safe.”
“Outbreak is the first in a series of game titles that draw attention to the COVID-19 outbreak and how most of us can contribute through self-isolation and social distancing,” said Trevor Doerksen, CEO of ePlay Digital and co-creator of Breakout the Masks. “We have been working with Howie Mandel since September on a series of titles based on his germaphobia. By building quarantine compatible games we hope we can help make families more comfortable and quarantine compatible too.”
Donations to the charity campaign can be made at www.howiesgames.com, and 100 percent of the money collected from the game and the weekly challenges will go to getting the supplies in the hands of those who need them the most.