Red Cross Urges Gamers to Follow Warfare Rules While Playing Shooter Games

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on first-person shooter (FPS) players to adhere to the rules of war when the game takes place in an armed conflict zone. A statement directed at gamers has been published on the organization’s website.

The ICRC emphasized that FPS games are among the most popular in the world, but since "armed conflict is more prevalent than ever," it is essential to remember that "it is not a game for those suffering from its consequences."

"We urge you to play FPS games according to the rules of war to show everyone that even wars have laws that protect humanity on the battlefield in real life," the committee's statement reads.

The website outlines the following rules:

• When the enemy is down and unable to fight back, you cannot continue shooting at them.
• Prisoners of war must be protected from violence, intimidation, and cruel treatment.
• Game bots that do not fire back are considered civilians and should not be targeted or harmed.
• Civilian populations cannot be attacked and must be protected.
• Houses, schools, or hospitals on any game map are considered safe zones and must not be damaged. In fighting within these areas, every effort must be made to avoid harm.
• Civilian infrastructure is considered protected areas.
• If you have unused first aid kits that other players can use, you should give them to someone in need, regardless of whether they are from the friendly or enemy camp.
• Both sides must care for the sick and wounded.

To demonstrate the implementation of these rules, the ICRC has organized game streams on the Twitch platform with popular players, and videos have been published on its website for guidance. Featured FPS games include popular titles such as Call of Duty, PUBG Battlegrounds, Fortnite, and Rainbow 6 Siege.