Even though large public gathering places such as Disneyland are planning to reopen soon, the coronavirus pandemic has not gone away, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are 2,275,645 total cases across the U.S. as of June 22, 2020. Many companies have been donating and starting charity drives since the pandemic began, and today Gearbox Software announced a new donation event for Borderlands 3 to support Direct Relief.

As of this morning, Borderlands 3 players can purchase a new in-game cosmetic called the "antisocial mask" for a minimum $5 donation to the nonprofit, which will go to buying personal protective equipment for healthcare workers across the country. The Shift code unlocking these masks can be applied to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions of the game, and on the Gearbox Loot page the developer says, "We just ask you to help others as they fight real, honest-to-God battles that have to be won."

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This new donation drive comes as Gearbox Software prepares to release Borderlands 3's next DLC, Bounty of Blood: A Fistful of Redemption, on Thursday, June 25. Any American fans who are interested can also purchase 3-packs of reusable cloth face masks based on Borderlands characters to use in real life.

Gearbox is not the only video game developer that has turned its sights on Direct Relief specifically. In April, Bungie began a donation drive through Destiny 2 called the Guardian's Heart Initiative that raised over $780,000 for Direct Relief by the time it ended in May. Individual celebrities such as restaurateur Guy Fieri have also been raising money for charitable organizations like the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, further national turmoil broke out following the killing of George Floyd as huge crowds took to the streets to protest police brutality. These Black Lives Matter protests have spawned another wave of activism by video game developers like EA, which donated $1 million to racial injustice charities at the beginning of the month.

As Gearbox prepares to launch its next major DLC for Borderlands 3, the developer has also been implementing new in-game content beyond digital charity facemasks. A new game mode called Takedown at the Guardian Breach released June 12, and Gearbox announced it will make adjustments based on player feedback from that launch.

Borderlands 3 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.

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Source: Gearbox Loot, CDC, Direct Relief