Activision UK launches Modern Warfare 2 XBL charity weekend

War Child, a charity that aims to assist children in areas of conflict, is to receive support from Activision, Infinity Ward, Xbox Live and Game during the weekend of December 5 and 6.

As part of an initiative called Game for Good, the popularity of Modern Warfare 2 is going to be used to raise money for the aforementioned charity. If over 600,000 UK players log on to play Modern Warfare 2, a donation of £150,000 will be made to War Child. Every 100,000 players after that will earn an additional £25,000 for the charity, with a maximum of £250,000 up for grabs.

To ensure as many people as possible will be playing the game online, Xbox Live Gold Memberships will be free for the weekend. Game is also selling War Child wristbands to provide awareness and to, hopefully, entice the million users needed for the maximum donation to be granted.

Activision Blizzard is also using Modern Warfare 2’s success to further help raise money for charity. The publisher recently set up the Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit programme that aims to aid unemployed war veterans. Activision has already paid an initial grant of $125,000 to the Paralyzed Veterans of America to help fund a new rehabilitation centre in Boston. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, there more than half a million unemployed war veterans in America; a figure that the C.O.D.E initiative is looking to help decrease. C.O.D.E workers will identify other organisations that need support and work to raise both funds and awareness for the cause.

For more information on the Game for Good initiative, War Child, or to get a Twibbon to show your support, a Facebook fan page has been set up here .