In part charity drive, part homage, the developer of Verdun 1914-1918 has released a new piece of downloadable content, called Christmas Truce. Based on the actual events of Christmas 1914, which saw some elements of British and German forces cease fire for a day, have snowball fights, share food and even play football.
The same will be possible within the DLC, letting players have snowball fights, kick a ball around, sing carols and send cards to loved ones. Everyone participating gets a medal for joining up to the cease fire, though it will only be playable on the specific Winter map, letting all of those who want to keep shooting each other do so as much as they like.
Better yet, all of the proceeds from the map's purchase - set at a donation level of either $4, $8 or $13, depending on your preference - will go to the War Child charity, which looks to leverage gaming to highlight the terrible impact that war can have on children caught up in it.
It has run several gaming campaigns before, teaming up with the developers of World of Tanks, Democracy 3, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday and now Verdun as well. Playing with each other without shooting one another is a handy way to remind ourselves that we are simulating the real world conflicts that devastated continents for decades after.
I'm sure many of you will continue to shoot each other over the Christmas period, but will you take a moment to throw some snowballs at a fellow human?