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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPlague Inc.’s 2014 Simian Flu update was an official, licensed tie-in to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, made with 20th Century Fox. It did more than add movie branding: the expansion gave players a second challenge alongside the human pandemic—helping intelligent apes spread, organize and survive.
What was the Simian Flu update?
Simian Flu was a fictional genetically modified virus from the Planet of the Apes story world. In the game, it spread among humans while also increasing apes’ intelligence. Ndemic Creations described the fictional outbreak as originating at a Gen-Sys laboratory. The studio’s partnership announcement identifies 20th Century Fox and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes as the licensed partners and film.
![Planet of the Apes [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51T-WVI+J4L._SL160_.jpg)
That makes “movie product placement,” the wording used in Droid Life’s July 10, 2014 report, an imprecise description. The documented arrangement was a movie promotion delivered as playable downloadable content—not simply a branded object or conventional advertisement placed inside the game.
How did the tie-in change the gameplay?
Instead of just reskinning a disease, Simian Flu adapted the film’s premise into a two-part strategy. Players still managed a human epidemic, but also had to develop and protect an intelligent ape population. Ndemic’s initial feature announcement described several mechanics:
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- Human infection: Spread the disease through people and manage its effects as in a conventional Plague Inc. scenario.
- Ape-to-ape transmission: The virus could pass between apes as well as infect humans.
- Ape intelligence: Evolve cognitive abilities so apes could become more capable and organized.
- Ape colonies: Establish communities that generated DNA and helped apes avoid detection.
- Migration: Move apes to reduce the risk of discovery or experimentation.
- Research-lab attacks: Ape groups could attack facilities involved in studying or controlling them.
These systems created competing priorities. Spending DNA on ape intelligence or protecting colonies meant less available for disease traits; killing humans too quickly could leave less time for apes to grow and organize. Conversely, prioritizing ape survival could delay the human-pandemic objective. The result was not simply a faster infection run, but a balancing act between the pathogen’s spread and the apes’ rise.
Why did the film partnership fit?
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes centers on a disease-ravaged human world and increasingly intelligent apes, while Plague Inc. is built around modeling disease spread. The game could therefore make the movie’s fictional biology and social conflict playable rather than relying only on logos or artwork. Ndemic said the partnership let players explore the film’s events and themes on a global scale in its pre-launch announcement.
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The connection also ran back to the game’s origins: in the Simian Flu announcement, creator James Vaughan said watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes had helped inspire Plague Inc. The licensed expansion was specifically tied to the later film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
When did it come out, and what did it cost?
Droid Life published its report on July 10, 2014, during the rollout. Ndemic’s official “out now” announcement is dated July 17, which is the clearest official launch date in the available announcements. Ndemic had previewed the update on July 1 and said it was expected during the week of July 8, but that projected timing is not the same as the later official release notice.
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- Generations in the future following Caesar?s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species ? and humans are living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
The release model differed by platform. Ndemic said mobile players would get a free trial, then could unlock the expansion for a historical U.S. price of $1.99. It was free for players who owned the Plague Pack or had completed the full game on Brutal difficulty. For Plague Inc: Evolved on Steam, the studio said the update would be free. These are 2014 terms, not a guarantee of present-day pricing or eligibility.
Droid Life reported an approximately $2.12 price, which differs from Ndemic’s official $1.99 figure. The official announcement is the stronger source for the announced price; the higher amount should be understood as the secondary report’s figure, not a universal price.
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![Planet of the Apes 4-movie Collection 2011-2024 (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes + War for the Planet of the Apes + Dawn of the Planet of the Apes + Rise of the Planet of the Apes) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NLDJBGlrL._SL160_.jpg)
- Planet of the Apes 4-movie Collection 2011-2024 (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes + War for the Planet of the Apes + Dawn of the Planet of the Apes + Rise of the Planet of the Apes) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]
- Includes 4 Films (2011-2024) – Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Region-Free Blu-ray – Playable worldwide, no restrictions
- Stunning HD Quality – Experience breathtaking cinematography and intense action sequences in high definition
- Immersive Audio – Enhanced sound for a cinematic experience
Which platforms received it?
Ndemic’s launch notice lists iOS, Android, PC and Mac, with the desktop versions referring to Plague Inc: Evolved. The partnership announcement also said the update would be included in the future Xbox One edition; that wording described planned support rather than confirming it was available on launch day.
The original 2014 announcement listed English, Japanese, Korean, simplified and traditional Chinese, German, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. That is the period’s localization list, not a statement of complete current language support.
What remains available today?
The current U.S. Apple App Store listing surfaces Simian Flu as an expansion and shows a $1.99 listing signal in the available store information. Store prices and availability can vary by country, account, device and time, so that figure should not be treated as a universal current price. The Google Play listing identifies the Android game as containing ads and in-app purchases, but does not establish a dependable current Simian Flu price.
The 2014 announcement confirms the original PC and Mac release model, but does not establish current desktop pricing or availability. Check the store listing for the edition and region you use rather than assuming the mobile purchase terms apply. Ndemic’s original release notice also reported more than 2 million Simian Flu games played shortly after launch; that is a developer-reported number of games, not an independently audited count of unique players.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
