Finally ended the crazy 2020. It is time to take stock and recall all the most important events in the gaming industry. The largest releases, trends and scandals.
Quarantine and abolition E3
And remember how the great news seemed to the great news that it seemed that Sony will miss the exhibition E3? Who could have assumed that no e3 would be at all. Yeah, the pandemic affected the game industry no less than all other areas of business and life. Already in March, all studios had to urgently transfer workers to remote. Soon afterwards, the leaders of many companies, for example, Naughty Dog And CD Projekt Red , They began to complain that quarantine is terribly inhibiting all production processes. The consequence was a wave of transfers of large projects. Although, as it turned out later, some simply used the virus as a convenient justification of the already necessary delay.
But it was not without positive consequences, no matter how wild it may sound. At least the first months of quarantine provided the gaming industry with the influx of a new audience. Not knowing what to take themselves on self -isolation, people began to massively buy games and consoles. Switch was most popular – in March, the demand for it jumped by 150%. Nintendo She was even forced to suspend the supply of the console to Japan, because the reserves ended, and the factories could not replenish them due to quarantine.
However, we will not be cunning. We are sure that the pirates who managed to break the system at the hardware level have made their contribution to Switch sales and bypass all the protection of the Japanese for almost six months. Now, however, the situation was slightly corrected: those involved in this case were arrested and imprisoned, the production and supply of fashion chips were greatly reduced, and in fresh update 11.0.1 covered the main holes.
According to the Gamesindustry portal, the total annual profit of the game sphere in 2020 amounted to almost $ 175 billion. This is almost 20% more than last year. Although, in fairness, O the most part of this amount falls on mobile games.
As for E3 and other large exhibitions, then no one noticed their absence, in general. All major companies held their own online presentations and remained in the plus. There was no need to take anything anywhere, organize a show, and most importantly, to compete with competitors for news headlines. Performances shared for whole weeks, which means that the attention of the audience could not be divided with anyone. In general, there are only advantages. As a result, now there is a very real probability that E3, and behind it, is a huge part of offline exhibitions, simply sinking in the fly. Maybe it is for the better.
The Last of Us Part II exit
The most loud and contradictory game of 2020 until recently was The Last of Us: Part II. Oh, how many people broke a spear. How many fifth points set on fire, let's say one unusual party in golf. Moreover, the Holy War began before the release. Some scoundrel in April leaked a bunch of footage with important spoilers to the network. Sony quickly calculated the offender and tried to remove all the duckled shots, but the rumor could no longer be stopped.
What fans of the first part did not like much. But they did not like the fact that the game fell in love with critics much stronger. After removing the embargo, the project rating on Metacritic reached 96 points. The Last of Us: Part II was called the event-event, in every possible way noting the talent of the Nile Drakmann. Then the angry crowd simply equalized the user rating of the action movie with the ground. True, this had a rather unexpected effect: the Metacritic administration for once drew attention to the problem of the so-called Revoy-bombing and even tried to somehow solve it. From now on, users cannot give the game evaluation within the first forty -eight hours after the release. Say, first play, and then judge.
As for The Last of Us: Part II itself, the mass discontent did not affect her. The game won the five nominations Golden JoyStick Awards, won the seven figurines The Game Awards, and in the first seventy -two hours diverged 4 million copies, updating the sales speed among exclusive PlayStation.
Little hits
And another 2020 has become the year of sudden little hits. So shot in August Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout – Bright royal battle with cute beans. In the first day, she reached a mark of one and a half million players, and by the beginning of December it diverged with a circulation of eleven million copies.
In September, she replaced her Among us. It is noteworthy that she came out back in 2018, but she was not particularly popular. And then she suddenly hugged thanks to Twitch. The mobile version of the project was especially successful – it occupied the upper lines of the top Store and Google Play Top for several months in a row.
Well, in October, on the eve of Halloween, a cooperative horror received his moment PHASMOPHOBIA. Its author under the nickname Dknighter initially hoped for a couple of thousands of copies sold, and as a result, in six weeks, the indicators exceeded two million. Because of what the poor fellow had to cancel all plans and completely surrender to polishing the project.
And, of course, you cannot ignore Genshin Impact. The Chinese parole Zelda was able to earn $ 60 million in the first week, and almost 400 million in two months. Moreover, the players for the most part praise it – complaining, however, on the landwall.
Avengers' failure
Well, successful games have passed, let's move on to outsiders. There are many of them this year. You can recall the unsuccessful mishmash of genres called Disintegration , And a broken continuation of a horror Remothereed , And ridiculous Fast & Furious: Crossroads. However, the louder failed "Avengers".
It would seem that Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics had all the conditions for creating a hit: binding to the most successful media -franchise in history, a solid budget of 180 million dollars and three years to develop. And although gameplay trailers did not cause the public delight, Marvel’s Avengers looked like a very promising project. Beta Games even set a download record in PS Store. But then the release took place.
The peak online action movie on Steam amounted to 31 thousand people – this is even less than it was Shadow of the Tomb Raider , which Square Enix considered a failure. And in three weeks, the indicators fell to a miserable two thousand. In November, the publishing house reported that only 60%managed to sell from the planned renewed renewals, which was due to which the company lost $ 62 million.
There is nothing to be surprised and sympathized with. Marvel’s Avengers-a monotonous and lazy game-service game that repeats all the mistakes made Anthem. Such projects must fail so that the corporations do not imprison the final.
Flurry of crooked remasters
By the way, about impudent corporations. In 2020, they surpassed themselves in one specific area-in mediocre remasters. Of course, there were enough examples before, to remember at least terrible Silent Hill HD Collection , However, the twentieth year was especially lucky.
Let's go in order to deteriorate. So the creators Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning And Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered They simply decided not to repair what works well. Visual improvements – minimum, gameplay changes – zero. And do not care that the games are already ten years old – and so it will go. But at least not spoiled, unlike Mafia II: Definitive Edition. At the start, no less burst from bugs than the third part. And graphic changes are not everywhere benefit.
A Crysis: Remastered It turned out to be so true to the spirit of the original that only the owners of the most top PCs were able to launch it, and then with friezes. Only now the picture does not affect the imagination this time – the matter is only in bad optimization.
Finally, a funny remake of a spy shooter XIII , in which the iconic comic style of the original was completely ruined, and reprint Warcraft III with the subtitle ** reforged ** deservedly fell into our top of the disappointments of the past year.
Scandals and dismissal
But not only for Remaster Warcraft scolded Blizzard this year. In the summer, the famous journalist Jason Schreyer released the material in which he tore off the company. Say, this is not a publishing house, but a branch of hell on Earth and the refuge of the exploiters. So far, ordinary hard workers save on dinners so that a tiny salary is enough to pay for housing, the top management carries the family for the weekend at Disneyland. True, shortly after the publication, specific salary figures appeared on the Web, and it turned out that by the standards of California, where the main office is located, they are quite decent. Yes, there is not enough for a convertible, but there is no question of any humiliation of human dignity. Well, Schreyer once again proved his love for excessive drama.
However, not all scandals of 2020 passed without consequences. So, after numerous complaints of employees about the incorrect behavior of the authorities Ubisoft launched a large -scale internal investigation, which ended in a large cleaning. Among others, the heads of the leading developer Ubisoft Toronto Maxim Belan, a creative leader Assassin’s Creed Ashraf Ismail and even Serzh Khayta – the right hand of Iva Giimimo himself. Well, Michel Ansel, Creator, quietly went to peace Beyond Good & Evil. According to some insiders, the development of the second part dragged on precisely because of his tyranny. The case was even approaching the closure of the project, but instead they preferred to free the team from Ansel, presenting everything as a well -deserved pension.
Alas, the career of the famous game designer and screenwriter Chris Abellon was cut off not so elegant. He was accused of numerous cases of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, and he pleaded guilty. Immediately after that, the militant team broke with the author Dying Light 2. And Paradox Interactive said that in the release version Vampire: The Masquarade – Bloodlines 2 There will be no line written by Avellon.
Epic Games against Apple
Now let's move on to the most sudden and loudest conflict of 2020- Epic Games against Apple And Google.
So, on August 13, Epica went to a daring step – introduced in the mobile version Fortnite Direct payment, bypassing the commissions App Store and Google Play. And in addition, prices also lowered prices for the amount of these same commissions. Apple and Google led to a provocation and deleted the game from stores, in response to which the court claims were immediately received. Epic Games accused the corporation of monopolizing the mobile application market. Say, if the developer does not want to play according to their rules and pay dragon contributions, then he has nowhere to sell. "Yablons" tried to restore the insolents and threatened that they would stop support by Unreal Engine in general on all their devices. But such measures were banned by the court: non -investigated developers could suffer. Google, meanwhile, chose the tactics of peace negotiations. In turn, Epica gathered a large army of supporters, which included Facebook, Spotify and many other companies.
Initially, this whole undertaking looked like a desperate adventure from Epic Games. Apple is a powerful megacorporation that, if desired, can buy at least Disney. Well, where is there any kind of gaming office there-they will be given and not notice. However, with the support of people like Mark Zuckerberg, Epica may well give a decent battle in court. The main proceedings starts only in May and, most likely, will drag on for a long time. Let's see in a year than all this will turn around.
Microsoft https://sister-site.org/bc-game/ bought Bethesda
By the way, about purchases and absorption. 2020 brought us no less than a century of a century from the gaming industry. For $ 7.5 billion, Microsoft bought a holding Zenimax Media. And this means that she got Bethesda With all the daughter studios and their franchises. Doom , Wolfenstein , Dishonored , The Elder Scrolls , Fallout , Starfield – All this and much more now at the full disposal of "shirts". What will they do with all this wealth?
Well, firstly, develop. It's no secret that the last few years have been for Bethesda not the most successful profit in terms of profit. In fact, of all the projects issued, only successful turned out to be only successful Fallout 4 and two parts of doom. The rest of the games either frankly failed, or barely went out plus. This, you see, is not the most favorable financial situation for creating, for example, The Elder Scrolls VI. Microsoft will make sure that every announced game gets to the release. And the announcements in the coming years, most likely, will be even more.
And secondly, Bethesda is needed for Xbox Game Pass. Obtaining such a powerful Title Catalog makes the dream of “Mikes” about the ultimatical gaming “nonflick” one step closer to reality.
And for a long time there was a theory that in this way Phil Spencer wanted to hit the PlayStation. What, they say, now all Soniboi will be left without Fallout 5 and the following “scrolls”. But Microsoft herself dispelled these rumors. She has no plans for the full exclusivity of future projects. Temporary – possible. Some DLC-why not? But nobody is going to manage users of other platforms entirely.
This transaction will definitely affect the entire industry. But how exactly, we will learn only in the next couple of years.
Start of a new console generation
And finally, the most important game event of the year is the launch of the ninth generation of consoles and a new round of console war. PS5 against Xbox Series X. And, unlike the eighth generation, we cannot predict the winner on the basis of a start. The devices turned out to be too similar and too different.
Despite some difference in technical characteristics, in tests on multi-platform games, both prefixes show an almost identical result. At the same time, each has their own unique chips. Xbox Series has a Quick Resume function, which allows you to run several programs at the same time and switch between them in a matter of seconds. And the PS5 has a super -technical controller with point vibration and adaptive triggers. The Mikes have Game Pass, where dozens of projects are available. And Sony has an exclusive policy that guarantees that some games will not come out anywhere else at least until the end of the generation.
Although the Americans surpassed the Japanese in some ways. Instead of one console, Microsoft released two. Well, or one and a half – anyone whatever. Xbox Series S is a real secret weapon, which is capable of turning the course of war in theory. At the price of Nintendo Switch, we are offered a full -fledged ninth generation console, which pulls all new games in Full HD in Full HD. Like a machine for Game pass or the second prefix – a great choice. There are rumors that Sony appreciated the strategy and is now preparing its own budget console, but it is still far from it.
Xbox and PS5 have something else in common-now it is completely impossible to get. Due to the pandemic, the plants did not have time to release the required number of devices, and the starting parties almost entirely grabbed on the prejudice. So if you just now think about the transition to Nekstgen, you will have to wait a couple of months.
Cyberpunk release 2077
Salt to the wound to the final. Of course, we are about Cyberpunk 2077 – The most disabled game of recent years and a contender for the title of game of the year.
So, we will restore the chronology of events. In early January, CD Projekt RED postponed the project output from April to September. Quote: “We want to make Cyberpunk 2077 the crown of this generation of consoles, so for an additional few months they will help us bring the game to the ideal”.
The next few months, the Poles only strengthened their positions. Despite the fall of shares after transfer, CDPR has become the most expensive game company in Europe, bypassing even Ubisoft. But in July the game was postponed again – on November 19. That time used an excuse about coronavirus. Say, we’ll have time, do not worry, just a pandemic inhibits the processes. As it turned out later, it was partly true. But only partly.
The rest of the summer and half of autumn CD Projekt promised the game as best. She conducted broadcasts, showed new feet, boasted Keanu Reeves – everything is as always. Finally, in early October, Cyberpunk 2077 "went to gold". This means that a master disc of the factories was sent to the factories, from which copies will be printed. Usually this is a guarantor that the creators consider the game ready for release, and it will be released on time. Usually … but not in the case of Cyberpancom. He was moved again – already on the tenth of December. An unprecedented case in the recent history of video games. But even such a delay, fans were ready to forgive, because the Poles promised to do cool. Promised that everything would be in the best possible way. And then the very tenth of December came.
Anyone who has acquired a non -nonsense or normal PC in advance, received a game with an intriguing plot, charismatic characters and branded quests of Poles. The one who launched Cyberpank on old consoles received only pain. Monstrous FPS subsidies, resolution below 720p, very long loading of objects, muddy textures, regular flights – all this made the console version simply inconclusive. The patch of the first day did not save the situation, and the next few hotfixes raised the general quality from the monstrous to just low.
Three days after the release of CD Projekt Red, she apologized to users and promised to correct the situation of affairs with two large patches that will be released in January and February. Well, they promised to return the money to everyone who dissatisfied. Sony really began to return the funds, not only that, she also deleted the Cyberpunk 2077 from the PS Store until the game was brought into proper technical condition – another unprecedented case. But Microsoft did not delete anything – I limited myself only to a refund.
Now the Poles are in an unenviable position. Yes, Cyberpank 10 days after the release was dispersed of 13 million copies, but many expected more. CD Projekt Red shares are flying to tartarara, disappointed investors are going to sue with the company, and the developers will have to work hard for a long time to finish the game with patches. Some blame mediocre management in this situation, others – too high ambitions of CD Projekt Red, and others – technical restrictions on old consoles. But be that as it may, the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 is a real disaster that will not be forgotten soon.
That's all the most important events in the gaming industry for this year! And what you remember the most? Write in the comments!
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