Days before EVO 2020 was scheduled to take place online, the event’s co-founder Joey Cuellar was accused of sexual abuse. The response so far has included Cuellar’s removal from EVO with co-founder Tony Cannon taking over as CEO, major esports champions like SonicFox and publishers like Capcom pulling out of this year’s EVO, and eventually the cancellation of the event itself. This is part of the latest round of sexual misconduct scandals coming to light in the gaming industry.
Highlights From This Week's Gaming News
Horizon Zero Dawn PC Release Date Is Set in August
The port will include "The Frozen Wilds" expansion with the base game and PC customization options like unlocked frame rates. PC gamers will be able to explore Aloy's world when Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition launches on Aug. 7. In other PlayStation-to-PC-port news, TechRaptor has a new preview of Death Stranding on PC.
[Update] Capcom, NetherRealm, and Bandai Namco Pull Out of Evo 2020 Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal
After being accused of sexually abusing minors, EVO co-founder Joey Cuellar was removed from the fighting game tournament. Bandai Namco, Capcom, and others pulled their games from this year's online version of EVO, while esports players like SonicFox also refused to participate. In the end, EVO 2020 itself has been cancelled. The event will distribute refunds to everyone who bought a badge. EVO will also still donate to Project Hope, giving the same amount that had been originally generated by badge sales.
Fallout TV Series Underway from Westworld Creators
Creators of the Westworld TV series are apparently turning to another dystopian project with a Fallout TV adaptation for Amazon Studios. There is no release date for the series yet, and much of the development process itself is still being figured out—for instance, no writer has officially been named for the project yet.
Carto and Haven PS4 Releases Revealed As New PlayStation Indies
New games were revealed along with the announcement of the new PlayStation Indies initiative. Haven and Carto—both seemingly chill games—are among the new indie releases for PS4 and PS5. In other gaming event news, the Summer Game Fest Xbox One showcase will have new demos available July 21-27 (which will also include Haven).
Dreams VR Release Date Set for July 2020
Media Molecule's Dreams will let VR players gain access to its game development toolkit with new support for PSVR via the free "Inside The Box" expansion. Scheduled for launch on July 22, the VR expansion will also include new tutorials and new example games.
Features and Reviews of the Week
After dealing with delays due to an ongoing pandemic and facing huge plot spoilers, The Last of Us Part II is finally out. TechRaptor found the hotly anticipated sequel to be a potent mix of storytelling, visuals, and frantic gameplay.
Screenshot Survey: Brewing Up Games
In this week’s Screenshot Survey, TechRaptor got to take another look at Potionomics after first seeing it at this year's PC Gaming Show online. Screenshot Survey also included other developing games like the Kirby-like Decline's Drops and the increasingly freaky Dread X Collection 2.
Borderlands 3: Bounty of Blood Review
Although TechRaptor found "Bounty of Blood" to be well-rounded in story, mechanics, characters, and environments, it leaned hard enough into being a jack-of-all-trades that it showed no mastery in any one specific area. But new characters, boss fights, and a mix of Eastern and Western architecture helped make the new Borderlands 3 content enjoyable. TechRaptor also has a guide on all the best weapons in "Bounty of Blood."
What are your thoughts on the latest reports of abuse in the gaming industry? Are you interested in a Fallout TV show? Did you see other news in gaming this week that deserves attention? What did we miss from the last week in gaming? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on COVID-19’s ongoing impact on gaming, check out TechRaptor’s evolving hub of COVID-19 updates.
