E3 has been officially canceled this year due to coronavirus (COVID-19) fears. Unlike other events that have been cut for the same reason, E3 has had a visible streak of bad luck with other issues before this. AAA giant Sony was already planning to skip E3 for the second year in a row, and iam8bit had previously resigned as creative director of the 2020 show. While more unfortunate news for the gaming industry, the community’s also banded together to try to do some good: Minecraft now has a library filled with information to resist censorship in various countries, and city builder Endzone - A World Apart has promised that trees will be planted depending on how many Wishlists the game gets on Steam. Today’s gaming roundup also includes news on the Horizon Zero Dawn port to PC and Reggie Fils-Aimé joining GameStop’s Board of Directors.
Highlights From This Week's Gaming News
Reporters Without Borders Creates Minecraft Anti-Censorship Library
In an effort to resist global censorship and to attract younger people, the organization Reporters Without Borders and design studio Blockworks have teamed up to create a library in Minecraft that's filled with real books and articles censored around the world. Creating the digital library required a team of 24 builders from 16 countries and over 250 hours of construction.
Post-Apocalyptic Endzone - A World Apart Teams Up to Fight Climate Change
In a partnership with the organization One Tree Planted, the game's publisher Assemble Entertainment has promised that a specific amount of trees will be planted depending on how many Wishlists on Steam are made. For example, 500 trees will be planted when there are 70,000 Wishlists.
Doom Eternal Collector's Edition Won't Ship With Everything
The new soundtrack won't be available as an individual item when the game debuts on March 20. It hasn't been cut, but seems to have been delayed for reasons Bethesda hasn't specified. The company promises that the Doom Eternal soundtrack will be released as soon as possible.
Blade Runner: Extended Edition Announced
Nightdive Studios has teamed up with Alcon Entertainment to develop Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition for PC and modern consoles like Nintendo Switch. Originally developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1997, the award-winning game adaptation of Blade Runner was a point-and-click adventure title that told a new story running alongside the plot of the 1982 film.
In addition to many other events, this year's E3 has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The ESA is considering hosting a digital version of the event this June.
Horizon Zero Dawn PC Release This Summer
The Complete Edition—which is the whole game with extra in-game items and the Frozen Wilds expansion—-is now available for wishlist on Steam. The PC port of Horizon Zero Dawn was confirmed during an interview with Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Worldwide Studios.
Reggie Fils-Aimé Joins GameStop's Board of Directors
After retiring from Nintendo last year and leaving his role as the CEO and president of the company's North American division, Reggie Fils-Aimé is now a member of GameStop's Board of Directors. George Sherman, chief executive of GameStop, hopes Fils-Aimé and other new board members will help with the retailer's "business strategy for long-term success."
Features and Reviews of the Week
TechRaptor found Half Past Fate good for players less interested in puzzles and more interested in an intricate narrative, endearing characters, and accessible gameplay.
Crying in a Cave in Stories and Smoke
TechRaptor checks out Stories and Smoke in the latest edition of Coverage Club. Originally made during the 2020 Global Game Jam, Stories and Smoke follows an anthropomorphic feline bard who must decide whether to stay in a cave or leave another in it for the sake of a ritual.
Yes, Your Grace's Development Adventure
Developer Rafal Bryks talked with TechRaptor about how a move to Poland influenced game development and moral ambiguity in Yes, Your Grace.
Exploring the Slavic-Inspired World of Yes, Your Grace
TechRaptor's conversation with developer Rafal Bryks continues with a look at the worldbuilding in Yes, Your Grace. Slavic culture and mythology provided a foundation, while fantasy was subtly incorporated with hints of monsters and magic.
What do you think of E3 getting canceled? Any opinions on Reggie Fils-Aimé joining GameStop's Board of Directors? Did you see other news in gaming this week that deserves attention? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
