While tension over quarantine now grows in the U.S., the game industry appears determined to support stay-at-home orders and COVID-19 relief efforts with remote events and gaming itself. After LudoNarraCon wrapped up the last weekend of April, more online events celebrating games have been announced this summer: GameSpot’s Play for All and Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest. They join similar events like IGN’s Summer of Gaming and PC Gamer’s PC Gaming Show. In addition to that, Pokémon GO moves forward with its remote raids and professional athletes like Serena Williams play in a Mario Tennis Aces tournament to raise money for charity today.
In other gaming news, The Last of Us Part II has a new release date, Indivisible launched on the Nintendo Switch without the developer’s knowledge, and the next Assassin's Creed focuses on vikings.
Highlights From This Week's Gaming News
Summer Game Fest 2020 is Geoff Keighley's Huge Celebration of Gaming
The lineup of online events this year continues to grow as Summer Game Fest 2020 is announced and scheduled to start in May and wrap up in August. According to a Tweet made by event organizer Geoff Keighley, the first set of developers set to participate in "Phase 1" include Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and many more. GameSpot will also hold a gaming and charity event called "Play For All."
Anti-Defamation League Report Says Steam Is "Harboring Extremists"
According to the organization's findings, Steam has become a "platform" for white supremacists. The Anti-Defamation League also provided recommendations for what Steam and Valve can do to address this issue.
Mario Tennis Aces Tournament Brings Maria Sharapova Out of Retirement
Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other professional athletes will join her in Mario Tennis Aces for the "Stay At Home Slam" charity event. According to Adweek, it's scheduled to play on Facebook Gaming and the IMG Tennis Facebook page on Sunday May 3 at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET. Pokémon GO is also continuing its efforts to support people staying at home with remote raids, though they are only available to high-level trainers at the moment.
Ubisoft Unveils Assassin's Creed: Valhalla A Viking ARPG
Players will become a viking raider named Eivor, who can be a man or a woman. Despite the popular perception of viking aggression, Eivor will also have the option for diplomacy. The game is scheduled for a holiday release this year.
[UPDATED] Incomplete Indivisible Switch Release Surprises Even Developer
Indivisible was released on Nintendo Switch without any promotional lead-up or the knowledge of its developer, Lab Zero Games (known for Skullgirls). Indivisible’s project lead, Mike Zaimont, also explained on Twitter that the build of the game on Switch isn’t up to date, lacking features like New Game Plus and co-op. While the game’s publisher, 505 Games, made a statement addressing the status of physical Switch copies and an upcoming Switch update, they didn’t explain keeping Lab Zero in the dark or the lack of promotional lead-up. UPDATE: According to GamesIndustry.biz, 505 Games has given an explanation for the sudden release of Indivisible on Switch.
Ghosts of Tsushima and New The Last of Us 2 Release Dates Revealed
The Last of Us Part II has now been scheduled to launch on June 19 after huge spoilers about its story "hit the internet." Ghost of Tsushima is also now set to debut on July 17.
Features and Reviews of the Week
MMOs to Play During Quarantine
Feel like playing an MMO while you're staying at home? TechRaptor offers their list of recommendations, divided into three different types: freemium, buy-to-play, and subscription. The compilation includes titles like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, and Elder Scrolls Online.
With a gameplay experience that updates the past for a new age, Streets of Rage 4 handily won TechRaptor over and nearly earned a perfect score.
Majora's Mask: Remembering a Strange Legend of Zelda
TechRaptor looks back on The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for its 20th anniversary. Following in the footsteps of the previous hit Zelda game, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask managed to stand out with its unique premise and bizarre tone.
Are you going to check out the Summer Game Fest and other online gaming events? Have you played The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask? 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. And for more on COVID-19’s impact on gaming, check out TechRaptor’s evolving hub of COVID-19 updates.
