It feels like anything and everything is getting cancelled or called off right now, with the pesky Covid-19 coronavirus having a major impact on modern life, the world over. It’s obviously concerning and worrying in some scenarios, but so far it’s mainly been an inconvenience that there’s no sports on the telly and when heading to the shops to find that the essentials are all sold out.
Thankfully, video games as a digital pastime we’ll be able to rely on, but even this has been affected in a number of different ways. Let’s dive into this week’s news to find out how.
In the News This Week
Of course, it was coronavirus that delivered this week’s biggest headlines:
- E3 2020 officially cancelled over Covid-19 coronavirus fears [Updated]
- Microsoft and Ubisoft plan digital events and experiences to replace cancelled E3 2020 conferences
- EGX Rezzed delayed until summer due to coronavirus
- Call of Duty League goes online-only for 2020 because of (you guessed it) Covid-19 coronavirus
- Blizzard cancels Overwatch League Homestand events through April amid Covid-19 coronavirus clampdown
- eFootball PES 2020 free Euro 2020 DLC out in April, so you can pretend the actual tournament is still going to happen
And in non-coronavirus news:
- Free-to-play Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale officially revealed, and it’s out now
- New Witcher game will enter development after Cyberpunk 2077 release
- Punk band confirm a new Tony Hawk game is set for this year
- 1997 point-and-click adventure Blade Runner is being remastered for consoles and PC
- Assetto Corsa Competizione races onto PS4 and Xbox One in June
- Google Stadia won’t run Doom Eternal in true 4K, despite id saying it would
- AMD seemingly confirm that the PS5 uses RDNA 2 GPU, just like Xbox Series X
Games in Review
It’s been a good week for game releases, as both PS4 and Xbox one picked up their first real exclusives of the year. Nioh 2 brought more Japanese Soulslike gaming to your DualShock 4, while the long, long awaited Ori and the Will of the Wisps will delight Xbox and PC players. Both come highly recommended!
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps – XBO, PC – 10/10
- Nioh 2 – PS4 – 9/10
- Hunt: Showdown – PS4, XBO, PC – 8/10
- Granblue Fantasy: Versus – PS4 – 7/10
- Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition – PS4, XBO, Switch, PC, iOS, Android – 4/10
And we had a solitary pro controller review to go alongside the games.
- Nacon Revolution Pro Controller 3 – PS4, PC – 7/10
Featured Articles
We had a healthy slate of previews to serve up alongside the reviews, thanks in large part to Miguel heading to PAX East a couple weekends ago.
He got to check out the delightful Spiritfarer once again, had somethings to say about the revival of some classic games in Windjammers 2 and Streets of Rage 4, was enthralled by the roguelike Mega Man X hybrid 30XX, and dove into the more directed space adventure of Everspace 2.
Meanwhile, the free to play release of Call of Duty: Warzone gave Nick a new battle royale to become obsessed with, and we came up with 10 games you can play in the event of needing to self-isolate over the coming weeks and months.
Beside that, What We Played featured Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Nioh 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone
Trailer Park
Call of Duty: Warzone hot drops as a free to play battle royale
Super Mega Baseball 3 swings onto PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC in April
Assetto Corsa Competizione races onto PS4 and Xbox One in June
LEGO Super Mario revealed as a barmy toys-to-life board game mash-up
Your Achievements
Just a couple of you popped in to say hello this week, though I’m sure plenty more of you will have spare time for gaming on your hands in the near future…
- Andrewww has continued playing The Division 2, while lining up games like Concrete Genie, Rayman and Unravel 2 for his kids when schools close down for them.
- And Crazy_Del is still obsessed with Hunt: Showdown. He’s got five characters all maxed out and is five character retirements away from his penultimate trophy before that satisfying platinum plings.
That’s it for this week. Stay safe and healthy, wash your hands, and good luck picking up the essentials at the shops!
wonkey-willy
Actually won a game of Plunder on Call Of Duty…
No so hyped for the battle royal mode…