2020 has a lot in store for gaming fans. A few video games that have been in the works for over two years will come out this year. Both Sony and Microsoft will launch new consoles before December, while Google Stadia could pick up from its disappointing launch to become a big hit in 2020.
What gaming event are you most excited about? We know. There are a lot of them. But here are the biggest releases, trends, and events to watch this year.
Major Video Games
The Last of US 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Fantasy VII Remake, and Doom Eternal will all be out by September. A whole lot more games will be released in the time frame, including Ghost of Tsushima, Overwatch 2, and Marvel’s Avengers.
Some of these games will feature the best of gaming technology, which is why everyone seems to be hyped up. Cyberpunk 2077, for example, will be stacked with customization features. It will also support 4K and VR.
The Final Fantasy VII won’t change the original storyline. But it will be a graphically advanced version. Then there’s Doom’s Eternal, a game everyone hopes will be as great as or better than the original.
Animal Crossing, Diablo IV and Halo Infinite will come out this year, so polish up your PC and save enough money to buy some of these titles.
While at it, beware of delays in release dates. Some of the games people think will come out in February could suddenly be pushed to March. Cyberpunk 2077, for example, should have been out by April. But now gamers will have to wait until September.
Top three Events
- Xbox X and PS5
No matter how good you think PS4 and Xbox One are, you might want to save up money for the PS5 or the Xbox X. These two consoles will feature significantly bigger processing power, faster SSDs, and much better resolutions.
Precisely, the PS5 will support up to 8K resolutions, 120 fps, and 3D immersive audio. Sony strives to set the gold standard for what an excellent gaming console should look like. Of course, Microsoft rarely disappoints.
That’s why it will feature the same processing chip as the PS5: AMD’s Zen 2. To put it into context, the new chip will be four times better than the Xbox One. As a result, it will also be able to support 8K resolutions and the most advanced video games out there.
Esports Tournaments
Esports is all the rage these days. This year, there will be an equally extensive collection of events as last year. The ESL One Los Angeles Major will take place from March 15-22. ONE eSports will also host several competitions in Asia.
The big boys, led by League of Legends, Overwatch, and Fortnite, will also organize a slew of competitions around the world. Epic Games proved last year it’s willing to shell up to $30 million in tournaments for the best Fortnite players in the world.
So, if you believe you are excellent at Fortnite, participate in the qualifiers for this year’s world cup. Alternatively, watch out what Blizzcon, the FIFA eWorld Cup, and the Rocket League Championships will offer.
Casino Legislation
It’s no secret that in recent years, more and more gambling websites have been cropping up on the internet, but now that some states have started to legalize online gambling, we’re expecting to see a series of new casinos targeting USA players. New Jersey has already licensed over a dozen gaming websites, some of which are globally top-rated.
This means that USA players now have unlimited access to a variety of casino games, from slots to poker, roulette to craps, and blackjack to bingo. But what’s probably the best thing about these online casinos is that they often come with some nice bonuses so that you can maximize your profits effectively. In fact, most casinos even offer new players a generous welcome offer just for signing up with them.
Trends of the Future
- Brand Developers, Small Screens
Research firm New Zoo recently reported mobile gaming contributed 45% of the gaming industry’s annual revenues in 2019. It’s not surprising. The number of big-name developers entering the mobile scene is tremendous.
Think of Epic Games with the Fortnite Franchise. EA has a slew of games on iOS and Android devices as well. And based on Konami’s growing trend, the Japanese primary focus from 2020 henceforth will be on the mobile scene.
So, what does the trend say about the future of gaming? Most gaming executives believe mobile gaming will be the future of the industry,
- An Increase in Handheld Consoles
Nintendo Switch’s tremendous success is a sign there’s a demand for handheld consoles. And that means there will be more developers willing to enter the market in 2020. Of course, they will face stiff competition for android and iOS device manufacturers. But they will fight back with more realistic controls and better gaming experiences.
- Increased Support on Cross-Play
Cross-platform gaming was a dominant trend in 2019, and it will continue to grow in 2020. There are already a number of popular games that are available across different platforms and the number will keep increasing. That’s because more and more people are focusing on online gaming, which in turn facilitates cross-platform gaming effectively.
The average home now has eight devices, including TVs, laptops, and mobile devices. And considering every developer now wants to capture multiple markets, future video games will all support cross-play.
Already, you can play games like GTA on your smartphone, PC, and consoles. However, the focus this year will be to improve gaming experiences on all platforms. That way, playing the same game on an android device will be as immersive as doing it on the PS4.
