Whether you agree or not, 2020 was an distinctive yr for the video video games market. A number of elements performed a vital position on this increase, together with the pandemic and arrival of next-gen Xbox Series X and PS5. The rise of digital-copy recreation gross sales and the uptake of cell video games in international locations like India additionally helped. That stated, 2020 was a yr crammed with numerous controversies too within the sector. From the ban on PUBG Mobile in India, the Apple vs Epic Games lawsuit to the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, listed below are the 5 largest gaming controversies of 2020.
India bans PUBG Mobile
Perhaps the most important story within the online game business this yr is none aside from the ban of PUBG Mobile in India. In the month of September, the central authorities determined to ban PUBG Mobile, alongside 117 apps with hyperlinks to China attributable to alleged nationwide safety dangers. The cell model of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, higher often known as PUBG Mobile, had near 175 million installs previous to the ban, making it the most well-liked cell recreation in India. But a couple of days later, PUBG Corporation, the South Korean firm that develops and publishes PUBG, stated it could drop Tencent because the writer of its PUBG Mobile recreation in India. The developer additionally promised to re-launch as a recreation that will probably be ‘created specifically for the Indian market’. The firm additionally pledged to take a position $100 million in India, and even introduced that PUBG Mobile can be hosted on Microsoft’s Azure cloud.
Fortnite is likely one of the largest video games on the earth with 350 million registered gamers. (Image credit score: Epic Games)
Apple versus Epic Games lawsuit
Next on the listing is the much-publicised antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games towards Apple. In August, Epic added a “direct” cost processing providers choice to its massively fashionable Fortnite recreation. The transfer was an effort to bypass Apple’s in-app buy system and its 30 per cent fee. In response, Apple eliminated Fortnite from the App Store, and Cupertino reacted sharply by saying Epic had violated Apple’s App Store guidelines. The combat between the world’s most respected tech firm and the multibillion-dollar developer behind Fortnite continues to be ongoing. The authorized combat between Apple and Epic Games has raised numerous related questions on whether or not corporations like Apple and Google have grow to be too monopolistic in the best way they management the most important app shops.
Sony is but to launch the PlayStation 5 in India. (Image credit score: Sony)
PS5 and Xbox Series X/S scalping
A PS5 for $2000? Yes, that’s the value it’s important to pay for Sony’s hottest next-generation recreation console. Before you query Sony for this seemingly irrational pricing, higher have a phrase with scalpers who purchase the PS5 at retail after which resell the console at exorbitant costs on websites like eBay. Scalping has all the time been a problem within the online game business, particularly every time a brand new console hits the market. But this yr scalpers have reportedly made practically $60 million in income by promoting the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S for the reason that consoles’ launch. Given that the consoles are being bought largely on-line and the pandemic has disrupted the manufacturing of the next-generation consoles, significantly the PS5, scalpers used bots to make faux accounts and tricked retailers to purchase the brand new consoles. Not simply the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, scalpers made big income by promoting new graphics playing cards from each Nvidia and AMD. For the primary time, the issue of scalping has been highlighted at a world degree, when a bunch of British MPs urged the federal government to convey laws that will stop consoles from being purchased by scalpers in bulk and bought at larger costs.
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure recreation from CD Projekt Red. (Image credit score: CD Projekt Red)
Cyberpunk 2077’s launch
Seven years within the making and a mammoth scale that might match the likes of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) collection, didn’t assist CD Projekt Red’s ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ from changing into the butt of jokes on launch. No one would have thought the most important recreation of the yr, starring Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves, will probably be panned for its technical points and graphical failures. The public angst in direction of the futuristic action-adventure recreation appears real – in any case, CyberPunk 2077 is barely playable on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Because of that, Sony needed to delist the sport from the PlayStation retailer. Soon after, Microsoft promised to broaden its refund coverage to the sport. It’s of little shock that the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 has resulted in a class-action lawsuit towards CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk’s Poland-based developer. The developer managed to promote 13 million copies of the sport in a matter of three weeks. The botched launch of Cyberpunk 2077 has hit arduous the status of Project Red, greatest recognized for the critically acclaimed “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” RPG.
Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021. (Image credit score: Steam)
Microsoft delays Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite was alleged to be the big-ticket launch title for the Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft’s next-generation consoles. However, the online game which was beforehand due out for this Holiday season, is now set to launch in autumn of 2021. The delayed launch of a brand new Halo recreation is seen as a setback for Microsoft and the model Xbox. While Microsoft cited Covid-19 as the rationale for the delay in a next-generation AAA title, many consider that the primary gameplay trailer didn’t obtain constructive suggestions. Some thought that whereas the sport seemed fantastic – its graphics seemed dated for a title that will probably be an enormous pull for individuals to purchase the Xbox Series X/S. Some experiences even declare that Microsoft needed to delay the discharge of the highly-anticipated recreation due to the departure of Chris Lee, Halo Infinite’s director. Halo Infinite, which is being developed by Microsoft-owned 343 Industries, was first introduced at E3 2018.
