This week, we look at a “happy holidays” feast of online events for gamers, tasty news about esports and Among Us, as well as a savory look back at 2020 and video games, plus more news from the world of games to “dine” on.
Index:
- T’is the Season for Holiday Gaming Events
- Esports as a Next-level Investment Opportunity
- Among Us’ Enormous Popularity in November
- Cyberpunk 2077 Developer Faces Lawsuit
- Recapping the Year in Video Games
- KFC Shows Off a New and Unique Gaming Console
T’is the Season for Holiday Gaming Events
Source: GamesRadar+
“Video game holiday events are here to save the day and make the most wonderful time of the year actually feel at least somewhat wonderful despite the state of the world. Like pretty much everything in 2020, the holidays this year will probably feel a little different for most people. In fact, there’s no need for innuendo here – we’re all stuck at home still, looking toward video game holiday events to fill the void. Fear not, (GamesRadar+ has) you covered.
Video games have been a lifeline for so many of us this year, and we’ll need them during the holidays more than ever. Lights and decorations can only go so far to disguise the fact that we’ve all been staring at the same few walls for the last nine months. But home is still the safest place to spend the holidays, so of course we turn to video games for a virtual escape into a festive world not at all our own. So without further ado, here are some video game holiday events to keep you busy over Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve, and any other holidays you usually celebrate but can’t in any normal way this year.”
Read up on all the interesting, hopefully fun events in and around games through the holiday season that GamesRadar+ compiled in the link above.
A CNBC opinion piece explores the powerful growth potential in the trifecta of esports, streaming and in social media over the next several years, propelled by a year when online events and competitive gaming have combined to break new ground among both gamers and audience:
“So then, why are esports getting so much attention lately? For starters, events like League of Legends World Championships matched the Superbowl in terms of viewership, and young gamers in the 18- to 25-year-old age group watch 34% more esports than traditional sports. One big reason for this is esports, like its audience, is a digital native. In a world where few millennials consume television or radio, esports is everywhere. You can stream it on Twitch, play it back on Youtube, discuss it on Discord, watch and share clips across TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.”
Nielsen’s SuperData shared some data points about November’s most popular digital games in November. With over half a billion gamers playing the game — no contest, hands down — it was Inner Sloth’s indie hit game, Among Us. The Verge offers up the details in their story linked above.
Cyberpunk 2077 Developer Faces Lawsuit
Source: Gizmodo
The news about CD Projekt Red’s troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077 continues to make waves, more than two weeks after launch. Gizmodo posts the news from last week about a class action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, California on behalf of upset investors who believe they were misled by the game’s publisher about the market-readiness of the dystopian sci-fi game.
Recapping the Year in Video Games
Source: Polygon
Do you want to take a look back at 2020 (that is, to take a look back at the year in video games)? Polygon does exactly that, reviewing the effects of the pandemic, social justice movements, and other influences on the fast-growing and -changing world of video games, esports, game events, and more this year.
KFC Shows Off a New and Unique Gaming Console
Source: TechRadar
The console wars are 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓.
Introducing the KFConsole. #PowerYourHunger pic.twitter.com/k7AM6g61Ip
— KFC Gaming (@kfcgaming) December 22, 2020
There’s a lot of reasons 2020 has been, well, a unique year. Include to the long list a fast-food chain launching a console that appears surprisingly powerful and versatile, TechRadar, in the story linked above, reveals all (or at least as much as Kentucky Fried Chicken will allow for now):
“Approved by Colonel Sanders himself, the KFConsole is here – and it finally solves a problem that literally no one cared about until now: how to keep your chicken warm while gaming.
The KFConsole, created in partnership with PC hardware manufacturer Cooler Master, promises to shake up the console war like a bag full of 11 herbs and spices with its built-in chicken chamber – a world’s first. It means the days of stomaching lukewarm poultry or suffering through a slightly cold piece of thigh are thankfully over. And it’s about time.”
Do you have interesting news to share, or something coming up that would also fit into this regular feature? Let us know!
