Nov 25 (newsonjapan.com) - 2020 has been a difficult year, a pandemic, lockdowns, and the tragedy attached to a virus that seemingly couldn't be stopped.
However, it was a massive year in the world of gaming, and it was a year that has changed the face of gaming as we know it.
New games, new consoles release, a lot of tech advances, as well as the advent of new ways of gaming that are surely going to be the blueprint for how we game in the future.
One major advancement is that of cloud gaming. Gaming in the future is set to change, and one direction it looks set to take is that of game streaming. This is essentially what cloud gaming is, sort of like Netflix, but for games.
Xbox and Microsoft have announced their own service, which will be tied to the Xbox Game Pass. You will have access to the vast Xbox gaming library, and you will be able to stream games directly to your mobile device, whether that be a smart phone, tablet, or your laptop.
This service is still in its early days, but the hope is to have many servers across the globe, catering to as many people as possible. This type of gaming is very dependent on a fast and solid internet connection, but if you have that, you can stream your favorite games wherever you are.
Obviously, the biggest releases for this year were the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. It has been 7 years since the previous generation consoles were released, and 2020 has treated us to the most advanced consoles yet.
The Xbox and PS5 both have some of the most advanced technology to date, both have new and advanced CPU’s, GPU’s, massive internal storage (although the Xbox does edge the PS5 by having a 1TB Internal storage compared to the PS5’s 825GB).
What all the new specs mean is that the games we will be getting will be at a level we have never seen before. Bigger games, games with more details, higher frame rates, and the processing power means these massive new games will have incredibly fast performances, loading times, and the like.
With these new consoles as well, many new games have been released or announced that take advantage of the new technology. New games are on the horizon, as well as returning games that many fans have held dear.
With regards to games, the highly anticipated next installment of the Call of Duty Black Ops series has already been released. Cold War takes you back to the time of nuclear weapons and proper black ops fighting and espionage.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the new title in the Assassin's Creed franchise, where you play the part of Eivor, a Viking raider, and you lead your men to war against the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
One of the more hotly anticipated releases is that of Cyberpunk 2077. Its release was delayed, as the developers felt like it wasn’t ready yet, but it is very safe to say that it is going to be a mind-blowing experience (hopefully).
It has already won multiple awards, its pre-orders were through the roof, and both fans who have been waiting since its announcement, as well as players who have seen the hype, are both eagerly waiting for the release, which should be at the beginning of December this year.
Besides what has already been released, 2020 also saw the announcement of what looks like some incredible games. The new God of War, as well as a new Harry Potter game both grabbed the attention of all gamers almost instantly.
God of War Ragnarok (the game is officially untitled however) will be the next installment in the incredible GoW series, and will carry on with the Norse theme from 2018’s release God of War.
Not much is known about the game at this point, as the trailer that was released was very simple and didn’t give anything away, but considering it is God of War, it is almost definitely not going to be disappointing in the slightest.
Another major release that will interest many gamers young and old, is Hogwarts Legacy. It was announced a little while ago, but it is a much different take on the previous Harry Potter games, and doesn’t involve Harry Potter at all.
You play the part of a witch or wizard in the 1800’s, and you can attend class, choose your house, learn skills, and explore the massive open magical world. Think of it like a Harry Potter themed World of Warcraft.
As you can see, 2020 has been a bumper year for gaming. Whether it has been the release of new games, new consoles, or new services, or the announcements of some incredibly exciting titles that will be making their way into our homes in the coming months.
Even though 2020 has been a very difficult year, by the looks of it, the world of gaming is going to end on a high, and 2021 has as many, if not more exciting things to come for gamers around the world to enjoy.
