The video game industry, much like most others at the moment, has been adversely affected in a range of different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Delays, cancellations and overall uncertainty make these unprecedented times not pleasant for anyone, but there are some positive measures being put in place by gaming companies that can give us a bit of
Got some more time on your hands during this self-isolation period, and want to jump into some new and exciting gaming experiences that you haven’t tried before? Here are some of the best offers and promotions being run by games companies at the moment that you should be taking advantage of.
Google Stadia
Google’s brand new ‘cloud-based’ gaming platform hasn’t perhaps had the successful launch that the company might have hoped for. While the streaming, console-free future is definitely something that we’ll be increasingly adopting in the years to come, the tech is very much still in its infancy, and a lacklustre selection of games on the service (many of which are already widely available on different platforms) means that a lot of people interested in the platform aren’t convinced just yet. However, Google has just announced an initiative where they’ll be offering two months of Stadia Pro for absolutely free. Providing you have a decent enough internet speed, this will grant you instant access to the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassins Creed: Odyssey, and Borderlands 3.
Not only is the Google Stadia offer the perfect opportunity for those sceptical about the streaming service to try it out for themselves and see if it’s something they’d be interested in investing in for the future, but it’s also perfect for those of us at home that don’t have immediate access to a gaming console such as a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. After all, many of these different consoles – particularly the Nintendo Switch, following the release of the sought after Animal Crossing: New Horizons – are sold out, and difficult to get hold of with retailers shut.
Running the games – What’s interesting about Google Stadia is that it runs the games not on your hardware from home, but completely through the internet, accessing a data centre that can power the game and then beam it into your home. Whereas companies such as Abstraction game studio can efficiently port video games onto a wide range of devices and engines, this technique does it using a stable internet connection, streaming in a similar fashion to Netflix or Amazon Prime.
PlayStation
Providing players with the chance to experience some more incredible and acclaimed titles for absolutely free, Sony have also announced their own PlayStation ‘Play At Home’ initiative, giving PS4 owners both Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey completely for free until May 5th. Announced as ‘a thank you to all who are doing their part to lessen the impact of this pandemic’, this is an incredible chance for players to experience two brilliant PlayStation classics. The Uncharted bundle in particular is an immersive adventure perfect for this current time, and Journey provides a poignant message that is quite thematically relevant, too.
In addition to this kind gesture on the part of Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company has also announced an earmarked $10 Million fund to help independent developers that are working from home and continuing to make brilliant titles for the PlayStation platform. This is a huge boost for small studios that are facing concerns and worry amidst COVID-19.
The Humble Bundle
The Humble Bundle is a revolving games offer that has been around for a long time at this point, and it’s great for all parties involved. With developers coming together to offer their titles at a reduced cost to benefit charities, It gives you as a gamer the chance to get some incredible titles to add to your Steam library, all while knowing you’ve helped those in need.
Currently, in order to aid with these unprecedented times, providing relief and help for those that desperately need it, there are bundles such as the 2K ‘Game Together’ bundle, offering just under $500 worth of games from Bioshock to WWE 2K20. There’s even a ‘work from home’ software bundle for those that need a bit more kit to get the equipment to get the job done from within their home offices. These deals are all subject to change, to head over to the site and check it out for yourself if you want to know what deals are currently on offer.
