Biggest gaming stories of the year in 2022: From Activision Blizzard to NFTs

Activision Blizzard Walkout Source: Carli Velocci / Windows Central

Congrats, we made it through the year, and what a year information technology was. 2022 was the commencement full year of the new generation of consoles, with the Xbox Series Ten, Xbox Serial S and PS5 all available to purchase, at least in theory. As a way of looking back merely also forrard, we're going to go over the top stories in gaming over the concluding 12 months, the ones that helped define 2022 as a year.

Even with numerous loftier-profile delays due to the ongoing pandemic, at that place were plenty of neat launches, some of which joined the ranks of the best Xbox games available. Notwithstanding there's also been some large shifts, things that for better or worse are leaving a permanent mark on the gaming manufacture. Permit'south dive into them.

6. Lucasfilm Games is revived

Source: Aspyr

Kick things off, January 2022 saw the revival of the Lucasfilm Games brand, eight years afterward Disney shut downwards Lucasarts. The make is extensive, covering whatever games using Lucasfilm licenses in the hereafter. While Electronic Arts (EA) still holds Star Wars exclusivity through 2023, new developers and publishers are already working on games that'll launch later on the exclusivity disappears.

Some of the upcoming titles include Ubisoft'due south still-untitled Star Wars game, Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and a rumored sequel to Respawn Entertainment'southward Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Meanwhile, Wolfenstein developer MachineGames is working on an Indiana Jones game.

Subsequently several years of canceled titles and missed opportunities in Star Wars games, with but a scattering of potent exceptions, Lucasfilm Games heralds a huge alter, as Disney insists the Star Wars license volition be open to any pitches.

five. The rise of NFT, blockchain, and crypto nonsense

Ubisoft Quartz Image Source: Ubisoft

Blockchain engineering science has been around for a few years, only it wasn't until 2022 that it truly, noxiously invaded gaming in a large manner. Publisher Ubisoft jumped aboard with Ubisoft Quartz, offering limited, serial number-engraved digital cosmetics in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. EA noted during a financial earnings call that it is exploring uses of the blockchain, though there'south null solid notwithstanding. STALKER two had planned to sale off NFTs before backtracking after fan criticism. Fable creator Peter Molyneux announced his upcoming game Legacy would be selling virtual plots of land as NFTs. And that's not the terminate of it.

Still, there is some resistance. Steam has barred blockchain-technology games from its platform, while head of Xbox Phil Spencer told Axios that Blockchain-based games feel more than "exploitive than nearly entertainment."

For better or worse, this is just the start of the NFT and blockchain trend in video games, and nosotros're certain to run into more of it in 2022.

4. Google shutters Stadia Games and Amusement

Stadia Games Entertainment Image Source: Google

Less than two years after the launch of Stadia Games and Entertainment, the Stadia showtime-party family, Google fabricated the call to shutter it earlier a single new game had been launched or even announced. While not the end of Stadia equally a whole, it signaled the end of Google'south investment in original games, significantly hamstringing its ability to grow.

Simply a few weeks later the closure of Stadia Games and Entertainment, former head Jade Raymond founded a new team chosen Haven Studios, partnering with PlayStation to publish the team'due south commencement game. Haven Studios has too attracted numerous other ex-Stadia developers.

Meanwhile, near of the team from the now-defunct Draft Games — a squad caused by Google for Stadia Games and Entertainment — reconvened to open up Raccoon Logic, while likewise regaining the rights to their game, Journey to the Fell Planet.

Withal even as Google shuttered its starting time-party teams, another platform expanded dramatically.

3. Microsoft finalizes the acquisition of ZeniMax

Starfield Key Art Source: Bethesda Softworks

While Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Bethesda Softworks parent visitor ZeniMax Media in September 2022, it underwent a few months of regulatory review. In March 2022, the deal was finalized, and Bethesda Softworks joined Xbox Game Studios equally part of the Xbox first-political party group. The outcome is that exterior of a handful of existing contractual obligations, the studios at Bethesda are now focused on making exclusive games for Xbox and PC, or more than specifically "platforms where Game Pass exists."

Upcoming titles Redfall and Starfield, an immersive shooter from Arkane Austin and a science-fiction office-playing game from Bethesda Game Studios, respectively, are the get-go wave of games from this conquering. The two games are slated to make it in Summer 2022 and on November. 11, 2022 respectively.

Even before these titles testify upwards, adding Bethesda to Xbox instantly boosted the value of Xbox Game Laissez passer, with the deadline-entirety of Bethesda Softworks' back catalog added to the service. This means games like The Elderberry Scrolls V: Skyrim and Doom Eternal are now function of the subscription moving forward, as will any new Bethesda Softworks games.

ii. Ballsy Games v. Apple trial

Fortnite Source: Epic Games

Making good on the "Gratuitous Fortnite" motion that it began in 2022, Epic Games met Apple in courtroom. Due to documents like email conversations being unsealed and not kept away from the public's eyes — a outcome of the trial being held remotely due to the ongoing pandemic — a truly globe-shattering number of industry secrets and interesting tidbits were revealed over the grade of the trial.

In that location numerous massive revelations unfolded in a casual manner, like how Epic Games offered to pay big bucks to become Sony titles on the Epic Games Store for PC, the gritty details of marketing agreements, or who was in the loop on what conversations. The guts of a tight-lipped industry) were spilled, as companies used to operating without any ascertainment suddenly had their ideas examined in court, all in the public centre.

As for the trial itself, things mostly went in Apple's favor, with the exception of a ruling that Apple cannot cease developers from linking to alternate payment methods. Naturally, both Epic Games and Apple proceed to appeal.

In whatever other year, this would hands have been the biggest story of the year. And yet...

one. Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard Walkout Voice Always Matters Source: Carli Velocci / Windows Fundamental

In July, the biggest gaming story of 2022 bankrupt. It was announced that a lawsuit had been filed against Activision Blizzard, alleging the company had allowed rampant, systemic sexist practices and abusive behavior to thrive without punishment, amongst other issues. From there, the company's response, seen as lackluster by workers at Activision Blizzard, saw the fervor escalate with walkouts and calls for reform.

Things have connected to escalate in the months since the lawsuit, with a new study alleging CEO Bobby Kotick knew of and helped supress sexual harassment claims at the visitor. Over 20 employees accept been fired, more have been disciplined, while others accept voluntarily resigned, expressing a lack of faith in Activision Blizzard leadership, who notably still stand behind Kotick as of this writing.

Over 1,000 Activision Blizzard employees accept called for Kotick to resign, too as multiple publications, including Windows Central. Developers and outlets aren't the only ones to have taken notice, with the heads of PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo all commenting to the situation.

Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, reportedly told employees he was "disheartened and frankly stunned." Head of Xbox Phil Spencer noted that he was "disturbed and deeply troubled past the horrific events and activity," and that Xbox was "evaluating all aspects of our human relationship with Activision Blizzard." Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser referred to the state of affairs equally "lamentable and disturbing."

It's not clear yet what the next steps or events will be, but it is absolutely abundantly articulate that this situation is not even remotely defused and will continue unfolding, i way or another.

What lies ahead?

With these events at present in the past, we're only just get-go to encounter the consequences and benefits of what unfolded through 2022. Even as analysts annotation to wait more game delays in 2022, there'south a lot to look forrard to. New games volition launch, companies will brand bold moves and the gaming manufacture, a truly unique intersection of scientific discipline and amusement, will no incertitude once over again be total of the unexpected.

Where are all the guns in Dying Light 2?

Shooty bang bang

Where are all the guns in Dying Lite two?

Information technology's by design, certain, just there'due south a distinct lack of firearms in Dying Light 2. For meliorate or worse, modern medieval Villedor is a place to build your own weapons. Simply what happened to the guns and ammo and might information technology e'er make a improvement?