2022 was quite a weird year for gaming. With delays that are amping up 2023 (for better or for worse), acquisition drama, indie games thrashing triple AAA games (in my opinion at least) and the release of a certain little game called Elden Ring, 2022 has been eventful to say the least. So here is a quick overview on some of the big things that happened this past year.
Activision/Blizzard and Microsoft
I’ve actually been avoiding this for a while and would prefer not to touch it with a 12 foot stick due to all the drama around it but the short version is, Microsoft tried to buy out Activision/Blizzard but then Sony piped up on their handling of Bethesda where new games from a company that is usually multi-platform ended up making their latest offering an exclusive. Activision/Blizzard make consoles a lot of money each year and one platform potentially having that for themselves is a bit alarming for the other. They have been battling in court and now Microsoft is being sued so nobody is certain of how this will end. Though I am an Xbox fanboy, I think it was a mistake on Xbox’s part to make Starfield, Bethesda’s next big thing, an exclusive. This has raised questions about the next Fallout or Elder Scrolls, franchises that enjoyed being released on more than one console in the past. It’s now come back to bite them with their new deal and has certainly put a spoke in the wheel for their plans. We have not heard the last of this, though.
Fortnite’s New Chapter
Surprisingly, Fortnite changed up their game to the new chapter after only a year. This also brought a graphics overhaul, and the game looks amazing. The game feels new and fresh and it’s just been a lot of fun!
The Year of Indie Games
While Triple AAA games did come out this year, for me personally, I was all over the Indie games. V-Rising, a Vampire styled Gothic survival game, was a highlight release of this year for me. I still maintain that the Indie devs can take more risks with their design whereas the big companies have to consider their investors, so it is better for them to play it safe. Though, ‘safe’ isn’t always amazing.
I’m looking forward to seeing what this new year has to offer us gamers. No doubt there will be ups and downs along the way.
Happy New Year!
