This month in the meta -> China and The Telegraph come for gamers, while the CA Dept of Fair Employment comes for ActivisionBlizzard. Meanwhile, new research shows significant caloric burn while gaming.
Video Game Industry News for August 2021
- Activision Blizzard faces multiple lawsuits over workplace harassment. The publisher was sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, as well as by several current and former employees, who allege that the company has a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination (WashingtonPost.com).
- China places new restrictions on kids playing video games. The new restriction allows only 3 hours of play time for anyone under 18 years old (NPR.org).
- Gaming contributes to significant calorie burn. A study found that gaming can burn up to 210 calories per hour (Yahoo.com).
- UK news outlet attacks gamers. The Telegraph called gaming the “next global pandemic” while citing evidence from China. The UK trade body fires back saying that the health risks of gaming are extensively misrepresented. (VideoGamesChronicle.com)
Major Video Game Announcements and Releases for August 2021
- Diablo II: Resurrected released to critical acclaim. The highly-anticipated remaster of the classic dungeon crawler was praised for its faithful recreation of the original game, as well as its updated graphics and gameplay (Battle.net).
- The Marvel’s Avengers expansion War for Wakanda was released, introducing the Black Panther and his home nation of Wakanda to the game (Square-Enix.com).
- Call of Duty: Vanguard was announced, promising full integration of new maps with Call of Duty: Warzone (Polygon.com).
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite was released, a cooperative third-person shooter game set in the Aliens universe. Players take on the role of a Colonial Marine as they battle waves of Xenomorphs. (AliensFireteamElite.com)
- No More Heroes 3 was released, the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic action-adventure game. Travis Touchdown returns to take on a new threat, this time from outer space. (NMH3.com)
- Psychonauts 2 was released, the sequel to the beloved platformer from Double Fine Productions. Razputin Aquato returns to the Psychonauts organization as they investigate a mysterious new threat. (DoubleFine.com)
- Humankind was released, a historical strategy game from Amplitude Studios. Players lead a civilization from the Stone Age to the Modern Era, making choices that will shape their culture and destiny. (Humankind.game)
- Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut was released, an expanded version of the critically acclaimed open-world action-adventure game. The Director’s Cut includes a new story chapter, a new island to explore, and a variety of gameplay improvements. (PlayStation.com)
- 12 Minutes was released, a time loop thriller game from Annapurna Interactive staring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe. Players must relive the same 12 minutes over and over again, trying to find a way to break the loop.(TwelveMinutesGame.com)
- Lemnis Gate was released, a turn-based strategy game that lets players send their agents back in time to change the outcome of a battle. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay mechanics and its stylish presentation. (LemnisGateGame.com)
- In Sound Mind was released, a psychological horror game from We Create Stuff. Players explore a haunted house, uncovering its dark secrets. (ModusGames.com)
- Naraka: Bladepoint, a battle royale game featuring a unique mix of martial arts and fantasy elements. The game was praised for its fast-paced combat and its stunning visuals. (NarakaTheGame.com)
- Foreclosed was released, an indie point-and-click adventure game that tells the story of a man who has lost his memory. The game was praised for its unique setting, atmosphere, and story. (MergeGames.com)