Sony makes an unexpected reversal of its legacy store shutdown, whileOverwatch’s game director leaves Activision Blizzard, in this week’s recap of the biggest video game news. Game Rant has compiled some of the biggest gaming news stories from this past week together into a concise post for fans and enthusiasts to stay up to date on the most important events in the industry per week. Highlighting the most relevant stories, this list is not inherently and totally objective, and will not contain every news story this week. Rather, this is intended for gaming fans who want a quick rundown on the largest/most impactful stories that occurred in the last week in games.
PlayStation Reverses Plans to Shut Down PS3, PS Vita Online Services
This past week, Sony made the unexpected decision to reverse the shutdown of several legacy stores in the wake of negative response and backlash.Online storefronts and services for the PS3 and PS Vita will remain online, as opposed to the planned June 14, 2025 shutdown date announced by Sony. In a PlayStation Blog post by Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, they frankly stated that “upon further reflection… it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.”
Despite the PS3 and PS Vita stores remaining online, theonly exception to this reversed decision is the PSP. PlayStation Portable online storefronts and services will still be shut down on June 17, 2025.
Sony Testing PS Plus Video Pass Program for Polish Players
Thetesting phase of Video Pass offers 15 movies and six television shows, including heavy-hitting movies likeBaby Driver,Venom,Arrival, and many more.
Xbox Live Gold Requirement for Free-to-Play Games Lifted
On the Microsoft side of things, a big change has finally come to Xbox’s online services for free-to-play gaming. As of April 21, all free-to-play gameson Xbox will be playable without an active Xbox Live Gold subscription. Games likeFortnite,Apex Legends,Rocket League,Roblox, andWarframeare now playable for all Xbox owners without the need of Gold membership, a perk that’s been available on PlayStation previously.
This perk also applies to party chats on Xbox consoles as well, eliminating the Xbox Live Gold requirement for participation in larger voice chats. Additionally, the “Looking for Group” services will also be available for those free-to-play titles as well.
The 24th Annual DICE Awards Winners Announced
Winners ofthe 24th annual DICE Awards were announced this week, with Supergiant Games taking home the majority of awards from the show.Hades, alongside winning the Game of the Year award, also received: Action Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Game Direction, as well as Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game.
Sucker Punch Productions’Ghost of Tsushimaalso took home four awards for art and audio direction. Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Us Part 2won Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Story as well, a change of pace from themany Game of the Year awards that Naughty Dog’s latest game receivedat other awards shows for 2020.
Overwatch 2 Game Director Jeff Kaplan Leaving Activision Blizzard
Games industry veteranJeff Kaplan has announced their departure from Activision Blizzard, after almost 20 years working at the company. Announced in a press release on the officialOverwatchwebsite, Blizzard Entertainment confirmed that Kaplan was leaving theOverwatchdevelopment team as leadership shifts to Aaron Keller. Keller was a founding developer ofOverwatchproper, and will now serve as game director onOverwatch 2.
Kaplan also made the effort to put outa public thanks on theOverwatchcommunity and competitive subreddits, asking players and fans to support theOverwatch 2development team as best they can. Kaplan has not announced any new plans or intentions to re-enter the gaming industry currently.
CD Projekt Red Releases Impressive Cyberpunk 2077 Sales Figures
Despite the wave of sustained controversy surrounding the game’s launch, CD Projekt Red recently announced impressive sales numbers forCyberpunk 2077. According to the disclosed sales numbers, which reportedly factor any processed refunds via retail and digital stores,Cyberpunk 2077still sold 13.7 million copies in 2020alone. That’s building off the approximately eight million confirmed pre-orders prior toCyberpunk 2077’s launch.
It’s a surprising number considering the controversy surroundingCyberpunk 2077post-launch, as well asCD Projekt Red’s expected provisional losses of $50 millionfor all current and future refunds ofCyberpunk 2077. At the same time, it’s worth noting CD Projekt Red’s overall sales revenue for 2020 exceeded $560 million total, of whichCyberpunk 2077(and tangentiallyThe Witcher 3) contributed to the most.
MORE:CD Projekt CEO Laughs When Asked About Cyberpunk 2077 Stadia Sales
