What is going on gamers? This week, we’ve got more news on the strict laws that China introduced, Bobby Kotick leaving Activision, and next month’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games! Let’s not waste any more time and let’s get right into this week’s AFK Today.
News
Effects of China's Video Game Crackdown
Image credits to ABC News
Last week we mentioned some new regulations that were going to be implemented in China to impede the heavy monetization commonly found in gaming. We now have a more concrete look into the impact it has had on the market, with over $80 billion in market losses. This is definitely a rare opportunity for the gaming community, as large corporations are generally scared to implement certain features if they know it will not do well in the Chinese marketplace. On the one hand we want to avoid super stringent controls on game creation, but on the other hand I would personally like to see tighter control over heavy monetization tactics. I think this will be a net positive for the gaming ecosphere going forward and Tencent has already mentioned that it will continue operations as normal and adapt to the new restrictions.
Bobby Kotick Leaving Activision Blizzard Today!
Image credits to Activision and Blizzard
After years of public scrutiny over the CEO’s constant over monetization schemes within Activision and Blizzard games alike, the announcement has finally come that he will be leaving the company today December 29th. This news was met with almost universal applause from the fans of both gaming spheres. With this and other drastic changes to the industry, this could be the turning point to returning to less monetized and more game-focused development. We can at least hope that Kotick remains outside of gaming companies for the foreseeable future.
PS Plus Monthly Games
Image credits to PlayStation and Sony
The January 2024 PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup is here, and it's bringing some great hits to your library. Starting January 2nd and running until February 5th, PlayStation Plus members can dive into the worlds of A Plague Tale: Requiem, Evil West, and Nobody Saves the World. Don't forget, December's freebies will be ending soon so make sure to add those to your library before time runs out.
Game Sales
Steam Weekend Sales
Image credits to Blizzard Entertainment
With only a week left in the Steam Winter Sale, we’ve got a bunch of great games to scoop up and make your 2023 gaming lineup complete. The clock's ticking, but the sales continue on, so go ahead and snag some games before the sale wraps up! Good luck gamers!
Stardew Valley: $14.99 > $10.04
Cyberpunk 2077: $59.99 > $29.99
It Takes Two: $39.99 > $9.99
Grounded: $39.99 > $23.99
Valheim: $19.99 > $11.99
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