2020 in video games

In the video game industry, 2020 saw the launch of the next generation of video game consoles, with both Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment having released the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles, respectively, in November 2020. The industry was heavily affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which had begun in March and was characterized by COVID-19 lockdowns and remote work. While this caused numerous delays in software and hardware releases and the cancellation of live conferences and events in favor of virtual shows, it also created a boon for the industry as people turned to gaming as a means to pass the time. The industry also reacted to various political/cultural events also saw the release of There is No Game: Wrong Dimension. Mobile gaming continued its growth as a major platform for video gaming; as part of this, Epic Games initiated the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit over mobile app store revenue cut policies. Major planned acquisitions included Xbox Game Studios' acquisition of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiaries, and Electronic Arts outbidding Take-Two Interactive for Codemasters. Metacritic is an aggregator of video game journalism reviews. It generally considers expansions and re-releases as separate entities. The global market for video games based on 2020 revenues was estimated to exceed according to the International Data Corporation; the growth of 20% over 2019 revenues is attributes to the surge in spending in video games from the COVID-19 pandemic along with the releases of the new consoles. SuperData Research estimated the global video game market grew by 12% in 2020 to a total in revenues. Mobile games accounted for over or 58% of the market, with computer games at and console games at . Virtual and augmented reality had about , while video gaming content such as online streamers generated an additional . Newzoo estimated the global market for video games in 2020 was , a 23.1% increase from 2019, buoyed by the COVID-19 pandemic.