Gaming Rewind 2024: A Year of Epic Moments and Viral Trends
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The gaming world in 2024 was packed with exciting announcements, blockbuster releases, and industry-shaking events. Such groundbreaking titles as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and controversy, which encouraged global conversations, are almost impossible for gamers or industry professionals to forget. Here's a month-by-month rewind of the biggest gaming moments of the year.
January: The Year Kicks Off With Industry Shake-Ups
January saw the return of a fan favourite, but layoffs sent shockwaves.
The year started with a knockout punch as Tekken 8 launched on January 26, impressing fighting game fans. Run on Unreal Engine 5, the game wowed players with stunning visuals and a diverse roster that featured classic and new faces. In its first week, it sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. At the same time, online play managed to reach 500,000 concurrent players during the launch weekend. Social media went wild because Tekken8 appeared to be trending worldwide, and it was shared with jaw-dropping combos and cinematic battles that wowed fans.
The gaming industry witnessed a bumpy start with the layoffs of thousands of employees. Unity Technologies cut 1,800 employees, while Twitch let go of 500 staff in strategic realignments. The massive layoffs showed serious issues in companies as they reacted to market pressures, making this a transformative year.
February: Major Titles and Corporate Decisions
February gaming news was filled with landmark game releases and corporate realignments.
Fans of this fighting genre were amazed when Bandai Namco Studios released Tekken 8. It became the new anthem on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. This game scored very high on Metacritic, with 90%. Tekken 8 is one of the competitive fighting games that rebooted old characters with renewed mechanics.
Microsoft Gaming said it eliminated 1,900 jobs after its multibillion-dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This has raised questions about Microsoft Gaming's long-term direction in gaming and how it may integrate new studios and franchises.
March: E-Sports Take Center Stage
Competitive events and releases of long-awaited games littered the gaming world.
The first CS 2 Major Championship occurred in Copenhagen, ending with Natus Vincere's victory over FaZe Clan in an intense finals match. The tournament gathered more than 500,000?live viewers?and was one of the most thrilling esports moments in 2024.?
Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, continuing the beloved saga that has captivated gamers for decades. Fans welcomed the game's highly enhanced visuals and larger narrative.
April: Strikes and Industry Disruptions
April saw important labour actions and announcements that shook the gaming world.
The Screen Actors Guild initiated a strike against major video game companies, impacting voice acting and motion capture work. The strike grieved almost 2,600 industry professionals and postponed several high-profile projects.
The next bold step by Saudi Arabia in implementing its Vision 2030 strategy was announced: the Esports World Cup. With a massive investment in esports infrastructure and international collaborations, the event will most likely position the country as one hub globally.
May: Closures and Acquisitions Shape the Landscape
Much of May was about significant corporate moves and studio closures, remodelling the industry.
Microsoft's restructuring resulted in the closure of four Bethesda studios, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. The closures raise questions about the viability of major acquisitions in the gaming industry.
Krafton acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP in a shocking move. Fans waited with bated breath for how this acquisition would affect the titles released under Krafton's banner.
June: Summer Game Fest Delivers Big Reveals
The Summer Game Fest brought great news and shows that fans were buzzing about.
Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong had a great game show in terms of gameplay. The graphics and combat were so dynamic that this game was among the most-awaited releases in 2024.
The announcement about Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's new game, was highly anticipated. This upcoming single-player action-adventure is set within the epic Star Wars universe, and the news excited its fans big time.
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July: Strikes and Legal Developments
July saw more labour actions and legal changes with lasting impacts on the industry.
The SAG-AFTRA strike dragged on, delaying several high-profile game releases. Developers scrambled to adjust as production schedules were delayed, underlining the critical role of voice and motion capture artists in modern game development.
California passed legislation that will stop the use of AI in performances. This will ensure that voice actors and motion capture artists continue to have control over their likenesses and work. Creatives in the industry widely cheered this decision.
August: Esports and Global Gaming Events
August marked a month of record-breaking esports tournaments and significant announcements.
This allowed Saudi Arabia to host the Esports World Cup in Riyadh for the first time in its history, with top teams and players coming from every corner of the world.
Bandai Namco organized a worldwide tournament for Tekken 8, where participants could showcase their skills and compete to win some serious prize money. The announcement helped revive the fighting game genre.
September: Blockbuster Releases Dominate
Gamers saw some of the year's most prayed-for titles come out in September.
BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard received critical acclaim for its rich narrative and immersive gameplay. TIME even crowned it Game of the Year.
Activision's Black Ops 6 continued the franchise's legacy with thrilling multiplayer modes and a gripping campaign. The game quickly became one of 2024's best-selling titles.
October: Technological Innovations Take the Stage
October marked the coming of hardware and software upgrades that showed promises of future gaming.
Valve announced plans for new SteamOS hardware, including a wireless VR headset and a living room console. These innovations targeted significant platforms and expanded Valve's hardware offerings.
During the event, Gamescom 2024 witnessed the exhibition of NVIDIA's new AI-enabled tools, NVIDIA ACE, which were supposed to improve games. In addition to these exhibitions, NVIDIA announced the RTX-enabled titles that made new technological game explorations.
November: Awards and Celebrations
The gaming industry celebrated its best and brightest in November.
The Equinox LATAM Game Awards named Black Myth: Wukong Game of the Year due to its innovative gameplay and visuals, unlike any other movie.
The Game Awards voted to begin the Players' Choice round, which allows fans to choose their favourite titles. This approach was intended to continue engaging the gaming world internationally.
December: Wrapping Up the Year
The holiday period marked the successful end of the year with strong sales and award night.
Nintendo's Tears of the Kingdom received the most prized Game of the Year award at the Game Awards, concluding a truly phenomenal year for gamers.
The gaming industry concluded the year 2024 with holiday sales at an all-time high. Hardware and software revenue topped $6 billion, spurred by discounts on top consoles and best-selling games.
Conclusion
2024 marked a landmark year for gaming - full of groundbreaking releases, industry-changing events, and unforgettable moments. What awaits the gaming community in 2025? That will be filled with innovation and excitement. Which of these moments from 2024 had you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
As this Gaming Rewind shows, the world of gaming is all about pushing boundaries and creating unforgettable experiences—exactly what we’re passionate about at Microperts. Whether it’s building a game from scratch or refining your idea into a masterpiece, we’re here to make it happen. Let’s bring your vision to life: [email protected].?