4 Highly Anticipated Games Coming End of 2020 

With the holiday season just around the corner and the debut of both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on the horizon, excitement is building in the gaming community. Let’s take a look at four of the most anticipated video games being released within the final months of 2020. 

Star Wars: Squadrons

Release Date: October 2, 2020
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

The newest game to come out of the Star Wars universe is a space combat experience that puts the player in the cockpit of classic Star Wars spacecraft. Even with its unique story campaign and engaging multiplayer modes, Star Wars: Squadrons is said to be smaller in scope than last year’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. However, the entire game is playable in VR, which is a level of immersion Star Wars fans undoubtedly crave.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release Date: November 13, 2020
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One

Activision’s next Call of Duty installment, Black Ops Cold War, has colossal shoes to fill after last year’s release of Modern Warfare, the most successful game in COD franchise history. Fans can expect a flashy, cinematic single-player campaign, and of course, COD’s signature multiplayer modes. Though the game is set to launch on November 13 for current-gen devices, Activision suggested that versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X will be coming out around “Holiday 2020.” 

Cyberpunk 2077

Release Date: November 19, 2020
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

Arguably the most anticipated game of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 is based on a beloved tabletop game, Cyberpunk 2020. Sporting a kind of futuristic, dystopian Grand Theft Auto feel, the game features an open world with six regions. You might recognize the voice (and overall appearance) of character Johnny Silverhand — that’s right, it’s renowned Canadian actor Keanu Reeves. Created by the team behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Cyberpunk 2077 is already slated to be one of the top games of 2020. Can it overtake previous best-sellers like Minecraft, which has sold over 200 million copies? That remains to be seen. 

Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Release Date: Holiday 2020
Platform: PS5

Contrary to some of the rumors circulating, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is not an expansion or sequel to Insomniac’s Spider-Man but rather a standalone title for the PlayStation 5. Marvel superfans are hyped to see Miles Morales get his turn in the spotlight, and even more excited that in addition to centering on a new character and adding brand new gameplay features, the game will also include technical improvements to take advantage of the PS5 console’s more powerful hardware. Though the release date is still TBD for this much anticipated open-world superhero experience, Insomniac is suggesting that the game will be available around the holidays. Seeing as how holiday sales make up nearly 30% of the average company’s annual sales, this delayed-release might be a smart move.

Video games are more than a mere hobby for many people stuck at home as the global pandemic continues; for some gamers, it’s a mental health lifeline, a way to interact with friends and family from a safe distance. According to a National Health Interview Survey, the flu alone is responsible for 75 million days of work absence. But some Americans have been out of work for five months with no clear return date. As such, it’s safe to say that this abundance of “free time” and the need for social interaction is what’s fueling much of the anticipation behind 2020’s biggest game releases.