Amazon took a big step into the gaming industry Wednesday with the launch of Crucible, a free-to-play online shooter and the company's first original big-budget game.
The game, available for Windows 10, is a team-based shooter that lets players hunt down opponents. It's similar to other megahits such as Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Fortnite. It was initially announced in 2016.
<p><em>Crucible </em>will be a litmus test of sorts for Amazon as it looks to dive deeper into the crowded <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/02/superdata-games-hit-120-1-billion-in-2019-with-fortnite-topping-1-8-billion/" target="_blank">$120 billion</a> video game industry. Amazon acquired Twitch in 2014 for nearly $1 billion and established Amazon Game Studios eight years ago, but hasn't launched many original titles and ran into several hiccups with canceled projects and layoffs.</p><p>"This division could have been an industry juggernaut in terms of leveraging Amazon's cash reserves and tech-industry dominance," <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/05/crucible-amazons-new-online-shooter-alexa-does-this-game-have-a-chance/" target="_blank">Ars Technica</a> noted. "Instead, it has limped to its current May 2020 state."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Crucible | Extended Overview</small>
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</p><p>Crucible is developed by Relentless Studios, a Seattle-based development team of Amazon Games led by Louis Castle, co-founder of Westwood Studios.<br/></p><p>Early response to the game are mixed, with Ars Technica giving it a lukewarm review, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/19/21262435/amazon-crucible-review-free-to-play-team-shooter-moba-release-date" target="_blank">The Verge</a> noting that Crucible "will find an audience that's been itching for this particular mashup of design ideas and genres in an accessible package," and <a href="https://www.engadget.com/crucible-amazon-relentless-game-preview-interview-130013794.html" target="_blank">Engadget</a> praising its "surprisingly solid gameplay foundation."</p><p>Amazon plans to launch another game, <a href="https://youtu.be/OKnUBs-Ko44" target="_blank"><em>New World</em></a>, in August.</p><p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-20/crucible-has-arrived-amazon-s-first-big-budget-video-game" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a> reported that <em>Crucible </em>and <em>New World</em> could be part of Amazon's plan to launch a game-streaming service that would compete with offerings from Microsoft, Google, Sony, and others.</p><p>Amazon in 2016 <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2016/twitch-prime/" target="_blank">unveiled Twitch Prime</a>, a series of benefits for gamers that is included as part of the an Amazon Prime or Prime Video membership.</p><p><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/amazon-dives-deeper-video-games-launches-first-big-budget-title-crucible/" target="_blank">This story first appeared on GeekWire.</a></p>
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Nintendo has already reported production delays from the outbreak of coronavirus in China, and a Wall Street firm thinks the upcoming Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 could be next.
The next-generation consoles are set to launch this holiday season, but their debuts could be delayed if the virus continues to force manufacturers to shut down operations, according to a note from Jefferies Group first reported by Business Insider. In addition to console manufacturing, China is an important player in making art for games.
<p>"If [company] shutdowns exceed a month or so, game schedules will be delayed," the note says. "New consoles may likewise suffer supply issues from a prolonged disruption, ahead of their Fall 2020 planned launches."</p><p>We've reached out to Microsoft and Sony, and we will update this post if we hear back.</p><p>The industry could make up for shutdowns of a couple weeks, but if it stretches into months, that's when production delays came into play, according to the note.</p><p>"Security requirements and software tools largely prevent remote working, and the global sector has no significant spare capacity — witness current delays and 'crunch' working — even before the logistical difficulties of switching providers mid-project," the note says. "If delays are extensive, we would expect a growing list of game delays, perhaps affecting more 1Q21 and beyond."</p><p>The virus has killed more than 600 people around the globe and infected more than 31,000, according to a <a href="https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6" target="_blank">tracker from Johns Hopkins University.</a> It has made a major impact on manufacturing in China, which many big companies rely on.</p><p>In addition to Nintendo's Switch issues, Apple is facing production delays. <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus-outbreak/Exclusive-Apple-orders-for-45m-AirPods-at-risk-from-coronavirus2" target="_blank">Nikkei reported</a> this week that Apple ordered 45 million sets of AirPods in the first quarter to fill a <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/apple-faces-airpods-pro-shortage-unsure-when-supply-crunch-ends-2020-1-1028854572" target="_blank">shortfall of the wildly popular wireless earbuds.</a> But suppliers have been shut down for more than two weeks and could still be short on components when production resumes.</p><p><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/analyst-xbox-series-x-playstation-5-releases-delayed-due-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">This story originally appeared on GeekWire.</a></p>
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