GameSpot’s Top 10 Games Of 2020

2020 has been an eventful year, and through it all, video games have been there to help make our days a little better. A few titles stood out to us more than the rest–these 10 are our choices for Best Games of 2020.

In the video above, we talk about why the team as a whole fell in love with these 10 games. From long-anticipated AAA experiences like The Last of Us Part II to indie hits like Hades, and from VR experiences like Half-Life: Alyx to beautiful remakes like Demon’s Souls, we’ve enjoyed a lot of different types of games this year.

To talk about so many games, we recruited multiple editors and producers from across GameSpot. We feel like that really reinforces the notion that we come together as a team to determine our top 10–it’s not some simple vote or an authoritarian decision from those at the top. All of us make our impassioned pleas for why certain games deserve to be in the top 10 and then deliberate from there.

So in the video, you’ll hear from host & producer Kurt Indovina, reviews editor Kallie Plagge, video producer Evan Langer, managing editor Tamoor Hussain, video producer David Ahmadi, video producer Max Blumenthal, host & senior producer Lucy James, associate editor Michael Higham, host & video producer Jake Dekker, and associate editor Jordan Ramée. Lots of faces!

Halo Infinite Studio Head Promises Delay Will Be Worth It

In a holiday roundup post on Halo Waypoint, 343 Industries studio head Bonnie Ross has addressed fans’ disappointment about the newly announced Halo Infinite release window, but has promised that the delay is happening for a reason.

The Waypoint post includes updates on the Master Chief Collection, the Halo Esports community, and even the upcoming live action Halo TV show, but closes out with a message from studio head Bonnie Ross. Though the message is focused on the studio’s successes of 2020, including five releases as part of the Master Chief Collection on PC, Ross also touches on the conversation around Infinite’s delay.

“2021 will be a big year for the Halo franchise,” Ross says. “As we recently announced, Halo Infinite will release in fall of 2021. I realize the wait has been difficult, and I assure you that the team wants the game in your hands as soon as possible, but they also want to deliver something special…the Halo game you deserve. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and most importantly your words of support to the team. I cannot express how grateful I am for the Halo community and the encouragement you’ve expressed to us. It has lifted us up and provided us the fuel to keep going. As you saw from the recent blog post, the team is making tremendous progress and is SO eager to show you more.”

Halo Infinite was originally meant to release as a launch title with the Xbox Series X|S (also coming to Xbox One), but was later delayed into 2021. 343 only recently narrowed that release window to fall 2021.

Though Halo Infinite is coming to Xbox One as well, it was a strong contender to be a showpiece for the new Xbox Series X|S. The new release window will put Infinite’s release nearly a year behind what was initially announced–though as Cyberpunk 2077’s messy launch recently proved, sometimes it’s better to give developers the time they need to polish a game of this scope.

Now Playing: Halo Infinite – Everything You Need To Know

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Epic Games Is At It Again With The FreeFortnite Merchandise

The latest in Epic Games’ ongoing dispute with Apple and Google has seen the Fortnite developer team up with Samsung to send out a number of #FreeFortnite themed care packages to gaming journalists and influencers. Like its previous 1984-style parody video, the merch–and even the boxes they were packed in–reference iconic Apple imagery.

Epic Games previously invited fans to make and sell their own Free Fortnite merchandise, even providing a full asset pack of the campaign’s Apple-spoofing imagery. It’s unclear how many people actually took up the invitation, but Epic is now sending certain influencers merchandise of its own making.

The merch is bundled with a Samsung Tab S7 and a note explaining that Samsung’s Galaxy Store is the only place where Fortnite is currently available on mobile.

While a number of companies are standing in support of Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit against Apple, critics point out that Epic Games itself is far from an underdog, with a recent statement putting the value of the Fortnite developer at $17.3 billion.

Epic is seemingly determined to keep the #FreeFortnite campaign in the public eye, however, with a recent Fortnite tournament awarding branded loot and a “Tart Tycoon” skin designed to poke fun at Apple.

Now Playing: Fortnite Zero Point Story Trailer

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This $40 Training Bundle Will Prepare You For a Career in Data Science in 2021

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Data is everywhere, no matter where we look, but the companies that know how to analyze this data are the ones who make savvy business decisions that lead to profit and success. As such, data scientists who know how to navigate this ever-expanding sea of data are in high demand. 

If you’re interested in cracking the code behind big data, you’ll need to learn the tools of that trade, and this 6-course bundle by Skill Success will teach you how. Normally $1,194, you can purchase this entire bundle right now for $39.99. That’s 96% in savings. 

The 2021 Business Intelligence & Data Science Super Bundle is packed with 64 hours of content that will improve your data analysis skills using Power BI, machine learning, and advanced data structures. These courses are provided by Skill Success, an online learning hub that offers over 1,000 carefully curated video courses in a wide range of categories, including business, career development, project management, software, and much more. Over 500,000 students use Skill Success to learn new skills and advance in their careers. 

The biggest course in this bundle is Business Intelligence Using Microsoft Power BI From A to Z, which will give you an understanding of the business intelligence workflow from start to finish. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to analyze data and build reports in order to present your findings visually. 

From here, you can supplement your BI skills with courses such as Advanced Power BI, which will show you how to clean data in Query Editor and expand on using DAX in Power BI. Alternatively, you can take the Machine Learning & Data Science Using Python for Beginners course to learn how to make an ML algorithm as accurate as possible. 

Organizations are on a constant lookout for data scientists who will help them gain competitive insights from vast mountains of data; The 2021 Business Intelligence & Data Science Super Bundle will teach you how to identify these insights for just $39.99, or 96% off. 

 

The 2021 Business Intelligence & Data Science Super Bundle – $39.99

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Get Lifetime Access to Thousands of Award-Winning Documentaries With CuriosityStream

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The Assassin’s Creed universe presents fun “what-if” scenarios at different points in history, but the truth is often stranger than fiction. For example, did you know that King Henry VII had six queens, or that 1,037 people from New Zealand are the most scientifically studied people in the world? 

Learning about history’s greatest mysteries can be fun and insightful, and with CuriosityStream, it doesn’t involve going down a Wikipedia rabbit-hole. Instead, you can enjoy a Netflix-like experience packed with thousands of documentaries that you can stream straight from your mobile device. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to CuriosityStream for just $149.99. That means no recurring monthly or annual fees ever.

CuriosityStream is a streaming platform that gives you unlimited access to thousands of the planet’s best documentaries, including award-winning shows and exclusive originals. The service is easy to use, offering multiple search tools to browse its catalog and find exactly what you’re looking for quickly. CuriosityStream also shows you recommended content related to the shows you’re watching. You can also bookmark documentaries you want to watch later and resume shows you haven’t completed on different devices. Speaking of which, you can download entire episodes to your device for offline viewing wherever you go.

CuriosityStream’s vast library of content includes more than just history. You can explore the wonders of the natural world with David Attenborough or delve into science, physics, and the future with Michio Kaku and Brian Greene. CuriosityStream’s library is always expanding, so if you’ll never truly run out of documentaries to binge. It’s easy to see why CuriosityStream ranks so high with users

Whether you’re a bonafide history buff or a science and technology geek, CuriosityStream has plenty of high-quality documents to satisfy even the most peculiar interests. With this special offer, you can get a lifetime CuriosityStream HD Plan for just $149.99.

 

CuriosityStream HD Plan: Lifetime Subscription – $149.99

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Learn How to Become a Freelance Writer for Under $40

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The 9-to-5 grind isn’t for everyone, especially those of you who want to set your own work schedules and work on projects that you’re genuinely interested in. As it stands, writing is one of the most popular and versatile freelance career paths available, and that’s because millions of businesses and fellow entrepreneurs are constantly on the lookout for skilled writers to work on their websites, blogs, and social media accounts. 

However, writing doesn’t come easy to just anyone. Writing is an art that combines technical skill and creativity, and those who master it can create volumes of content that attracts readers and sells ideas. In this Freelance Writing 12-Course Bundle, you’ll learn how to sharpen your writing skills, generate ideas, and build relationships with clients. Normally $497, you can get this entire bundle for $37.99. That’s 92% in savings.

The Freelance Writing 12-Course Bundle is a premium guide on how to enhance your writing skills and earn money as a freelancer. These workshops are led by Laura Briggs, a former teacher turned writer, author, and speaker who started her freelance writing business in 2012 and scaled it to six figures in 18 months. She has trained over 11,000 freelancers to date, and this bundle offers insights on how to land your first clients and get your writing career off the ground.

This 12-course bundle covers everything from identifying the niche you want to write for, to pricing your work so that you can make a good living. You’ll also find tips on interacting with potential and existing clients, such as writing cold emails or creating a proposal that makes you stick out from other clients. 

Freelance writers are needed in just about every field, from gaming to manufacturing. So whether you’re looking to ditch your 9-to-5, or if you just want side income, Laura Brigg’s Freelance Writing 12-Course Bundle can help. You can purchase this bundle today for just $37.99, or 92% off.

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Get 95% Off Unlimited, Lifetime Web Domain Hosting with This Easy-To-Use Platform

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Web domain hosting is easy to find. But high-quality web domain hosting that’s super easy to use and not totally baffling? Now that’s a rare gem to find online. Thankfully, you’ll never have to worry about buying new web domain hosting ever again with this incredible deal on a Lifetime Subscription to BonoHost, now on sale for just $39.99, an amazing 95% off the regular price of $897. 

BonoHost cloud hosting prides itself on its easy-to-use platform, and the ability to host unlimited domains with unlimited emails, which makes it a must-have for growing businesses as well as personal websites. 

With this lifetime subscription, you’ll also get access to unlimited 10 GB mailboxes, bandwidth, emails, MySQL databases, and SSD webspace – making it a great all-in-one hosting solution for your personal domain or startup.

Plus, this efficient cloud infrastructure offers plenty of features, such as WordPress, Surveys, CRM, HelpDesk, ERP, and more. Even better, they’re available with super simple and quick one-click installs for personal, professional, or business use.

Considering that web hosting usually costs anywhere from $3 to $30 per month, this one-off deal under $40 for lifetime domain hosting is a truly great deal to take advantage of. 

Whether you have a business you want to take the web presence of to the next level, or plan to embark on your dream startup in the new year or beyond, lifetime unlimited web posting is the ideal platform to make your dream new business idea a reality – and there’s no easier way to do it than with BonoHost. 

Get unlimited web hosting for life today with a BonoHost: Lifetime Subscription, now on sale with a huge 95% discount, for just $39.99 (regular price $897). 

 

BonoHost: Lifetime Subscription – $39.99

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Build the Game You’ve Always Wanted In 2021 with This Unity Developer Course

If you’re seeing this, take it as your sign: For your new year’s resolution this year, make it time to finally build that video game you’ve always wanted to. And if you need another sign, how about this: right now, The Complete Unity Game Developer Bundle is on sale with a staggering 97% discount, for just $39 (regular price $1399). 

This complete bundle contains seven different courses that will teach you more than 200 lessons to make your video game idea a reality. 

These courses cover all the elements of Unity game design you need to know, including Controllable Human Animations With Unity, which will show you how to bring a playable character to life with a personal touch, and the Master Unity Mobile Game Development course, to guide you through building an Android or iOS optimized game in just three hours.

One of the highlights of the whole bundle is a comprehensive, step by step guide to building your own mobile platformer, in the Build A Complete Unity 2D Mobile Platformer Game course, designed with beginners in mind – so no matter your experience, you’ll be able to build your own fun 2D platformer using Unity and C#, understand how to create 2D characters and animated them, and even take the steps to add banner ads and monetize it as well as publish it on the Google Play Store. Most fun side hustle ever? We think so.

These practical courses are taught by expert instructors, including AbleGamesDev, who has more than 15 years developing software and designing mobile games, and ZENVA, which has taught more than 200,000 students how to create games, apps, and websites online.

Start developing your own games today with The Complete Unity Game Developer Bundle, on sale now for just $39 – an amazing 97% off the regular price of $1,399.

 

The Complete Unity Game Developer Bundle – $39

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Upgrade Your Video Meetings With This Top-Rated Privacy Tool

Video conferencing is not only the new normal for meetings in 2021 and beyond – it’s how we do business, present ourselves, and even stay in touch with our loved ones. That means it’s time to upgrade how you do video calls – and right now, xroom.app’s Video Conferencing Enterprise Plan is on sale for just $99.99, which is a huge 64% off the regular price of $99.99. 

With video conferencing so important to your career, it’s time to stop relying on free software. xroom.app gives you your own personalized virtual office space, without compromising your privacy and anonymity with its securely encrypted, non-data collecting platform.

Super simple to use, this software lets you personalize your video calls more than any other conferencing tool on the market. It means that you can host professional calls that have your own business branding, as well as connect to your domain and customize your SEO, to ensure your business calls look sleek and high-quality – and set the best first impression, every time, no matter where you are taking your meetings from. 

What’s also really great about xroom.app is how totally secure it is. Keep your conversations private, and all the data of you and your video participants anonymous, as the video tool has zero access to your data and communications. 

Plus, it’s super simple to use, and supported by an OS with a modern browser, with no logins, downloads or installs required – and all with stunningly clear HD video and audio, naturally. 

It comes incredibly highly reviewed too, with a 5/5 star rating. As one user recently reviewed, “Where this platform really excels for me is in ease of use for clients. No installation, no registration solution that doesn’t compromise on security.” 

Get your own private, personalized virtual office space today with xroom.app’s Video Conferencing: Enterprise Plan, on sale with 64% off right now, for just $99.99 (regular price $99.99). 

 

xroom.app’s Video Conferencing: Enterprise Plan – $99.99

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Become a Project Manager for Only $45.99 With This Expert-Led Training


(StackCommerce)

Seems like every day we learn about a new framework or program to help manage projects. There are a few select few, however, that are so precise you can literally become certified in them. Having this knowledge can not only help you become a better manager; it can help your organizational skills, too. The toughest part about completing projects is ensuring they’re being properly managed so that everybody is pulling their weight to help it reach the finish line in time. That can be possible if you invest in the Project Management & Scrum Certification Preparation Exams Bundle.

This bundle is 97 percent off for only $45.99. By the end of it, you can walk away with enough training to secure at least one certification. You see, this bundle’s nine courses focus on a few project management frameworks—but Scrum definitely gets more time. It’s featured in nearly every course. That’s because Scrum is all about boosting productivity, which is essential to strong project management. It teaches you tricks to ensure a team is properly collaborating on a project. It’s all about building self-organization and assigning roles. The creators like to say it’s “simple to understand, difficult to master,” but I still find it pretty hard to understand.

By the end of these courses, however, you won’t. The goal of this framework is to save teams time and money. The longer a project takes, the less time you’re spending executing something else. And let’s be real: Time is money. These skills are important for anyone managing a team or responsible for completing too many projects to keep track of. Every one of its 383 lessons is sure to have valuable information.

If you’re ready to make 2021 the year of productivity—especially as many of us remain working from home—invest $45.99. Buying the Project Management & Scrum Certification Preparation Exams Bundle won’t be a waste.

 

The Project Management & Scrum Certification Preparation Exams Bundle – $45.99

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