Any regular visitors to our site will know just how much we love the sheer joy of free gaming experiences.
So many great titles have become available to play for little or no charge in recent years and the trend really seems to have gone to a whole new level across 2020.
Exciting developments
Traditionally, we have become accustomed to the idea that there is a cost around playing quality video games, with enthusiasts generally having to pay out significant sums for consoles, titles and other hardware. However, it could be argued that this is simply not the case anymore, thanks to software including emulators and some other exciting developments.
For example, earlier this month Google Stadia confirmed that it was making a free version of Destiny 2 available on its platform. In a blog post on Stadia, it was revealed that the title would include co-op quests, competitive modes and other activities. The move also means that Destiny 2: The Collection is now no longer available to claim on Stadia Pro.
Another major free gaming announcement related to cloud platforms has come from Facebook in recent weeks too. At the end of October, the brand’s vice-president of Play, Jason Rubin, published a blog detailing how several free-to-play cloud-streamed games were now available on both the Facebook app and via browser. He also detailed how the brand’s plans were not to replace gaming hardware, while he added there was no intention to spin off into a separate cloud gaming service either.
Embraced in many ways
While those two announcements are undoubtedly eye-catching, they are far from the only significant examples of free gaming fun being available in 2020.
Another area where freebies have come to the fore is in the world of online casinos, with many brands choosing to offer free spins on slot games to new players. VegasSlotsOnline.com’s free spins bonus guide outlines how such promotions tend to now come in several forms. For example, a free spins no deposit bonus does not require the player to deposit any of their own money before claiming them. The site adds that free spins may be made available to existing players too, including those involved in loyalty programs.
It has also not been uncommon to see some forms of gaming offer free play events across this year. For instance, The Elder Scrolls Online has promoted such periods, with Gamespot outlining how it took the step for a limited time in April. The offer was available across PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, while the event included a prologue related to the Greymoor Chapter. Titles such as Red Dead Online have also taken the step of offering free rewards to players as well. Gamerant.com reported at the start of this month that the title was providing items to players who logged in at any point during a specific period, with traders getting Trader Goods and moonshiners accessing a free mash refill.
A host of opportunities
The gaming industry appears to be in incredibly rude health right now and it also looks set to go from strength to strength in the years ahead. For example, figures released by Newzoo in May suggested that the global games market could be worth more than $200 billion by 2023.
However, while the area is clearly generating some serious revenues, it is fascinating to see how there appear to be so many opportunities to try games for free at the moment. The world of free gaming has really come to the fore in 2020 and, hopefully, the detail above will inspire you to discover the great experiences you can enjoy without breaking the bank.