Editing 2020s (section)

===Video games===
{{Main|2020s in video games}}

The [[History of video game consoles#Ninth generation (2020–present)|ninth generation]] of consoles began in 2020. The industry remains dominated by [[Nintendo]], [[Sony]], and [[Microsoft]] with the release of the [[Xbox Series X/S]] and the [[PlayStation 5]], while the [[Nintendo Switch]] continues to be popular from the previous decade. Technological advancements in consoles included support for real-time [[Ray tracing (graphics)|ray tracing graphics]] and output for [[4K resolution|4K]] or even [[8K resolution]]. Physical media continued to be replaced by online distribution of games, with the Xbox Series S and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition lacking an optical drive.<ref name="Queen" /> The [[Steam Deck]] was released in 2022 as [[Valve Corporation|Valve]]'s attempt to bring [[Personal computer|PC]]-level gaming to a Nintendo Switch-style handheld format.

During the decade [[PC game|PC gaming]] would continue growing rapidly with the console gaming market remaining more stagnant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/new-report-says-pc-games-are-outselling-console-games-calling-pc-gaming-a-bright-spot-in-a-troubled-industry/|title=New report says PC games are outselling console games, calling PC gaming a 'bright spot' in a troubled industry|website=[[PC Gamer]]|date=16 January 2025}}</ref> The growing majority of video game developers would also primarily focus on developing their projects for PC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/pc-development-has-skyrocketed-gdc-survey-finds-80-percent-of-developers-are-now-making-games-for-pc-more-than-double-the-number-working-on-ps5-or-xbox-games/|title='PC development has skyrocketed,' GDC survey finds: 80% of developers are now making games for PC, more than double the number working on PS5 or Xbox games|website=[[PC Gamer]]|date=22 January 2025}}</ref>

Critically successful games such as ''[[Elden Ring]]'', ''[[Ghost of Tsushima]]'', ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]'', ''[[Baldur's Gate 3]]'', ''[[Black Myth: Wukong]]'', ''[[Astro Bot]]'', and ''[[The Last of Us Part II]]'' were released and won multiple [[List of Game of the Year awards|best game of the year awards]], signaling a shift towards narrative-driven and [[Single-player video game|single-played]] focused gaming compared with the end of the [[2010s in video games|2010s]] where popularity of [[multiplayer gaming]] dominated.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2022 |title=EA criticised for appearing to mock people who 'only like single-player games' |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-criticised-for-appearing-to-mock-people-who-only-like-single-play-games/}}</ref> Nonetheless, widely successful multiplayer games includes ''[[Call of Duty: Warzone]]'', ''[[Fall Guys]]'', ''[[Fate/Grand Order]]'', ''[[Fortnite]]'', ''[[Genshin Impact]]'', ''[[Honkai: Star Rail]]'', ''[[It Takes Two (video game)|It Takes Two]]'', ''[[Uma Musume Pretty Derby]]'', ''[[Minecraft]]'', ''[[Roblox]]'', ''[[Dead by Daylight]]'', ''[[Overwatch 2]]'', ''[[League of Legends]]'', and ''[[Valorant]]''. The detective-party game ''[[Among Us]]'' surged in popularity in 2020 and became a global sensation, largely attributed in to global [[stay-at-home order]]s during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="unity" /><ref name="middle east">{{cite news |title=BBC NEWS |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/default.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420155956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/default.stm |archive-date=20 April 2011 |access-date=26 June 2016 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>