During COVID, video games have become social platforms. Sure, video chat apps and services are keeping quarantined young consumers connected, but video games that double as shared social spaces are thriving. Fornite, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons have become something more than video games, they’re places for virtual entertainment and hangouts with friends. Many are using these games to celebrate holidays, missed out rites, and attend concerts. The pandemic is showing people that “the sweet spot of mainstream virtual presence might be something more than a Zoom-like video conference but less than a full-on virtual reality experience.” (TechCrunch)
