Unity is launching a new no-cost training program for “anyone interested in coding and breaking into the gaming and tech industries.” The ambition behind the initiative is to reduce unemployment resulting from the covid19-related recession.

A new survey found that 24% of Europeans were first introduced to video games during the coronavirus lockdown. Now that the strict lockdown restrictions have been lifted, the number of hours spent in games has begun to decline.

Following the coronavirus lockdown, Surgeon Simulator developer Bossa Studios is shifting to a hybrid model allowing both remote and in-office work.

Ukie, the trade organization for the UK video games and digital entertainment industry, conducted 15 roundtable discussions with over 50 businesses along with two surveys with a combined 300 repsonses. The purpose of these studies was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the UK games industry.

Blizzard announced it will not be running BlizzCon 2020 citing uncertainty around national and local health guidelines in the months ahead.

US consumers spent a record $10.8 billion on video games in the first quarter of 2020, according to NPD, via VGC. This is up 9 percent year over year. The surge in spending is clearly related to coronavirus lockdown measures.

China’s biggest trade show for the video games industry will take place in Shanghai from July 31 to August 3.

Tokyo Game Show 2020 that was scheduled to run from September 24th to 27th, has been cancelled. The organizers are now planning an online event.

10th Paris Games Week, initially scheduled from 23rd to 27th October, has been cancelled.

Japan’s Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) will resume its review process on May 7.

NHS staff can now claim free games or subscriptions from new website Games for Carers. All they have to do is enter their NHS email address and choose from more than 85,000 free games.

Bethesda announced on its website that it plans to donate $1,000,000 to charities involved in COVID-19 relief efforts.

“A small fraction of the workforce” has been laid off at the mobile analytics firm App Annie. This is coming from gamesindustry.biz.

Digital storefront Humble Bundle has raised over $6.5m for orgnizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, Jim Ryan, President & CEO at Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced the Play At Home Initiative.

On April 22, a new digital platform will launch for the video games industry. It’s called the WN Hub and it will allow industry professionals to network and discuss relevant business topics. The platform has announced the speakers that will give talks during the launch week.

Amazon, which is now “investing hundreds of millions of dollars” in games development and distribution, had to delay the release of its MMORPG New World.  They game should have come out in May, but the studio’s transition to remote work has “exposed some problems” that have to do with the technical and collaborative nature of game development.

GDC organizers have opened registration for GDC Summer that will take place August 4th through 6th in San Francisco.

Japan’s Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) has suspended its review process after the Japanese government declared a state of emergency amid COVID-19 pandemic.