In a hilarious parody of Sarah Mclachlan videos against animal abuse, Lynda Carter, best known for playing Wonder Woman in the 1970s series of the same name advocates for single-player gamers feeling left out in the cold by studios that are increasingly focusing on multiplayer-releases. The campaign, titled #SavePlayer1, is part of a movement by Bethesda to save single-player games.
Gaming, like life, is often about social interaction – a time to join with others in a common cause, or to simply exorcise a few demons with some cathartic virtual carnage. But sometimes you just need a little time away. A place where you can go to escape the vicissitudes of everyday life. And that’s where a great single-player game comes in.
Once upon a time, these solitary experiences dominated the gaming landscape. But in recent years, with multiplayer on the rise, single-player games have become fewer in number. Meanwhile, the community has been clamoring for more single-player games, and the media has penned a panoply of pieces bemoaning the loss of single-player experiences. But never fear! Bethesda is here to help. In a new video that debuted at The Game Awards, starring none other than Lynda Carter, we share our vision for saving the single player.
So whether you pick up Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, The Evil Within 2, Prey, Dishonored 2, DOOM, Fallout 4: Game of the Year, Skyrim Special Edition – or all of the above – rest assured that Bethesda has you covered with a critically acclaimed, award-winning single-player game that’s just what you need.
Bethesda’s movement comes after EA closed Visceral Games and shifted their single-player Star Wars game. At that time EA said that it was being revamped from a “story-based, linear adventure game” to “an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come,” which many players read as a multiplayer focused title of some sort. Gamers immediately made their voices heard, stating that single-player games are important. Bethesda, best known for games that are largely single-player, is backing these players by doubling down on independent experiences.
Along with the #SavePlayer1 campaign, Bethesda is offering up to 50% off on their single-player games through the weekend. They will also be donating $100,000 to the ESA Foundation to help get scholarships for the future game developers.
While Bethesda Softworks publishes more than just single-player games – in fact, we were one of the pioneers in multiplayer and competitive gaming – we wanted to do our part to support the next generation of game developers. That’s why, as part of this effort, we’re donating $100,000 to the ESA Foundation to provide scholarships for future developers – the talented young people who might one day make an amazing single-player game that you’ll love. Established in 2007, the ESA Foundation scholarship program supports women and minority students in their pursuit of earning a computer science and or videogame arts-related degree. Bethesda’s gift is the largest donation in the history of the program, and will fund 33 scholarships.
It’s interesting to hear a major publisher clap back against the shift to multiplayer so strongly (especially when one of their biggest titles is the MMO Elder Scrolls Online), and we’ll likely see the embittered battle continue as the games industry progresses into 2018 and beyondthesda]
[Source: Bethesda]
