Published , by Sam Chandler
Published , by Sam Chandler
There’s not a lot of good news when it comes to the novel coronavirus. Between delays, cancelations, and people getting sick, everyone is searching for any glimmer of hope. Enter GameStop, who – seeking to adhere to the CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines – will be releasing Doom Eternal a day early on Thursday, March 19.
This news comes straight from the horse’s mouth. GameStop revealed in a tweet that the company will be releasing Doom Eternal on Thursday, March 19 – one full day ahead of its intended release. This good news amid the COVID-19 pandemic is going to allow more people to play a game that our own Josh Hawkins said makes him feel like an absolute badass in his Doom Eternal review. He went on to state that, “While other games have tried to capture that same feeling, none have ever done it as well as id Software has with Doom.”
What this means for other stores is yet to be seen. Right now though, it appears as if GameStop is simply following the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This should allow shoppers to more safely acquire their new title, as opposed to cramming together in a horde.
Interestingly, the tweet does note that Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a game that was scheduled to release on the same day, will not be releasing early like its bloody counterpart. This is surely disappointing for fans of both that wanted both an upper and a downer while locked in self-isolation. Thankfully, it's only one more day until we can escape to a virtual island.
Another point worth mentioning is digital copies. This format is usually prevented from releasing early as part of physical distribution agreements. What this means for those who preordered digitally is currently unknown. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date as this develops. For now though, it looks like gamers will be razing hell a little early.