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Crafting Mines And Crossing Animals: Playing Video Games During The Pandemic

Are we all just playing Animal Crossing all the time?
Are we all just playing Animal Crossing all the time?

Reality is lonely right now. Stay-at-home orders eliminated most opportunities to socialize outside the house.

So it’s not surprising that many people are seeking out virtual worlds and communities through video games, including online games that pay real money.

Viewership on Twitch, a live streaming platform for gamers, surged last month. And many, many people stuck at home are finding joy in Animal Crossingafter a timely new release.

From WIRED‘s Cecilia D’Anastasio:

We talk about gaming during the pandemic — and why video games have always been much more than a fun way to kill time.

Copyright 2020 WAMU 88.5

Kathryn Fink
Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.