Perhaps because many Americans were stuck at home during the global coronavirus pandemic, U.S. consumers spent more than $33.7 billion on video games in the first three quarters of 2020, according to research firm The NPD Group. That's an increase of more than 20% compared the $27.9 billion spent in the same period in 2019. Perhaps it's no surprise, NPD forecasts a 24% percent increase in holiday game spending compared to last year. Spending could be even higher except new consoles – the Microsoft Xbox Series X and S and PlayStation 5 (with Blu-ray Disc drive or disc drive-free digital version) – constantly sold out after November debuts. If you're looking for something to gift a gamer, or to treat yourself to something new to play during a "staycation," USA TODAY's Marc Saltzman, Brett Molina and Mike Snider recommend a handful of games, divided into various age groups (but be sure to read the recommended age rating before you buy).

Devil May Cry 5 is due to land on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on March 8th, 2019, Capcom announced today during the special Gamescom edition of the Inside Xbox livestream. Devil May Cry 5 is the sequel to Devil May Cry 4, which came out in 2008, and it marks the return of series shepherd Hideaki Itsuno as director. Ninja Theory briefly took over the franchise with DmC: Devil May Cry in 2013, and while Devil May Cry 5 takes some styling tips from that game, it doesn't follow its storyline directly. Devil May Cry 5 picks up where Devil May Cry 4 left off, and it stars three playable characters: Dante, Nero and an unknown protagonist in a long black trench vest. Nero historically has a demon-powered arm called Devil Bringer, and it's ripped from his body at the beginning of Devil May Cry 5. It's replaced by a series of robotic arms (called Devil Breakers) created by Nero's partner in demon-fighting crime, Nico.

Bandai Namco released the first trailer for its upcoming action-RPG game Code Vein just last month, but it couldn't exactly let E3 come and go without spilling a few more beans now, could it? We're no closer to a concrete release date, with 2018 still as definitive as it gets, but we do now know what platforms the third-person, anime-esque title will be available on. Bandai Namco previously said Code Vein would be hitting "major home consoles" next year, but it's now clarified the title is headed to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PCs too, via Steam. The Code Vein trailer for E3 is more or less a shorter version of the one we've already seen. Most of the in-game footage has simply been reordered and recycled, but there are a few new frames highlighting an armor-clad character you'd imagine will be key to the story.