Fans understand that the video game industry often experiences release delays. The amount of development work needed to polish epic titles makes it difficult for companies to accurately predict release dates. This year was no different as fans witnessed delays for highly anticipated titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, The Last of Us Part II, and many others. But what if these highly anticipated games released just one day early? In the case of Doom Eternal, GameStop chose to move the release date one day sooner than expected.

We Can Go Back in Time

As the world continues to assess the risks associated with the coronavirus, GameStop realized a dilemma that March 20th could produce. Two of the video game industry’s most anticipated games, Animal Crossing New Horizons and Doom Eternal, were not only releasing on the same day but also were expected to draw massive crowds to retail outlets across the United States. In an attempt to separate fans of each series, GameStop released the following statement:

To ensure we adhere to CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines, we will be selling DOOM Eternal a day early on Thursday, 3/19 as a safety precaution for our customers and associates. Animal Crossing will release on Friday 3/20 to further help separate the crowds.

— GameStop (@GameStop) March 19, 2020

While Animal Crossing fans are likely disappointed, gamers who preordered Bethesda’s cinematic shooter are likely ecstatic. Although GameStop is in the news for ignoring multiple governor mandates, it is noble for the company to work with Bethesda to mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Conclusion

While stores rarely sell games early, we are thrilled for Doom Eternal fans. But we want to know what you think. Did you pick up Doom Eternal from GameStop before the release date? If not, did you preorder online? Let us know in the comments below or the social media links on the right. Also, be sure to check out our other news items on Pokemon, Modern Warfare, Capcom, Blizzard and more.

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