‘Pac-Man Championship Edition 2’ Now Free Until May 10

Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis that has forced people to stay at home and quarantine, Bandai Namco announced that they have made “Pac-Man Championship Edition 2” free for everyone in the U.S. to enjoy.

In an announcement on Twitter, Bandai Namco said that their 2016 arcade game is now available to download until May 10. It is free for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, although it is not mentioned if it will be given away on Nintendo Switch as well.

According to the game developer and publisher, players can avail the “Pac-Man” game on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store or Steam.

“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2” is the sequel to “Pac-Man Championship Edition” and “Championship Edition DX”. Contrary to the usual game that makes Pac-Man eat dots and fruits while avoiding ghosts, players are tasked to hunt ghosts and eliminate as many as possible within the time limit in Edition 2.

While the game has received some negative reviews due to its departure from the typical “Pac-Man” game, several players have also praised it for its fresh take and more exciting gameplay – turning Pac-Man into a ghostbuster while unlocking some key features for a more action-packed gaming experience.

With the coronavirus crisis still unlikely to be resolved any time soon, game developers and publishers have taken huge steps to keep people entertained while in quarantine. Much like Bandai Namco, several others have made some of their games free or offered massive discounts.

For one, Sony recently offered two popular titles for free as part of their Play At Home Initiative. On April 15, popular action-adventure games “Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection” and “Journey” were made available for everyone to download and keep forever – even to those without PlayStation Plus.

“During these days of physical distancing, fans have turned to gaming for moments of respite and enjoyment. At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are privileged to bring this much-needed entertainment. We know this is just one small step and we are thankful to be able to offer this support to our players, our communities, and our partners,” said Jim Ryan, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO.

Aside from the free games for fans, Sony also announced that they are donating $10 million to independent and small gaming studios that have been massively affected financially by the coronavirus pandemic.