With traditional end-of-year school celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 quarantines, Japanese students have hosted digital graduation parties onMinecraft. In unstable times, online communities are playing an important role in keeping up morale and maintaining social connections.

Minecraft Earth, an augmented reality version of Minecraft designed to be played collaboratively with friends outside of the home, is being released. People are able to build virtual structures which are anchored to places in the real world, transforming people’s environments into creative potential.

As the COVID-19 pandemic restricts people’s movement, domestic habits are being shaken up to stave off boredom and maintain social ties. Canvas8 spoke to 18 people from around the world to understand how they’re spending their time in self-isolation and what new routines they’ve established.

Twitch has established itself as the leading player in live gaming coverage, but it’s not the only thing drawing people back on a daily basis. As the platform’s content has diversified beyond esports, the interactions between streamers and viewers have made into a hub for community and discussion.