February 21st 2024.
Have you heard of Fairgame$? It's one of the PS5's newest live service games, and it's causing quite a buzz among gamers. The Wednesday letters page recently discussed the success of Nintendo in the gaming industry and one reader even expressed their dislike for the upcoming game, Princess Peach: Showtime. If you want to join in on the discussions, feel free to email us your thoughts at the provided address.
In other news, Sony has recently made an announcement that has left many fans scratching their heads. They claim to be going "multiformat" in some way, but the details are still vague. Some are getting frustrated with the lack of clarity, but it seems they are just trying to appease investors for now. It's possible they are referring to expanding their reach into live service games, as their CEO mentioned that they currently have no major releases planned for the next year.
There are speculations that Sony might also try releasing some older single-player games, but it's uncertain if it will make a significant impact. Plus, if they make one game available on multiple platforms, it could affect their sales negatively. However, if they are going to focus on live service games, it would make sense for them to make it available on all platforms, especially if it's free to play. Gooch, one of our readers, believes this could be a possibility.
Meanwhile, things seem to be going differently for Nintendo. They continue to be the top company in Japan, even surpassing other major corporations. This is impressive, especially since they are in the final stages of the Switch's lifespan. On the other hand, Xbox and PlayStation 5 are struggling to keep up with their competition. It's evident that Nintendo has a well-thought-out plan that has kept them on top for so long. If only Sony and Microsoft had the same approach, perhaps we wouldn't be seeing so many layoffs and uncertainties in the industry.
As for Nintendo's future plans, many are curious about the rumored Switch 2. Some are hopeful that Nintendo has learned from past mistakes and will have a smooth launch. If their first year is anything like the first Switch's, then Sony and Microsoft might have some serious competition next year. Grover, one of our readers, is excited to see what Nintendo has in store for us.
However, one reader, Casper, believes that the upcoming Nintendo Direct might not be as exciting as we hope. They predict that only a few major announcements will be made, such as a new Endless Ocean game. This could just be a marketing strategy to keep the Switch relevant until their next big release.
On a different note, it seems some gamers are getting tired of the trend of making every game a roguelike. Pacific Drive, a highly anticipated game, turned out to be a disappointment for some due to this very reason. It's a shame that they kept this feature hidden in all their trailers and marketing. Caliban, one of our readers, shares their thoughts on the overuse of this game mechanic.
Lastly, there have been recent developments in the legal world that could change the future of gaming. The EU has used their Digital Markets Act to push for fair competition in the App Store, forcing Apple to allow app installs from outside sources. Some believe this could eventually happen in the gaming industry as well, with regulators targeting digital stores and lock-ins on consoles. This could lead to a battle between different storefronts, similar to the competition between Steam and Epic Games on PC. It's unclear if this will be beneficial or detrimental to the industry, but it's certainly something to keep an eye on. Marc, one of our readers, shares their thoughts on this potential future.
There is no doubt that the gaming world is buzzing with news lately, especially regarding Nintendo's success and Sony's vague plans for the future. As a reader, I am happy to see Nintendo doing so well financially, and I am sure many others share the same sentiment. However, there is one reader who is not too keen on Princess Peach's upcoming game, "Showtime!"
If you want to join in on the discussion, you can send an email to the Wednesday letters page. Speaking of updates, it seems that Sony is planning to go multiformat in some way. But all this vague talk is starting to get on my nerves. I wish they would just be clear and straightforward about their plans. I understand that they may be saying what investors want to hear at the moment, but as a consumer, I would like to know what to expect in the future.
At this point, it's hard to tell if Sony will be bringing all of their games to Xbox or not. However, my gut feeling tells me that the Sony boss is talking about live service games. It seems that they are not interested in anything else at the moment, and it's understandable since they have mentioned not having any major games coming out in the next year.
There is a possibility that they may try to release a few older single-player games, but I doubt they will make a significant difference. Especially since releasing one game on multiple platforms could potentially affect sales negatively. But if they are going to focus on live service games, there is no reason why they shouldn't make them available on different platforms, especially if they are free.
It's interesting to see how different the three major players in the gaming industry are at the moment. While Nintendo is thriving, Sony and Microsoft seem to be struggling with their unsustainable business practices and budgets. It's a shame because they are in the peak years of the current generation, but instead of sitting back and enjoying the profits, they are in a state of panic and talking about giving up gaming altogether.
I find it refreshing that Nintendo, despite their unpredictable nature, has a sensible and cautious approach to their business. They have no debt and enough money to weather any storm that may come their way. If only Sony and Microsoft had similar plans in place, we wouldn't be experiencing all these uncertainties and layoffs.
It's amazing to hear that Nintendo is now the richest company in Japan. As we brace ourselves for a potentially rocky future for Xbox and PlayStation, it's comforting to know that there is a constant in the gaming world that we can rely on. Nintendo is not interested in chasing after the latest trends, like live service games or mobile gaming. They have a clear vision and stick to it, and it has clearly paid off.
There is a lot of speculation about the upcoming Switch 2, and I can't wait to see what Nintendo has in store for us. I hope they have learned from past mistakes and will deliver another successful launch year like they did with the original Switch. If the rumors are true, and we get a new Metroid game this Christmas, I will be more than happy with that and the Switch 2 in the spring.
As for the upcoming Nintendo Direct, I don't think we will see any Xbox games being announced. Microsoft originally planned to have their "business update" in the summer, so it's unlikely that they would have any games ready to announce before that. I am expecting a relatively uneventful Direct, with only a few major announcements, such as Endless Ocean.
I am a bit disappointed to hear that Pacific Drive turned out to be a dud. I had no idea it was a roguelike, and it seems like they kept that a secret in all the marketing. While I have not played that particular game, I do agree with the general complaints about the overuse of roguelike elements in games. Even a game like Dead Cells, in my opinion, did not need to be a roguelike.
It's also disheartening to see that there hasn't been a breakout indie hit in a while. While there have been some good indie games, it seems that there hasn't been a truly mind-blowing one in recent years. Perhaps developers are too focused on making more roguelikes instead of trying something new and innovative.
Last week, there was an interesting article about the uncertain future of gaming, specifically regarding Sony and Microsoft's issues. But this month, there was a piece of news that caught my attention and could potentially have a significant impact on the gaming industry. The EU has forced Apple to allow app installs from outside their App Store, opening up the market to fair competition.
I wonder if something similar will happen to the digital stores on consoles. It's not hard to imagine regulators coming after them for their anti-competitive practices and forcing them to open up to third-party storefronts. I can see Microsoft taking advantage of this and selling their services and exclusive games on PlayStation and Switch through their own store, while still keeping them off Nintendo and Sony's digital storefronts.
It's an interesting thought, and I am not sure if it will be a good or bad thing for the industry. But one thing is for sure; change is on the horizon, and it will be exciting to see how it all plays out.
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