July 6th 2023.
What comes next? It seems that fans of first person shooters may soon find themselves out of fashion, as the Thursday letters page is not impressed by The Callisto Protocol. One reader has emailed in to share their opinion, and engage in the discussion.
I am not surprised to find that Halo Infinite is struggling to find an audience on PC, or even on Xbox. It's clear that 343 Industries have failed to deliver, and there is a need for Microsoft to take action. Removing 343 from the game and replacing them with a new developer is the obvious choice, and although a developer made just for Halo would be ideal, Microsoft sadly doesn't have the patience for that.
The long game is also something to consider when it comes to influencing company decisions. We all have a huge impact on whether or not companies make a profit, and if enough people don't like a game, then they won't make any more like it. It's harder for exclusives, however, since you can't buy them. But if you make it known that you don't want to buy an Xbox, then Microsoft will eventually get the message, albeit more slowly.
The reader also mentioned remasters of Red Dead Redemption and GTA 4. I have to ask, do we really need them? The original Xbox 360 versions look fine with backwards compatibility, and any updates to the graphics would not make a huge difference. If they added some extra DLC content, then it may be worth it, but it seems like a lot of effort for something that won't move the needle for most people.
Finally, another reader discussed The Callisto Protocol. It is apparently the worst, yet most good-looking game they have played in a while. Everything is very shallow, and the whole thing just feels like an Xbox 360 game. There is barely any story, and the monsters aren't very interesting. It is clear that the game is a failure, and the reader doesn't even know if they will bother to finish it.
The debate is ongoing, and if you have an opinion on any of these topics, you can email your comments to the address given.
What comes next for the gaming industry? The Thursday letters page had an interesting opinion, that first person shooters may be out of fashion. As one reader was unimpressed by The Callisto Protocol, it seems that there is a divide in opinion. To join in the discussion yourself, you can email your comments to the address provided.
I am not surprised to see that Halo Infinite has not been popular on PC, nor is it particularly popular on Xbox. It was clear that 343 was responsible for the issues, and yet Microsoft has not done anything to rectify the situation. It's clear 343 should be taken off the game, and a new developer should reboot the franchise from scratch. It would be ideal to have a developer made just for Halo, however, Microsoft may not have the patience to wait for that. Therefore, it seems they will get someone from Activision to do it instead.
The more unhinged members of fandom have a lot of faith in petitions, as if the UN will show up and demand Starfield on PlayStation 5 due to the demands of a couple of thousand fans. While we have an influence on company’s decisions with our purchases, it is more difficult for exclusives. If people do not buy an Xbox, Microsoft will eventually get the message. I believe Starfield will come to PlayStation eventually, even if it takes a few years.
I wonder why we need remasters of Red Dead Redemption and GTA 4, as the original Xbox 360 versions still look fine. It would be nice to get 4K and 60fps, but it is not necessary. It seems like a waste of time and money for both the company and consumers. If there was extra DLC type content, it might be different. However, it seems like a lot of effort for something that won't move the needle for many people.
The Callisto Protocol surprised me with how bad it was. It looks good, but the gameplay is extremely repetitive with no variety, shallow with not enough to do, and the monsters are not interesting or well designed. I'm shocked that it could be so meh.
Finally, I saw this amazing Zelda themed well dressing in the village of Hope in the Peak District. Well dressing is a village tradition where artwork is crafted onto a wooden frame with petals, leaves, and moss. It is really impressive and deserves recognition.
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