December 2nd 2024.
Do you think there could be a hidden reason for the delay of the announcement for the Switch 2? According to the Monday letters page, fans would be disappointed if Forza Horizon 5 was released on PS5. On the other hand, one reader is excited about the possibility of more Mario RPGs on the Switch 2. If you want to join in on the discussion, you can email us your thoughts.
I have a theory that hasn't been talked about much in regards to the Switch 2. What if the reason for the delay in the announcement is because the console has been delayed? When Nintendo stated that it would be announced before April, they meant within this financial year. It's unlikely that anyone expected the announcement to be on March 31.
While Nintendo hasn't confirmed any delays, from an outsider's perspective, it seems like that's exactly what is happening. It could be due to the Trump tariffs, or it could be because their launch games are not ready yet, or a combination of other factors. My point is, we shouldn't assume anything until there is official confirmation. It's possible that the delay could go on for a while, so we shouldn't get our hopes up for an early release in 2025. Many people seem to believe that it's almost confirmed for early 2025, but in reality, it's just a hopeful assumption.
Nintendo is facing a huge challenge with almost all of its franchises, not just Zelda. They are in uncharted territory, and it's unclear what their next move will be. That doesn't mean they can't come up with something great, but it's a risky and exciting situation. It's possible that the Mario franchise may have an easier time adapting, considering how versatile it is. The rumors about a Donkey Kong focus also suggest a new and unique direction. However, I have no idea how they will handle the next Zelda or Mario Kart game.
I do think that there is a lot of potential for the Metroid franchise to expand, but it all depends on the success of Metroid Prime. The universe of Metroid is not fully developed at the moment, and previous attempts to expand it have had mixed results.
If Forza Horizon is released on PlayStation 5, it could be the final straw for Xbox as a console format. If Forza becomes available on multiple platforms, there is no reason why other Xbox exclusives like Halo and Gears of War wouldn't follow suit. At that point, what is the point of owning an Xbox console? Although it has been said that it doesn't matter now, I personally don't want to rely solely on streaming for my gaming. Game Pass is not available on PlayStation, so for me, Xbox would just be another third party publisher. I hope Sony doesn't go down the same path. It feels like the end of an era, similar to the last days of the Dreamcast, and it's quite sad.
Following up on Grackle's letter the other day, I would also recommend RoboCop: Rogue City, which is available for around £17 on the PlayStation Store. There have been some fantastic licensed games over the years, but few that truly make you feel like you're embodying a legendary character. GoldenEye 007 was excellent for many reasons, but for me, its greatest achievement was making players feel like they were Bond. It was so immersive that you might even crave a vodka martini after playing. Similarly, playing as RoboCop in first person perspective is incredibly immersive, and it makes me think that the new Indiana Jones game could also work well in this format. Although the Batman games are mostly great, they don't quite have the same effect of making you feel like you are Batman.
However, there is one exception that I haven't had a chance to play yet, and that's Batman: Arkham Shadow. It seems like RoboCop would be a perfect character to bring to life in VR. Just imagine the possibilities for developers to play with the visor if you break the fourth directive. Also, since Murphy isn't known for being the most mobile character, the pace of the game seems to be a perfect fit for VR. I know the Inbox magic has been used recently, but if there's any left, I would love to see a RoboCop VR game.
It's unlikely that Watch Dogs will be set in London again, as the game didn't do well and it was a poor representation of the city. Unfortunately, this could lead to the misconception that games shouldn't be set in other countries. However, it's challenging for developers to accurately represent a city or culture they are not familiar with, which is why most games are set in America. It's not practical for a new developer to set up shop in London or Rio de Janeiro just to make one game.
Thank you for reading, and please feel free to email us your thoughts on the matter.
Is there any reason why Japanese games don’t have regional variations like Western games do? I don’t mean the obvious ones like sports games but things like open world games and historical games. I’m British and it always seems weird to me when I play something like Assassin’s Creed and it’s set in London but there doesn’t seem to be any differences from how it would be in America.
I guess it’s because most Japanese developers don’t have the budget to make multiple versions of the same game, but I think it’s a shame as I’d really like to play a game where I’m in Japan but everything isn’t just the same as it is in America. I think that would be really interesting and add to the authenticity but I guess we’ll never see it.
Bryson
Could there have been a delay that was kept secret? The discussion on the Monday letters page suggests that if Forza Horizon 5 were to be released on the PS5, it would be the final straw for fans. On the other hand, one reader is excited about the possibility of more Mario RPGs on the upcoming Switch 2. If you would like to join in on the conversation, please email us at the provided email address.
There's one possibility that hasn't been widely discussed yet regarding the Switch 2, and that is the possibility of a delay. While Nintendo did announce that it would be revealed before April, it could still mean anytime within this financial year. It's possible that Nintendo hasn't made any official statements about a delay, but from an external perspective, it certainly seems that way. It could be due to the Trump tariffs, or it could be a combination of various factors such as the games not being ready for launch.
It's important to manage expectations and not assume anything until there is official confirmation. A delay could potentially last for a significant amount of time, so it would be unwise to expect an early release in 2025. While it's not impossible, many fans seem to have already accepted it as fact when in reality, it's just speculation. The future of the Switch 2 is uncertain, and Nintendo has a challenging task ahead of them with not just Zelda, but all their franchises.
The company is venturing into uncharted territory, and it's difficult to predict their next move. This is both exciting and risky, as there are no clear or easy paths to take. While Mario may have more flexibility due to the series' adaptability, it's challenging to imagine what the next Zelda or Mario Kart would entail. However, there may be more room for expansion in the Metroid universe, depending on the success of Metroid Prime. Previous attempts to expand it have had mixed results, so it's essential to tread carefully.
If Forza Horizon becomes available on the PlayStation 5, it could be the final straw for Xbox as a console. If Forza is released on multiple platforms, then there's no reason why Halo and Gears of War won't follow suit. In that scenario, there would be no point in owning an Xbox console. While streaming may be an option, it's not preferable for everyone. Game Pass is exclusive to Xbox, and without it, the brand becomes just another third-party publisher. It's uncertain how they plan to stay relevant in the future, and it's a sad thought that the "This is an Xbox" slogan may be reminiscent of the last days of Dreamcast.
Following up on Grackle's letter from the other day, I would also highly recommend RoboCop: Rogue City, which can be purchased for a reasonable price on the PlayStation Store. There have been several fantastic licensed games over the years, but few make you feel like you're embodying a legendary character. GoldenEye 007 was successful in this aspect, making you feel like Bond, and even craving a martini after holstering your Walther PPK. Playing as RoboCop has a similar effect, and the first-person perspective adds to the immersion. The new Indiana Jones game has potential in this aspect and could also work well in VR. A RoboCop VR game would be an excellent idea, as developers could have fun with the visor and its fourth directive. As for Batman, while the games are generally great, they don't leave me feeling like I'm the Dark Knight.
Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to play Batman: Arkham Shadow yet, but I imagine it would be a perfect fit for VR. Perhaps the power of Inbox magic can make it happen?
Moving on to Watch Dogs: Legion, it's disappointing that because of its failure, Ubisoft and other companies may use it as proof that games shouldn't be set in other countries. However, it's essential to consider that it was both a bad game and a poor representation of London, created by people who weren't familiar with the city. It's challenging to develop a game about a different culture, which is why most games are set in America. Setting up a new development studio for one game is not feasible, and this leads to a lack of diversity in games.
Is there a reason why Japanese games don't have regional variations like Western games do? Open-world and historical games from Japan don't seem to have any differences from their American counterparts. It could be due to budget constraints, but it's a missed opportunity to add authenticity and interest to the game. It would be fascinating to play a game set in Japan where everything isn't the same as it is in America, but it seems unlikely to happen.
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