January 25th 2024.
Is GTA 6 going to be better on the PS5 Pro? That's the question being discussed on the Thursday letters page. One reader raises concerns about how video games might be discouraging kids from pursuing a career in the industry, while another ponders the use of fast travel in the upcoming Spider-Man 2 game. To join in on the discussion, you can email the provided email address.
There's been a lot of talk lately about potential PlayStation 5 games, with rumors of a Death Stranding 2 reveal and the possibility of Until Dawn coming to PC. Many are speculating that this could mean a State of Play presentation is just a few weeks away. Some sources say it could happen within the next 15 days, but as always, these rumors should be taken with a grain of salt.
Personally, I'm hoping that Sony will finally address the rumors surrounding the PS5 Pro. It's been an open secret for months now, and I can't help but feel that it's a bad move on their part. The console is rumored to be quite expensive, and with no new games being released, there's not much incentive for players to upgrade. It's especially concerning when you consider that there are still very few PlayStation 5-only games, let alone any that would require the extra power of the Pro.
My theory is that Sony will take a gamble and release the PS5 Pro anyway, positioning it as the ultimate machine for playing GTA 6. I can already imagine them touting its ability to run the game at a smooth 60 frames per second, tempting many gamers to make the upgrade. And even after this, Sony still hasn't announced any new games of their own. It would be best for them to just announce the PS5 Pro now, rather than surprising consumers with a sudden $500 expense a month before its release.
One reader wrote in with their thoughts on the secretive nature of Elden Ring's DLC. They can't understand why the developers would choose to do a surprise release for new content. Their only theory is that there may be some kind of exclusivity deal in place, possibly tied to an upcoming State of Play presentation. However, this reader is not a fan of exclusivity and hopes that this is not the case. They also express their disappointment in the fact that games like Splatoon 1 and Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, which were designed with online play in mind, will no longer be able to be played as intended. It's a shame that these games, especially Splatoon 1 which is the first in the franchise, will essentially be rendered useless without online play.
On a lighter note, another reader brings up the recently announced game Palworld. They can't quite figure out what to make of it, as it seems to be a mix of Pokémon and crafting/survival games. They also find it strange to see the game's characters wielding AK-47s and shotguns. It's certainly an interesting concept, with breeding and using your "Pals" as tools resembling the gameplay of Pikmin rather than Pokémon. However, the reader is not a fan of strategy elements in games, so they're not sure if this game will be for them. They plan to give it a shot, but if it's not their cup of tea, they'll stick to their usual games.
Finally, one reader shares their thoughts on the future of Super Smash Bros. After the massive success of Ultimate, they wonder where the series can go from here. It's unlikely that the next installment will be even bigger, as it would require a decade of work and could potentially take a toll on the developers. They speculate that the only way to move forward is to strip the game down to its basics, similar to the original Nintendo 64 version. While this may not appeal to everyone, the reader believes that as long as there are a variety of support characters and references to other games, it could work. They also predict that there will eventually be a "Super Ultimate" edition for the next Nintendo console, with some minor extras and a few new characters.
Is GTA 6 going to be better on the PS5 Pro? That's the question on everyone's minds. In the letters page, one reader expresses concern about discouraging kids from pursuing a career in video games, while another ponders the potential for fast travel in Spider-Man 2. If you want to join in on the discussion, feel free to email us your thoughts.
But let's talk about hardware bundles. Lately, there have been a lot of rumors about PlayStation 5 games, like a possible Death Stranding 2 reveal and Until Dawn coming to PC. This could mean that a State of Play presentation is just around the corner. Some sources have even claimed that we can expect it within the next 15 days, although that may just be a made-up rumor.
Personally, I wish Sony would give us more information about the PS5 Pro. It's been an open secret for months now, but it still seems like a questionable move to me. The console is quite expensive and it's being released at a time when there aren't many new games available. There are still very few PlayStation 5-exclusive games, let alone ones that would require additional power from a PS5 Pro.
My theory is that Sony will release the PS5 Pro anyway, as a tie-in with the highly anticipated GTA 6. I can just imagine them boasting that only the PS5 Pro can run the game at 60fps, and I have a feeling a lot of people will be tempted to upgrade. But even after that, Sony still hasn't announced any new games of their own. It would be nice if they would at least announce the PS5 Pro now, so that people aren't suddenly hit with a £500 expense just a month before they're expected to pay for it.
On a different note, let's talk about Elden Ring's DLC. Fans are wondering why there's so much secrecy surrounding it. Could it possibly be related to the upcoming State of Play presentation? Perhaps there's some sort of exclusivity deal in place. It's unlikely that the entire DLC would be exclusive, but maybe there are some special items or early access for PlayStation players. Personally, I'm not a fan of exclusivity deals, especially when they come as a surprise. I hope this isn't the case, but I can't think of any other explanation for the secrecy surrounding Elden Ring's DLC.
Speaking of exclusivity, it's sad to think that certain games, like Splatoon 1 and Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, were designed around online play and will no longer be able to use it. While you can still play the games, it's not the same experience without the online component. Splatoon 1 was an important game as the first in the franchise, and Tri Force Heroes may not be the most beloved Zelda game, but it's still a unique and enjoyable game. Unfortunately, it's unlikely to be remade or appear on a Virtual Console anytime soon, and it'll probably be forgotten until it resurfaces in a decade or so.
Moving on to a different game, let's talk about Palworld. Is it just me, or does it seem like a strange mix of Pokemon and survival/PvP games? I personally don't enjoy crafting and building in my games, and seeing Pals running around with AK-47s and shotguns is definitely odd. Breeding them and using them as tools also sounds more like Pikmin than Pokemon. And what about their moves? Do they just run around shooting with their guns? I'll give it a chance, but if it's not for me, I'll just go back to playing my old favorites.
On a more serious note, there were some valid points raised in a previous Inbox about the challenges of working in the games industry. As a father, I've tried to steer my daughter away from certain career choices, including game development. The job security is low, and the level of abuse, both internally and externally, is shockingly high. And all of this is for a product that's meant to bring enjoyment to others.
But there are also some positives, like the potential for good pay and the recent Microsoft Developer_Direct video that showed employees riding around the office and doing cartwheels. Although I'm not sure how representative that is of most game publishers...
Switching gears, let's talk about Super Smash Bros. I have to admit, I'm curious to see where the series will go after the massive success of Ultimate. It's clear that Sakurai can't make the next game even bigger or with the same size roster – it would take years of work and would probably exhaust the poor guy. He's hinted at going back to basics with a smaller roster, similar to the original Nintendo 64 game. I don't hate that idea, as long as there are plenty of support characters and cameos from other games. And then, over the next couple of decades, the game can slowly become more bloated until it needs to be reset again. But that's okay with me – not knowing who will be in the game is half the fun! I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually see a Super Ultimate edition for the Switch 2, with some minor extras and maybe a couple of new Nintendo fighters.
Lastly, I wanted to address a reader's suggestion that Hogwarts Legacy is just a reskin of Batman: Arkham. While I can see where the comparison comes from, there are actually quite a few differences between the two games. For example, the Merlin trials are not the same as the Riddler tasks, scanning is different from Revelio, and there's no hacking mechanic in Hogwarts Legacy. Plus, the combat and characters are completely different. But I do agree that it would be cool to ride Buckbeak in a game like this!
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