February 14th 2025.
"How long do you think the battery will last?" The question has been on the minds of many, especially with all the speculation surrounding the potential release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Surprisingly, one aspect of the console that hasn't been talked about enough is its battery life. I'm sure there are discussions happening somewhere, but I can't help but worry that it will be significantly shortened if Nintendo is trying to make the console more powerful.
We've been hearing a lot about third party support for the new console, which is exciting, but it also means that the console will require more battery power to keep up with the demands of these games. And let's not forget the bigger and brighter screen that will also drain the battery. While we all want a more powerful console, I don't think it's worth it if it means only getting a couple of hours of playtime in portable mode.
This is why I'm curious about what Xbox and PlayStation have in store with their rumored portables. I haven't heard of any major advancements in battery technology lately, so I can't imagine how they could make a significantly more powerful console without it draining a lot more power. If the Switch 2 can't last at least three hours at a time, it will be a major disappointment.
Moving on to other gaming news, I've noticed a lot of criticism towards the recent State of Play event. However, I personally thought it was a good showcase, similar to a Nintendo Direct. While the pacing may have been off, there were many games that caught my interest and some exciting new announcements. Overall, I don't think it was a bad event.
But, I do have to agree that it showed a lack of effort on Sony's part. Yes, it was great to hear that Housemarque won't be making a live service game and I'm looking forward to their next game after Returnal. However, that was just one game in a 50-minute event at the beginning of the year. It's almost like Sony is just doing the bare minimum. And now we find out that their passive approach has resulted in a huge success over the Christmas season, with sales increasing even without any new games. It's frustrating to see a company being rewarded for doing nothing.
Unfortunately, this success may lead to Sony becoming even more complacent in the future. We've seen this happen before with the PlayStation 3. It was an expensive console with a limited game library, but Sony was too arrogant to admit any faults until the Xbox 360 took over and people started losing their jobs. I can't help but worry that history will repeat itself if there's no competition to keep Sony in check. And Nintendo doesn't count as a competitor, as their consoles have always been different enough for Sony to not see them as a threat.
Shifting gears to a recent interview with game developer Josef Fares, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. After his outburst at The Game Awards, I thought he was a bit crazy. But in the interview, he gave thoughtful and insightful answers, especially when he mentioned how both developers and publishers can be unoriginal. It's easy to see this in the abundance of indie games that are just clones, but with limited funds, what else can they do?
I also found it interesting that many live service games were actually the idea of the developer and not the publisher. It seems like everyone is just looking for easy and quick ways to make money. And as usual, only a small percentage of games end up being good.
On a different note, I can't understand why Sony stopped making family-friendly games. Did children suddenly stop liking video games and I didn't get the memo? I know mobile gaming was popular around the time of the PlayStation 3 and 4, but that shouldn't have been a reason to completely stop making games for families. While the popularity of "sad dad" single-player games may have seemed like a safe bet, it's short-sighted to ignore the potential success of games like Astro Bot. Hopefully, the recent announcement of a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake means we might see the return of Ape Escape soon. Fingers crossed.
"How long will the battery last?" This seems to be the question on everyone's mind when it comes to the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. With all the exciting rumors and speculations about the console's potential power and third-party support, the concern over its battery life has been largely overshadowed. But for some, like myself, it's a crucial factor to consider.
I've been keeping a close eye on discussions and debates surrounding the Switch 2, and one topic that seems to keep popping up is the battery life. As someone who enjoys playing games on the go, I can't help but worry that the console's increased power and potentially larger screen will result in a shortened battery life. We all want a more powerful console, but not at the cost of only being able to play for a couple of hours before needing to recharge.
This brings up another point - what about the rumored portable consoles from Xbox and PlayStation? With no major advancements in battery technology, it's hard to imagine these consoles being significantly more powerful without draining a lot more power. If the Switch 2 can't last at least three hours in portable mode, it will be a major disappointment.
Moving on to a different topic, I've seen a lot of criticism towards Sony's recent State of Play presentation. While some may argue that it was poorly paced, I personally found it to be a good showcase of upcoming games and new announcements. However, it did highlight the minimum effort that Sony seems to be putting into their events.
Sure, it's great to finally have confirmation that Housemarque's next game won't be a live service, and the announcement for a follow-up to Returnal has me excited. But compared to the 50-minute long presentation, it's clear that Sony is not putting in as much effort as they could be. And yet, they still saw a lot of success over the holidays without releasing any new games. It's almost as if doing nothing is the smart business decision for Sony at this point.
But as a consumer, this is concerning. With the PlayStation 5 dominating the market and Xbox seemingly out of the race, there's a worry that Sony will become complacent and lazy. We've seen this before with the PlayStation 3, and I can't help but wonder if history will repeat itself. We need competition to keep companies in check, and as much as I love Nintendo, they've never been seen as a direct competitor to Sony.
On a lighter note, I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Josef Fares in GC. I'll admit, I had my doubts about him after his outburst at The Game Awards, but reading his thoughtful and honest answers to your questions changed my perspective. One point that stood out to me was his comment about developers being just as unoriginal as publishers. It's not something you hear often, but with so many indie games being clones of each other, it's hard to deny.
But let's not forget that developers are also in the business of making money. And when publishers aren't the ones pushing for live service games, we have to question the intentions behind them. It's easy to focus on the few good games that come out of this trend, but it's important to remember that it's not the majority.
And finally, a question that has been on my mind for a while now - why did Sony stop making family-friendly games? Did kids suddenly stop liking video games and I missed the memo? While I understand the appeal of the "sad dad" single-player games, it still seems short-sighted to completely abandon the family market. With the recent announcement of a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, I can only hope that this means we'll see the return of beloved titles like Ape Escape in the future.
In conclusion, there are many discussions and debates surrounding the gaming industry at the moment, from console rumors to company strategies. It's important to keep an open mind and consider all perspectives, but also to hold companies accountable for their decisions and actions. And as always, feel free to join in on the discussions by emailing your comments.
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