February 19th 2025.
Have you ever wondered when something is too much? Well, according to the Wednesday letters page, there is growing concern about Sony's first-party games on the PS5. One reader even mentioned that they are not surprised that Microsoft has not released any new live service games. If you want to join in on the discussions, you can email us at [email].
There has been a lot of talk about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and the estimated price is around £350. While this may seem like a hefty price tag, it is only £100 more than the Xbox Series S. However, I doubt Nintendo will have any trouble selling them, especially in the beginning when it is mostly hardcore gamers who will be buying them.
I'm not sure if "middle-core" is a real word, but that's where I would place myself in terms of gaming. Although I can imagine myself getting the Switch 2 early on, I would need some convincing. It would have to be noticeably more powerful, have good battery life, and have some new innovative features. The rumored secret button doesn't seem like enough to sway me.
When it comes to games, I would need to see a clear roadmap before committing to buying the Switch 2. I don't want a Sony-style one-reveal-per-year routine. Nintendo needs to step up their game and give us more information. However, I have faith that they won't make the same mistake as Sony. Overall, I am interested in the Switch 2, but not fully committed. Let's see what the April Direct has to offer.
The topic of Fallout 5 was brought up, and it's a fair point that Bethesda has not outsourced the development to another studio. Some speculate that it could be because they are still salty about the success of Fallout: New Vegas. While I would like to believe that they are not that petty, I wouldn't bet on it.
On a positive note, we finally have some news about The Elder Scrolls 6. Even though it's just about a charity event, it's still something. Hopefully, this means the game will be released within the next two years. Or am I being too optimistic? The thought of waiting 20 years for a sequel to Skyrim is mind-boggling to me. I wonder how much of it has to do with the fact that Bethesda is still making money from it, similar to how Rockstar has not released GTA 6 because GTA 5 is still making a lot of money.
One reader mentioned that the only challenge Nintendo will face is convincing casual gamers to upgrade to the Switch 2. While the console will undoubtedly be popular in Japan and among hardcore fans, it may not be as appealing to the Fortnite crowd. This could be a similar issue that PlayStation faced with the PS4. If the current Switch is still able to play the games people want, why upgrade? It may not be as successful as the 3DS, but it could still do well like the DS.
Personally, I haven't used my Switch as much as I would like, aside from the two Zelda games. So, I will try to resist the temptation of buying the shiny new hardware until I can catch up on my backlog.
On a side note, our Inbox has been in the correct place for the last week, so let's hope it stays that way! Thank you to everyone who wrote in to help us pinpoint the issue.
To answer the question of why Xbox hasn't been focusing on live service games like Sony, it's because they already have successful ones. Minecraft, Halo, Forza, and Call of Duty are just a few examples. We won't mention Redfall though.
One reader disagreed with Lefty's criticisms of Returnal. They thought it was a visually stunning game, especially with bullets flying everywhere. They also pointed out that while the layout may be randomized, each individual area was hand-crafted. The story was also intriguing and didn't overshadow the gameplay.
How much is too much? Well, the Wednesday letters page has been discussing this very topic. Specifically, the concern is over Sony's first-party games on the PS5. One reader points out that they are not surprised by Microsoft's lack of new live service games. To join in on the conversation, simply email us at the provided email address.
It seems the current speculation for the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is around £350. Personally, I don't find that to be too steep. However, it is £100 more than an Xbox Series S. Despite this, I doubt Nintendo will have any trouble selling them, especially at the beginning when it's mostly the hardcore fans making the purchase. I'm not sure if "middle-core" is an actual term, but that's where I would place myself as a gamer. While I could see myself getting a Switch 2 early on, I would need some convincing. I would want to know that it's significantly more powerful, has good battery life, and offers something new and innovative. I'm not sure if the rumored "secret button" will be enough to sway me.
When it comes to games, I need to see a solid roadmap before committing to a purchase. Sony's one-reveal-per-year approach won't cut it for me. But, I don't think Nintendo will make the same mistake. Overall, I am interested in the Switch 2, but not yet committed. Let's see what the April Direct has in store.
Moving on to another topic, there's been some discussion about Fallout 5. One reader points out that Bethesda could have outsourced the game to another developer, but speculates that they may be too salty about the popularity of Fallout: New Vegas. While I'd like to think they're not that petty, I wouldn't bet on it. On a brighter note, we are finally getting some news about The Elder Scrolls 6. Even if it's just a charity event, it's still something. Hopefully, this means the game will be released within the next two years. Right? Or am I being too optimistic? The fact that it could potentially be 20 years between Skyrim and its sequel is mind-boggling to me. I can't help but wonder how much of that delay is due to the fact that Bethesda is still making a ton of money from Skyrim. It's similar to how Rockstar hasn't felt the need to release GTA 6 because GTA 5 is still generating a lot of revenue.
Switching gears, I think the biggest challenge Nintendo will face with the Switch 2 is convincing casual gamers that it's worth upgrading. While it will undoubtedly remain popular in Japan and with hardcore fans, I'm not sure the Fortnite crowd will see a reason to upgrade. It's a similar situation to what PlayStation faced with the PS4 - if it's still playing the games people want, why bother with the upgrade? In any case, I believe the Switch 2 will achieve success similar to the 3DS, rather than the DS.
Personally, I haven't used my Switch as much as I would like, aside from the two Zelda games. So, I will try to resist the temptation of buying the new hardware until I can make a dent in my backlog.
On a side note, it seems our email issue has been resolved. Thank you to everyone who wrote in to help us pinpoint the problem.
And finally, addressing a reader's comment on Xbox's lack of pursuit in live service games growth compared to Sony. Contrary to popular belief, Xbox does have live service games in their arsenal - the most notable being Minecraft, Halo, Sea of Thieves, and the Forza franchise. Not to mention, they now own Activision Blizzard, which includes Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. Let's not mention Redfall, shall we?
In response to Lefty's criticisms of Returnal, I have to disagree. I found the game to be visually stunning, especially in motion. Additionally, the levels in the game are not randomly generated, but rather hand-crafted with randomized layouts for each run. As for the story, I found it to be intriguing and appreciated that it didn't take away from the focus on the gameplay.
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