December 23rd 2024.
Can you even imagine a world without PlayStation? It's almost hard to fathom, considering how integral it has become in the world of gaming. And speaking of gaming, let's dive into some discussions happening in the gaming community.
First off, let's talk about the Monday letters page. It's that time of year again, where we all wish each other a merry Christmas and a happy new year. It's a heartwarming tradition, and one reader even expressed their hopes for an early reveal of the long-awaited Switch 2 in January. If you want to join in on the discussions, you can always email us. But do keep in mind that this will be the last Inbox of 2024, as we'll be taking a break and returning on January 6th. But don't worry, we have some exciting exclusive features lined up for you, including our Top 20 of 2024 and a sneak peek into what's to come in 2025. But for now, we wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic new year!
Now, let's shift our focus to some speculations about the future of gaming. Many believe that Xbox will be the one to take a hit in the next generation of consoles. But, as one reader pointed out, we shouldn't be too quick to assume that. After all, Microsoft is a much larger company than Sony, and they have invested a significant amount of money into their Xbox division. It's almost become a "sunk cost fallacy" for them, where they feel like they can't back out now after investing so much. So, it's just a waiting game for them. They can continue to make profits from popular games like Call of Duty until streaming technology becomes stable enough for mainstream use. And when that happens, Microsoft will have a huge advantage over Sony. Of course, this may not happen in the next generation, but who knows what the future holds? It may sound far-fetched now, but so did the idea of Xbox going multi-platform just a year ago.
Let's switch gears and talk about some potential remakes. There's been a lot of buzz about a possible remake of Oblivion, but one reader expressed their desire for a remake of Morrowind instead. They've never had the chance to properly play it, as it was already considered old by the time they discovered it after playing Skyrim. And let's be real, the game is almost unplayable in its current state. Many veteran fans claim it to be the best game in the series, but it's hard for newer players to appreciate its depth and role-playing elements. Unfortunately, it's unlikely for Bethesda to remake it, as it would require a lot of work and changes to the UI and controls. But one can still hope for a modern makeover of this beloved classic.
Speaking of makeovers, let's talk about the highly anticipated Switch 2. With so many leaks and rumors floating around, it's becoming harder for Nintendo to keep a lid on things. We've even seen leaked images of the Pro Controller for the Switch 2. This has led many to believe that Nintendo will have no choice but to make an announcement in January. And let's be real, January has always been a sensible choice for such a big reveal. Although it's a bit disappointing to have the design of the console spoiled, it's better to get it out of the way and focus on the more important aspects, like the new buttons and games. And let's not forget about the secrets that are yet to be unveiled. We can't wait to see what Nintendo has in store for us.
Now, let's address a concerning trend in the gaming industry. As one reader pointed out, the list of best-selling games is quite uninspired. And this raises a bigger question - what's the point of making new games if no one is buying them? It's clear that publishers have already started thinking about this, as we're seeing a rise in live service games. But is that really the solution? It's hard to say. And with the next generation of gamers growing up with games that are essentially never-ending, it's hard to see how things will turn around. Even if popular games like Fortnite or Minecraft lose their popularity, there will always be another game to take its place. And unfortunately, this leaves other games and developers in the dust. So, what's the solution? Some suggest spending less on new games, but does anyone really want to see games being made by AI? It's a tricky situation, and we can only hope for the best.
Finally, let's end on a lighter note and talk about the Steam Deck. Many are excited about this portable gaming device, and one reader even shared their positive experience playing a free-to-play MMORPG on their ROG Ally. They anticipate the same level of performance on the Steam Deck. And while playing solo is fun, playing with a guild brings a whole new level of enjoyment. Now, let's switch gears and talk about controllers. As someone who has been playing games for over 40 years, it's surprising to see how they still struggle with the button configurations, especially on newer consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation. They even had trouble with Bayonetta 2 on the Wii U. But, they do appreciate the GameCube controller for its tactile buttons. It's a small detail, but it can make a big difference in the gaming experience.
Can you imagine playing video games without a PlayStation? It's almost impossible to imagine, isn't it? PlayStation has become such an integral part of the gaming world, and it's hard to imagine what things would be like without it. But as we approach the end of the year, it's time to reflect on what's to come in the gaming world. And one reader is hoping for an early reveal of the Switch 2 in January.
But before we get into that discussion, we wanted to take a moment to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year! This will be the last Inbox of 2024, but don't worry, we'll be back in action on Monday, January 6. In the meantime, we have some exciting features lined up for you, including our Top 20 of 2024 and a preview of what's to come in 2025. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Now, back to the discussion at hand. There's been a lot of talk about what the next generation of gaming will look like. Many assume that Xbox will be the obvious choice to lose out, but we shouldn't be too quick to jump to conclusions. Sure, Microsoft is a bigger company than Sony, but they've invested so much into Xbox that it's become a "sunk cost fallacy" for them. They feel like they've come this far, so they might as well keep going.
But for Microsoft, it's just a waiting game. They can continue to make money from popular games like Call of Duty while they wait for streaming technology to become more mainstream. And when that happens, they'll dominate the market and give Sony a run for their money. Of course, this may not happen in the next generation, but who knows what the future holds? It's not impossible to imagine a world where PlayStation is pushed into third place and Sony decides to leave the industry altogether.
On a different note, there have been talks of a possible Oblivion remake, but some fans are wishing for a Morrowind remake instead. While many long-time fans praise Morrowind for its deep role-playing gameplay, it's hard for new players to appreciate it due to its age. However, it's unlikely that Bethesda will prioritize a Morrowind remake as it would require a lot of work. But one can dream, right?
Moving on to the highly anticipated Switch 2, it seems like some people have already gotten their hands on the Pro Controller and have leaked its design. This may force Nintendo to announce the console sooner rather than later. It's a bit of a shame to have the design spoiled, but perhaps it's best to get it out of the way and focus on the more important aspects, like the new buttons and games.
Speaking of games, it's concerning to see that the list of best-selling games is filled with unoriginal titles. This is not a good sign for the gaming industry. If people are not buying new games, then what's the point of making them? This has led to a rise in live service games, but it's not a sustainable solution. It's a difficult situation, and it's hard to say how things will turn around. But one thing is for sure, we can't rely on playing the same game forever.
Lastly, one reader shared their experience playing Throne and Liberty, a free-to-play MMORPG, on their ROG Ally. They're excited to try it out on the Steam Deck, which they believe will have similar performance. And as we end this discussion, someone brings up the topic of button configurations on controllers. It seems like some people still struggle to remember which button does what, even after years of gaming. But with the variety of controllers out there, can we really blame them?
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