January 7th 2025.
What do you think the next console will be called? The letters page on Tuesday has some interesting theories about the Nintendo Switch 2, with one reader excited for Resident Evil 9. If you want to join in on the discussion, send us an email. But I have to say, it all seems too good to be true.
I mean, come on, 'Xbox Prime'? That name is too perfect for Microsoft to come up with. They'll probably go with something like Xbox Two, Xbox 720, or Xbox Series Z.2 DX. Or maybe they'll surprise us with some other random name that no one can remember. But why didn't they go with Xbox Infinite? It would have tied in nicely with the Halo game and set them up for the future to be Xbox Beyond. See, even I can come up with better names than Microsoft, and I'm not a fancy marketing executive making millions.
But on a serious note, I have no doubt that Microsoft is aiming for a next-gen launch in 2026. People who doubt it seem to forget that they've already announced they're working on a new format. You don't just do that if you're three years away from a release. I wouldn't be surprised if they start dropping hints about it during their first Xbox Direct of the year, with a full reveal in the summer or fall. Of course, they'll want to see what the Switch 2 has to offer first, but other than that, there's no reason for them to hold on to the Xbox Series X/S and not move on.
Speaking of the Switch 2, those rumors about it having a mouse seem pretty convincing. But the real question is, why would Nintendo want that? It doesn't seem like improving controls for shooters would be their top priority. Maybe they have plans for games like Splatoon 4, or maybe they want to make Pikmin 5 more like a PC-style real-time strategy game. Or maybe they just want to port some PC games over? We all know Nintendo games will never appear on PC, but maybe they think they can have it the other way around. As another reader mentioned, they probably want to put a lid on the Steam Deck before it becomes too big.
Whatever their plans are, it's definitely unexpected and weird, which is exactly what we want and expect from Nintendo.
Moving on to some good news, it's great to hear that the Resident Evil 4 remake is doing so well. As a fan of the original, I absolutely loved what they did with it. It was the perfect update. And hopefully, this success will convince them to keep the third-person perspective for Resident Evil 9. I mean, sure, the first-person games were an interesting experiment, but they didn't really add anything new. Plus, taking away the character from the game was a disadvantage. I mean, I know and love all the Resident Evil regulars, but I still can't remember the name of the protagonist from the last two games.
I'm also curious about the setting for Resident Evil 9. I heard someone mention vampires as a follow-up to the werewolves in Village, but I think that was just a guess. Technically, Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters were implied to be some kind of vampires already.
Now, onto the topic of Xbox's handheld. I don't think some of these companies really understand the concept of portables. Acer just announced the Nitro Blaze 11, which has an...11-inch screen. That's huge, almost like a small laptop. I have no idea how much it's going to cost, but it's definitely going to be expensive. And I just don't see the point. It's supposed to be a portable, but it's not really portable. And it's probably going to be expensive enough that you could just buy a great PC or console set-up instead. But maybe I'm underestimating the number of people who want to carry around a giant tablet in their backpack, just in case they want to play Fortnite on the train. Whatever Xbox has in store for us, I hope it's something more practical.
On a positive note, I really hope that Platinum Games can overcome their staff problems. It would be a shame to see them disappear. Sure, none of the Bayonetta games had the same director, but I still believe they have the potential to create another amazing game. And I'm not sure why Nintendo keeps funding them, considering their games don't sell well, but as long as they do, I'll keep buying them. I would love to see an Astral Chain 2, especially on a Switch 2. And why not go all out and ask for a Vanquish 2 as well?
And finally, Fumito Ueda is working on a new game, and I couldn't be more excited. I loved both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, so I was eager to finish The Last Guardian when it came out. But I found it frustrating, and I couldn't get past a certain point. However, after some time had passed, I decided to give it another chance. And I was right, it is frustrating. The controls are fiddly, and Trico, the bird/cat/dog companion, doesn't always listen to your commands. It's a lot of repetition, and it definitely needs more variety. And while I appreciate the attempt at a story, I think The Last Guardian had too much of it. The beauty of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus was that the story was left to the player's imagination. Something that was also beautifully done in Journey, another one of my favorites.
Hey there! Have you heard about the new console that's rumored to be coming out? The Tuesday letters page is buzzing with theories about the next Nintendo Switch, and one reader even mentioned their excitement for Resident Evil 9. If you want to join in on the discussions, just shoot an email over to the address provided.
But to be honest, I highly doubt that the rumor about the 'Xbox Prime' is true. I mean, let's be real here, Microsoft is not known for coming up with such brilliant names. It'll probably be something like Xbox Two, Xbox 720, or Xbox Series Z.2 DX – some confusing combination of letters and numbers that no one will remember. Although, I do wonder why they never went with Xbox Infinite to tie in with the Halo game. It would have been a clever move, and it would have set them up for the next console, Xbox Beyond.
Seriously, Microsoft, I think I'm better at this than you. And I'm not even a pretentious marketing drone getting paid millions for suggesting names like Xbox One. But on a serious note, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft is planning for a next-gen launch in 2026. They've already announced that they're working on a new format, so it's safe to say that they're not three years out. I have a feeling they might start hinting at it during their first Xbox Direct of the year, with a reveal possibly in the summer or autumn. Of course, they'll want to see what the Switch 2 has to offer first, but other than that, there's no reason for them to not move on from the Xbox Series X/S.
Moving on, let's talk about those Switch 2 mouse rumors. They seem pretty convincing, but the big question is – what does Nintendo want it for? Better controls for shooters seem unlikely, considering it's not a priority for them. But then again, there's Splatoon 4 to consider. Or maybe it'll be used for Pikmin 5, to make it more like a real-time strategy game. Another possibility is that Nintendo wants to port PC games to their console. After all, their games will never appear on PC, so maybe they want to have things the other way around. As another reader mentioned, they might be trying to compete with the Steam Deck before it becomes too big. Whatever their plans are, it's definitely unexpected, which is exactly what we'd expect from Nintendo.
On a different note, I'm glad to hear that the Resident Evil 4 remake is doing so well. As a fan of the original, I absolutely loved what they did with it. It's the perfect update, in my opinion. I just hope that this success will ensure that Resident Evil 9 will be in third person, because let's be real – the first-person games didn't really add anything to the franchise. Sure, they tried to make it scarier, but it didn't really work. Plus, it took away the character connection that we all have with the regulars in the Resident Evil series. Like, I can't even remember what the protagonist's name was in the last two games. And speaking of Resident Evil 9, I'm curious to know what the setting will be. Did I hear someone mention vampires? That would be interesting, especially after the werewolves in Village.
Moving on to a completely different topic, let's discuss the Xbox handheld. I'm not sure if some of these companies really understand what a portable console is. Take Acer, for example, they just announced the Nitro Blaze 11, which has an 11-inch screen. That's huge, like a tiny laptop. And we don't even know how much it's going to cost, but it's definitely going to be expensive. And for what? It's a portable console that's not really portable, and it'll probably be expensive enough to buy a great PC or console set-up instead. Or am I underestimating the number of people who want to carry around a giant tablet in their rucksack, just in case they want to play Fortnite on the train? Whatever Xbox is cooking up, I hope it's something more practical.
Now, let's talk about Platinum and their staff problems. I really hope they manage to survive, because I'd hate to see them disappear. Sure, you could argue that they already have, but as you pointed out, none of the Bayonetta games had the same director. So, I do believe there's a chance that they could produce a new game that's just as good as before. And honestly, I don't understand why Nintendo keeps funding them, especially since their games don't sell that well. But hey, as long as they keep making great games, I'll keep buying them. I'm also hoping for an Astral Chain 2, and with a Switch 2 sequel, it could be even better. And while we're at it, why not commission Vanquish 2 as well?
Last but not least, let's talk about Fumito Ueda's new game. I got excited when I heard the news, because I loved both Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus. I even remembered that I never finished The Last Guardian, so I decided to give it another go. But, as I suspected, it was just as frustrating as I remembered. I found myself getting angry and swearing a lot. But I was determined to finish it this time around. However, the controls were fiddly, and giving instructions to Trico, the bird/cat/dog companion, was beyond frustrating. Why does Trico just walk off in the opposite direction when I give a command? And why does Trico keep kicking me off ledges and bridges? The gameplay also felt repetitive, and Trico's constant clinging on with only two feet after a jump got old real quick. It definitely needs more variety. And as for the story, I think it had too much going on. The beauty of Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus was that the story was left to the player's imagination. Something that was also beautifully executed in Journey, another one of my favorites.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
