March 21st 2024.
Have you seen the recent news about the PS5 Pro? People are already questioning how much cheaper it can possibly get. On the Thursday letters page, there was a discussion about the potential for an even more powerful version of the PS5 Pro. One reader even mentioned their admiration for the success of Stardew Valley. If you want to join in on the discussion, you can email us at the provided email address.
The PS5 Slim is currently being sold for less than £400 on Amazon, which is pretty amazing. However, it's only £20 cheaper than the standard version at the moment. This could be a sign that the PS5 Pro will be released this year, but it could also be a strategy for companies to attract a wider audience. As the generation progresses, companies often try to make their hardware more affordable to appeal to a broader range of gamers.
It's hard to believe that we've already reached this point. It feels like just yesterday that the PlayStation 5 was first released and was out of stock for what felt like an eternity. And now, here we are, with the price being slashed. This generation was expected to last longer than usual, but it seems like that may not be the case. There are even rumors that Xbox will be starting the next generation in 2026. This is usually a sign that sales are slowing down, and companies need to start preparing for the next generation. However, I believe Sony and Microsoft should consider selling their consoles at a loss, even if it's a significant loss, in order to expand their audience.
If the goal is to increase the audience for consoles, then why not give them away for free? We all know that companies make most of their money from game sales, not the hardware itself. And let's be honest, how many Ultimate Team packs from EA Sports FC do you really need before you start making a profit? Of course, this is just my opinion, and I doubt they will actually do it, but it's something to consider. In the meantime, I think it would be wise for Sony to lower the price of the PS5. It's currently at £400, but how low will it go? Imagine how many more consoles they could sell at £300 or even £200. It seems like a better approach than completely giving up on single-player games in favor of live service games.
Speaking of live service games, let's talk about Bungie and their upcoming game, Marathon. I have to admit, I wouldn't be surprised if Bungie is no longer in existence by the end of the year. It seems like everything is working against them, from Sony's attitude towards them to the decline of Destiny 2. Some people believe that their new game, The Final Shape, could give Destiny 2 a temporary boost, but I'm not so sure. It's possible that they will release The Final Shape, and then Sony will pull the plug, take over the company, and shut down Destiny 2. They could then spread the developers across their other studios to help with their live service games. It's not a great scenario, but it's a real possibility.
On a lighter note, did you know that Katamari Damacy is 20 years old? It's hard to believe! I still have a physical copy of the game in my loft. But for those of you who want to relive the nostalgia, the remastered version, Katamari Damacy REROLL, is currently on sale on Steam for only £3.99. It doesn't require a powerful system, but it does need at least a basic dedicated GPU. I might even pick it up myself; it's been years since I played it. Happy gaming, everyone!
Moving on to a different topic, I'm not too concerned about the PS5 Pro. I had a PS4 Pro, but I'm not in a rush to get the PS5 Pro. It seems like the days of consoles being uniquely engineered pieces of custom tech are long gone. Now, they're essentially budget PCs with a custom case and OS. So, what's wrong with having a superior edition for those who can afford it and want better performance? They could even release a "hyper" PlayStation 5 for the wealthy and obsessed, similar to high-end PCs.
Lastly, I want to address an issue that many people have been experiencing with their digital libraries. Since February, I have been having issues with my PSN account. All of my digital games from before February, including those I purchased with my own money, are now locked. I've had a PS Plus subscription since 2018, but I lost all of the games associated with it. I also no longer have access to cloud storage or the ability to play online games. I've reached out to PlayStation support, but they haven't been much help. Despite having a PS Plus Premium subscription until December, I keep getting messages that I don't have it. And strangely, when I try to buy a game that I know I own, it tells me that I already own it. This seems to be a widespread issue, and I'm located in Croatia. It's frustrating, to say the least.
How much more affordable can it get? The letters page on Thursday has been buzzing with discussions about the PlayStation 5 Pro and the overwhelming success of Stardew Valley. If you want to join in on the conversation, feel free to email us your thoughts.
Some may be surprised to find that the PS5 Slim is already on sale for less than £400 on Amazon, with the standard version only £20 more. This could be a sign that the PS5 Pro will be released later this year, as is usually the case when companies start targeting a wider audience towards the end of a console generation.
It's hard to believe that we've already reached this point. It feels like just yesterday that the PlayStation 5 was released and out of stock for two years. And now, we're seeing a significant price drop.
Many believed that this console generation would last longer than usual, but it seems that won't be the case. There are even rumors that Xbox will be starting the next generation as early as 2026! This is because sales have started to slow down, and it's a common practice for companies to start developing for the next generation when this happens. However, I personally think that Sony and Microsoft should sell their consoles at a loss, even if it's a significant one, in order to expand their audience.
If companies are concerned about the lack of growth in the console market, they should consider giving away consoles for free. After all, we all know that they make their money from games, not the hardware itself. And I highly doubt that anyone needs to purchase too many Ultimate Team packs from EA Sports FC before the companies start making a profit.
Of course, it's unlikely that companies will actually do this, but it would be great to see the PS5 become more affordable. It's currently priced at £400, but how low can it go? Imagine how many more units they would sell at £300 or £200. This seems like a much better solution than giving up on single-player games altogether in favor of live service games.
Moving on to other news, it's hard to predict what the future holds for Bungie. With Sony's attitude towards them and the decline of Destiny 2, it's uncertain if they will still be around by the end of the year when their new game Marathon is released. The Final Shape may give the game a temporary boost, but it's anyone's guess if it will be a success or not.
On a happier note, can you believe that Katamari Damacy is 20 years old? If you're feeling nostalgic, you can pick up the remastered version, Katamari Damacy REROLL, for only £3.99 on Steam during the spring sale. Just make sure your system has a basic dedicated GPU, as it may not run on modern integrated graphics.
Moving onto a different topic, the announcement of the PS5 Pro hasn't been met with much enthusiasm. Many people, including myself, are still trying to catch up with the current games after finally getting their hands on a PS5. The idea of an 8K option may sound appealing, but it's not a priority for most people who can't afford an 8K TV. Plus, how many games will actually utilize this feature?
It seems like yet another attempt to take advantage of loyal consumers, especially with the ongoing issue of digital content deletions. Speaking of which, many people have been experiencing problems with their digital libraries, with games being locked and access to online features being restricted. It's frustrating and disappointing, but it's a widespread issue that needs to be addressed by PlayStation support.
In conclusion, it's hard to predict what the future holds for the console market, but let's hope that companies will prioritize their loyal consumers and address these issues in a timely manner. We can only hope for the best.
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