August 12th 2024.
Should Sony consider skipping the PS6 and focus on other options? Recently, a reader suggested that the Switch 2 could become a port machine and recommended the indie game Aero GPX. If you want to join in on the discussion, you can email us at the provided email address. It's interesting to see how the PlayStation 5 is performing in the UK and worldwide, with the overall story being that it's doing well but not as well as its predecessor, the PlayStation 4. To us, regular folks, this may not sound like a bad thing, but for a corporation, it's all about growth and meeting targets to ensure executives receive their bonuses. This also highlights the fact that the console market, in general, is not growing.
As mentioned by GC, the usual response to slowing sales is to release a new console, which Microsoft is already planning to do with their next-gen Xbox. However, based on online chatter, it seems like there isn't much demand for the PlayStation 6 at the moment. What's even less desired is a PS5 Pro. Of course, no one is forcing anyone to buy it, but we'll all have to sit through the marketing for it. This means that Sony will try to convince us to spend £500 on a new console and then a few months later, try to convince us to do the same for the PlayStation 6. The PS4 Pro didn't really have a significant impact in terms of its features, but Sony needed it to compete with the Xbox One X. However, a PS5 Pro isn't necessary as they're already ahead of the game and there's no sign of anything similar from Microsoft. If a PlayStation 6 needs to come out in two years, then so be it. Let's just hope they don't release another one before that.
Moving on to a different topic, it's pretty much confirmed that GTA 6 will be released next autumn. This doesn't come as a surprise, given what we know and the fact that there hasn't been a second trailer yet. It's funny to think that we're currently in the calm before the storm, as next year is going to be filled with insane levels of hype for the game. By this time next year, fans will be drooling over it, and we can only imagine the number of leaks and crazy stories that will surface. But here's a question: how long will it take for the hype to die down? With no story DLC planned, the only thing keeping the game relevant will be GTA Online, which doesn't usually make headlines. The game will continue to sell, but when will it stop being the only thing people are talking about? I don't think it'll be until at least 2026.
On a lighter note, it's quite hilarious how badly the Borderlands movie is doing. It's already considered one of the biggest flops of all time! The main issue seems to be the poor casting choices. None of the actors seem to fit their roles, and they even managed to get Claptrap wrong. Why not use the original voiceover actor instead of just having Jack Black be himself? That being said, it's not entirely clear why it's failing so badly. The game is full of dumb jokes and obnoxious characters, and the film seems to follow the same formula. Perhaps most people don't actually enjoy the humor in the games, and they only tolerate it because it's a fun co-op game. Releasing the movie now, five years after the last sequel, may not have been the best idea. It'll be awkward to announce Borderlands 4 after all of this. Maybe they'll turn it into a serious drama instead?
Lastly, it's been brought to my attention that bigger isn't always better. I've also realized that Housemarque should be the one making the next Earth Defense Force. Without giving too much away, the final level in the recent EDF was a major disappointment. After spending countless missions building up my weapons and battling hordes of enemies in different sizes and formations, I was hoping for a challenging finale. Instead, I found myself shooting a massive phallus-shaped space dragon from a distance, which did very little damage. Some minor enemies showed up, followed by a lot of dialogue, and then I won. It was a letdown, and I was expecting to blow up a million bugs instead. Unfortunately, this isn't a new trend. I remember the final bosses in Mortal Kombat games, starting from the PlayStation 2 era, being large entities that required players to spam the same move over and over. The final level in any action game should test the player's skills, not be a disappointing experience like this.
In regards to Darkest Dungeon 2, the first one is one of my favorite games of this generation, and I've put in about 250 hours into it. So naturally, I was looking forward to the sequel. At first, I was confused and not a fan of the new mechanics, but your review is spot on. Once I got the hang of it, I found myself playing for hours on end and thoroughly enjoying it. To be honest, I would have been happy with the first game with a fresh coat of paint, but kudos to the developers for changing things up a bit.
Lastly, I agree with the letter on Friday about potential Switch 2 ports. It's not surprising that many third-party publishers will bring over their PlayStation 4 titles. With the Switch, we saw a similar trend with titles from the Xbox 360 era, such as Bioshock, Borderlands, Burnout Paradise, and Bayonetta, just to name a few. With the Switch 2, I'm confident that Japanese developers and publishers will flood the system in its early days. We can expect to see "Game of the Year" editions of Elden Ring, Persona 3 Reload, Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Rebirth, and more during the launch window. The interesting aspect of this is how difficult it will be to port these titles. One issue with the Switch is that despite its high console sales, if you look at the top-selling titles, most gamers only buy Nintendo titles and cheap indies like Stardew Valley or Hollow Knight. Only time will tell how successful these potential ports will be.
Is it time for Sony to start thinking about the next PlayStation? According to some readers, the Switch 2 should just become a port machine, with one reader even recommending the indie game Aero GPX. If you want to join in on the conversation, send an email to the address provided.
Recently, there's been a lot of talk about how the PlayStation 5 is performing in the UK and worldwide. It seems to be doing well, but not as well as its predecessor, the PlayStation 4. To the average person, this might not seem like a bad thing, but for a corporation, it's all about growth and meeting targets in order to secure bonuses for executives. This also highlights the fact that the console market as a whole is not experiencing significant growth.
As GC has pointed out, the usual response to slowing sales is to release a new console, which Microsoft is already doing with their next-gen Xbox. However, from what we can see in online discussions, there doesn't seem to be much interest in a PlayStation 6 at the moment.
But what's even more surprising is the lack of demand for a PS5 Pro. Sure, no one is forcing you to buy it, but we all have to endure the marketing for it. Sony is trying to convince us to shell out £500 for a new console, only to turn around a few months later and ask us to do the same for the PlayStation 6. The PS4 Pro was mostly unnecessary in terms of its capabilities, but Sony needed it to compete with the Xbox One X. However, they don't need a PS5 Pro now. They're well ahead of Microsoft and there's no sign of a competing console, no matter what silly name they might come up with. If a PS6 needs to be released in two years, then so be it. But let's not have another console before that.
Speaking of upcoming releases, it's pretty much confirmed that GTA 6 will be coming out next autumn. This makes sense given what we know so far and the lack of a second trailer. Everyone was expecting this, so there's no cause for concern there.
It's interesting to think that we're currently in the calm before the storm. Next year is going to be insane in terms of hype for GTA 6. By this time next year, fans will be eagerly anticipating the game, and who knows how many leaks and rumors will surface in the meantime.
But here's a question: how long will the hype last? We know there won't be any story DLC, so the only thing keeping the game relevant will be GTA Online, which doesn't usually make headlines. Of course, the game will continue to sell, but when will it stop being the talk of the town? My guess is not until at least 2026.
Moving on to a different topic, it's pretty comical how poorly the Borderlands movie is performing. It's already being called one of the biggest flops of all time! The main issue seems to be the casting choices. None of the actors seem to fit their roles, and even Claptrap is being portrayed incorrectly. Why not just use the original voice actor instead of having Jack Black be Jack Black?
However, I'm not entirely sure why the movie is doing so poorly. Borderlands is known for its cheesy jokes and obnoxious characters, which the movie seems to have in abundance. So it's not like the film is drastically different from the games.
But maybe the truth is that most people don't actually enjoy the humor in the games, and they just tolerate it because it's a fun co-op experience. It probably didn't help that the film was released five years after the last game, making it difficult to generate hype. And if they do announce Borderlands 4, it's going to be awkward after all of this. Maybe they should just make it a serious drama instead?
On a positive note, I've come to realize two things this weekend: bigger is not always better, and Housemarque should make the next Earth Defense Force game. Without giving too much away, the final level of the recent EDF was a disappointment. After spending countless missions building up my weapons and skills, I was expecting a real challenge in the finale. Instead, I ended up shooting a giant, phallic-shaped space dragon from a distance, with only a few minor enemies to deal with. Talk about anticlimactic! I was hoping for a massive swarm of bugs to take down, but that's not what I got.
Unfortunately, this is not a new trend. I remember the final bosses in the Mortal Kombat games from the PlayStation 2 era being large, unskilled entities that could be defeated by spamming the same move over and over. The final level of any action game should be a true test of the player's abilities, not a letdown like this.
Speaking of new games, I've been eagerly anticipating Darkest Dungeon 2, as the first game is one of my favorites of this generation. At first, I was a bit confused and overwhelmed by all the new mechanics in the sequel, particularly the stagecoach. But as your review mentioned, once you get the hang of things, it all starts to make sense. Now, I find myself playing for hours on end and thoroughly enjoying it. I would have been happy with just a remastered version of the first game, but I have to give credit to the developers for mixing things up and keeping it fresh.
Lastly, there's been some talk about potential ports for the next Nintendo Switch. While it's obvious that many third-party publishers will bring over their PlayStation 4 titles, it's not that interesting. When the Switch was first released, we saw a lot of equivalent titles from the Xbox 360 era being ported over, such as Bioshock, Borderlands, Burnout Paradise, and Bayonetta. With the next Switch, I have no doubt that Japanese developers and publishers will flood the system with their games. We can expect to see "Game of the Year" editions of popular titles like Elden Ring, Persona 3 Reload, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Rebirth in the launch window. In fact, I'd be more surprised if they didn't make an appearance.
The real question is, how difficult will it be to port these games to the Switch? One issue with the current system is that while it has sold well, the top-selling games are mostly first-party titles, with a few cheap indies sprinkled in. Will this trend continue with the next Switch, or will we see a change? Only time will tell.
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