September 16th 2024.
Is the PS5 Pro really as bad as everyone says? That seems to be the topic of conversation on the letters page this Monday. It's clear that there are some strong opinions out there, with some readers expressing their disappointment in indie publisher Annapurna Interactive and others singing the praises of Space Marine 2.
Personally, I hate to be the one to defend Sony in this situation. They really did bungle the reveal of the PS5 Pro and it's caused quite a stir. However, I can't help but feel that people are missing the point of this new console. It's not meant for everyone; there are two specific groups that will be interested in it. The first group is made up of people who always want the best graphics and hardware, no matter the cost. The second group consists of those who don't already have a PlayStation and are willing to pay a bit more for the upgraded version.
As GC has pointed out, these groups make up a small percentage of overall PlayStation owners. The PS4 Pro only accounted for about 15% of sales and it's likely that the PS5 Pro will have similar numbers. Personally, I'm planning to sell my Xbox Series X to get the PS5 Pro, not because I'm unhappy with Microsoft, but because I often switch consoles halfway through a generation to play their exclusive titles.
The price of the PS5 Pro is higher than I expected, but it's not enough to deter me from buying it. The real issue here is not the console itself, but the manufacturer. As the Reader's Feature highlighted over the weekend, Sony seems out of touch with their audience and their recent decisions have left many fans feeling disillusioned. It's clear that they are not putting in their full effort anymore. I'm not sure what can turn things around for them, but I will continue to buy their hardware as long as it remains the best way to play their games and those of other developers.
Moving on to a completely different topic, it seems that nobody really knows what's going on at Xbox. This isn't the first time we've heard about this and it makes me wonder if this is the same at other publishers as well. Nintendo is notoriously secretive, only revealing information at the last minute. Didn't Reggie once say that the Game Boy Micro came out of nowhere without any prior announcements? It wouldn't surprise me if they've done this on more than one occasion.
I highly doubt that anyone at Sony has a clue either. If the two new CEOs had a master plan, they would have shared it by now. It's more likely that they walked in on their first day and saw the infamous whiteboard with question marks and the word "profit" written on it. It's a shame that the chaos within these companies can sometimes overshadow the great work that game developers are doing.
On a different note, I remember when Flappy Bird became a huge phenomenon and it was the first time I felt like I didn't understand the gaming industry. It was a simple, mindless game with stolen graphics, yet it became so popular that the creator felt guilty and removed it from the market. And now, it's being brought back against his wishes and people are getting nostalgic about it. While I was surprised to learn that it's been over a decade since its release, I can't help but wish that people would get just as passionate about games that are actually good.
But let's not dwell on the negative. I was thrilled to read Adam West's positive gaming experience with Concord this weekend. While I do acknowledge all the problems and stupid decisions in the industry, it does seem like the Inbox is filled with repetitive complaints about Microsoft and Sony. It would be great to see a more balanced mix of opinions and discussions about actual gaming experiences and queries.
Lastly, I can't help but worry about the future of gaming with the release of the PS5 Pro. Will this set a new benchmark for console prices? I've read reports that Microsoft will no longer sell their consoles at a loss, since most buyers are already gamers and not new to the ecosystem. With the ability to play Xbox games on Samsung and Fire TVs without a console, will we see prices skyrocket to £800 or more in the future? As a parent, I can't justify spending that much on two consoles for myself and my son. If this does happen, it could lead to even more layoffs and a decline in console and game purchases. These are definitely worrying times for the gaming industry.
Is the PS5 Pro just being misunderstood? Recently, the Monday letters page featured a discussion about the trouble at indie publisher Annapurna Interactive, while another reader shared their admiration for Space Marine 2. If you want to join in on the conversation, you can email us your thoughts at [email address].
One topic that has been causing quite a stir is the mid-gen swap that Sony has introduced with the PS5 Pro. Although I hate to be the one to defend Sony, I do believe that people are missing the point of this new console. There are two types of people who will be interested in purchasing the PS5 Pro: those who always want the best graphics and hardware, and those who don't already have a PlayStation and are willing to pay a bit more for the upgraded version.
As GC has pointed out before, this is a relatively small group of people. Less than 15% of PlayStation 4 sales were for the PS4 Pro, and it's safe to assume that the PS5 Pro will have a similar or even smaller percentage. Personally, I will be selling my Xbox Series X to get the PS5 Pro, not because I'm unhappy with Microsoft, but because I often switch between consoles halfway through a generation in order to play exclusives.
The price of the PS5 Pro is a bit higher than I expected, but it's not enough to dissuade me from buying it. The real issue here is not the console itself, but rather the way it was unveiled by Sony. As the Reader's Feature pointed out over the weekend, Sony seems out of touch and perhaps even tired. It's as if they're not putting in the same effort they used to. I'm not sure what can turn things around for them, but I will continue to purchase their hardware as long as it remains the best option for playing their games and those of other developers.
Speaking of companies being out of touch, it seems like nobody at Xbox knows what's going on behind the scenes. I wonder if this is a common issue at other publishers as well? I can't imagine that Nintendo shares much information with their teams in Europe, and they probably keep a lot of secrets from their American counterparts as well. Didn't Reggie once say that the Game Boy Micro was a surprise release, with no prior announcement from Nintendo? I feel like they've done this more than once.
I also doubt that anyone at Sony knows what's going on either. If the new CEOs had a grand plan, they would have shared it by now. It's more likely that they walked into their new roles with a blank whiteboard and a goal to turn a profit. It's a bit concerning to think that developers are still able to create great games despite the chaos happening at the top.
For me, Flappy Bird was a turning point in my understanding of the gaming industry. It was the first mobile game that I saw become a huge phenomenon, yet it was a simple, mindless game with stolen graphics. The creator even felt guilty and had it taken down. Now, despite his wishes, it's being brought back and people are nostalgic for it. I wish more people would get passionate about games that are actually good. I don't mean to sound elitist, but is there anyone who would argue that Flappy Bird is a worthwhile game?
On a positive note, I was glad to read Adam West's experience with Concord this weekend. While I am aware of the issues and mistakes in the industry, it seems like the Inbox has been filled with repetitive negative emails about Microsoft and Sony for quite some time now. It would be refreshing to see more variety in the discussions, with a mix of complaints, Nintendo speculation, and actual gaming experiences and questions.
But let's not forget that some people did enjoy Concord. It may have been a niche game, but it still had its fans. My concern with the PS5 Pro is that it may set a new benchmark cost for consoles. I read a report that Microsoft is no longer selling their console at a loss, as it's not attracting new gamers to their ecosystem. With Samsung TV and Fire TV now allowing people to play Xbox games without a console, could we see the next generation of consoles priced at £800 or more? As a father, I could never justify spending that much money on two consoles for myself and my son. It could lead to even more job losses in the industry if sales and game purchases suffer.
Finally, I can't help but wonder if Sony's recent announcement of the PS5 Pro will influence Nintendo's plans. If they were considering revealing the Switch 2 this year, they may now be hesitant as they have been handed an open goal. They don't have to be a top player like Messi to score in this situation. In business, timing is everything, and Nintendo will have to weigh the potential loss of Switch sales during the holiday season against the opportunity presented by Sony's misstep. Personally, I think it's more likely than not that we will see a Switch 2 reveal next month.
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