July 24th 2024.
Will GTA 6 avoid any negative reactions from players? It seems that some are hoping for FromSoftware's next game to be set in present times. Speaking of hopes, one reader even suggests a PlayStation vs. Xbox fighting game. If you want to join in on the discussion, don't forget to email us your thoughts.
It's interesting to hear a former Rockstar developer talk about GTA 6 possibly not being too different from its predecessor, GTA 5. And let's be real, all of the games in the series have a similar vibe. But what caught my attention was the mention of potential disappointment. While there may be a backlash eventually, I believe that the stunning graphics alone will be enough to satisfy most players. We've seen debates about the importance of graphics in gaming, but let's not forget that the trailer for GTA 6 had everyone talking about its visuals. And for a game like GTA, which prides itself on realism and immersion, it's safe to assume that the graphics will be top-notch. So, in my opinion, there's no reason to be disappointed.
Moving on, I see that the Concord beta on Steam didn't do too well. This might be unfortunate for Sony, especially since Helldivers 2 was more popular on PC than on PlayStation. As someone who didn't find Helldivers 2 very interesting, I must say that it still stood out more than Concord. Concord feels like an alternate universe version of Overwatch, lacking any major differences. If I were Sony, I would take this as a lesson that while you don't have to be completely different from your competitors, you do need some unique element to stand out. And being original doesn't always mean having a completely new idea, sometimes it's just about presenting an existing one in a new light. In my opinion, Concord fails to meet even this simple requirement.
Count me in as someone who isn't great at fighting games but still admires them and the people who play them. I also appreciate the strong and interesting character designs, even in a game like Mortal Kombat. But there's something about a good crossover that makes it even more exciting. It's not the same as random cameos in a game like Fortnite, which leaves me cold. A proper crossover is when the game is built around the idea of bringing different elements together, rather than just adding a new skin every week. And speaking of crossovers, if Microsoft goes fully multi-platform, can we expect a PlayStation vs. Xbox fighting game in the future?
On a different note, Microsoft seems to be betting its future on streaming, but I can't help but think about the issue of internet speeds. Even in major cities, like where my sister lives in the UK, the broadband isn't that great. So what about those living in rural areas? I have a feeling that Microsoft is going to ignore this reality and release something too early, which will turn people off from the idea for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if I can say "I told you so" within the next year.
As someone who follows the sales on the Xbox Store every week, I've noticed that the sale prices of games can fluctuate. For example, I got Mortal Kombat XL for £10.50, but the last time I saw it on sale, it was £15. This has happened with several other games as well. It's frustrating when you wait for a game to go on sale, only to find out that it's now more expensive than before. It's a common assumption that each time a game is on sale, the price will either remain the same or get cheaper. But that's not always the case on the Xbox Store, and I wonder why that is.
On a side note, there's currently a huge summer sale on the Xbox Store with hundreds of games on offer. We've noticed that GC usually covers sales on the PlayStation Store as news, but not so much for the Xbox Store. Just a little observation.
Lastly, there's been a lot of talk about FromSoftware's next game being a sci-fi title, but why not something set in modern times? Of course, they can still incorporate supernatural elements, like they did with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which was supposed to be a ninja game. Personally, I would be more interested in seeing FromSoftware push the boundaries beyond their most modern game so far, Bloodborne. Maybe we'll see something like that in 2024. Who knows?
Will GTA 6 avoid a negative reaction from fans? That's what the Wednesday letters page is discussing, along with one reader's request for a PlayStation vs. Xbox fighting game from FromSoftware. If you want to join in on the discussion, you can email us at the given address.
It's been mentioned that GTA 6 might not be too different from its predecessor, GTA 5. This might be true, as all the games in the series have a similar feel. However, I find it hard to believe that anyone will be disappointed by it right away, despite what the ex-Rockstar developer said. Of course, there might be some backlash eventually, as there always is with any popular release. But I believe that the stunning graphics alone will be enough to satisfy most fans. We've seen debates about the importance of graphics in recent times, but let's be real, it's all anyone could talk about after the trailer dropped. With GTA 6, graphics are especially crucial since the series is all about realism and immersion. Even when the gameplay is lacking, the game still manages to be the closest thing to a simulation of a real-world city. So, in my opinion, GTA 6 will undoubtedly deliver on that front and won't disappoint.
Moving on to a different topic, I noticed that the beta for Concord didn't do well on Steam, which is a shame for Sony considering that Helldivers 2 was more popular on PC than PlayStation. Personally, I didn't find Helldivers 2 all that interesting, but I can say that it was more unique than Concord. The latter feels like an alternate universe version of Overwatch with not much else to offer. If I were Sony, I'd take this as a lesson that you don't have to be drastically different from your competitors to succeed, but you do need to have something that sets you apart. For most people, originality doesn't necessarily mean a completely new concept, but rather presenting an existing one in a fresh way. And in my opinion, Concord doesn't even meet that modest standard.
As someone who isn't skilled at fighting games and doesn't play them often, I still have a lot of appreciation for the genre and the people who excel at it. I also find the art and character designs to be impressive, even in a game like Mortal Kombat. However, there's something extra thrilling about a good crossover. It's not the same as seeing random cameos in a game like Fortnite, which doesn't excite me at all. I think the reason for this is that a crossover is usually planned and executed with care, rather than just being a quick addition to keep things fresh. Plus, with Microsoft expanding to other platforms, I can't help but wonder when we'll see a PlayStation vs. Xbox fighting game.
Let's talk about Microsoft's plan to focus on streaming for a moment. While it might sound great, I can't help but wonder about the practicality of it all. Many people's internet speeds simply aren't good enough to support streaming games. Even in major cities, like where my sister lives, the internet isn't top-notch. So, I can only imagine how it must be for those living in rural areas. And knowing Microsoft, they might just ignore the reality of the situation and push out a product that isn't fully ready, which could end up souring people's opinions on the idea for a long time. Don't be surprised if I say "I told you so" within the next year.
I often keep an eye on the sales happening on the Xbox Store, and I've noticed something interesting. The sale price of a game can fluctuate quite a bit. For example, I got Mortal Kombat XL for £10.50, but the last time I saw it on sale, it was around £15. I've noticed this happen with many other games as well. I've often waited for a game to go on sale again, only to find that the price has increased, so I would have been better off buying it during the first sale. It's reasonable to assume that a game's price will either stay the same or get lower with each sale, but that's not always the case on the Xbox Store. I wonder why that is.
One last thing, I've heard a lot of people suggesting that FromSoftware should make a sci-fi game for their next release. But what if they went in the opposite direction and set it in the modern-day instead? That doesn't mean they can't incorporate supernatural elements, as they did with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which was supposed to be a ninja game. Personally, I would be more interested in seeing FromSoftware push the clock forward beyond their most modern game so far, Bloodborne. Just a thought. As always, you can email us your comments at the given address. We'd love to hear from you.
PS: There's a massive summer sale happening on the Xbox Store, with hundreds of games on offer. I've noticed that GC usually covers PlayStation store sales as news, but not Xbox store sales. I wonder why that is?
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