January 31st 2025.
The current demand for products and services has reached a significant low, causing concern among various industries. In one of the recent letters to the editor, a reader suggests that the failure of BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard cannot be attributed to the game studio alone. Instead, they propose that Nintendo's forgotten Zelda clones should be rebooted to revive the franchise. This topic has sparked a lot of discussions and readers are invited to join in by sending an email to the designated address.
One of the major concerns in the gaming industry has been the declining sales of Xbox over the past few months. Despite Microsoft's efforts and the launch of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty game, the sales results have been disappointing. Many websites have also reported on this issue, but their takes on the matter have been confusing. How can a 2% increase during the holiday season, and with the biggest marketing campaign for Call of Duty, be considered a good outcome?
It is evident that the release of Black Ops 6 did not have a significant impact on the number of Game Pass subscriptions. However, what saddens many is the decline in console sales for the past two years. This is a concerning trend and it is difficult to find a single reason for it. But ultimately, it all boils down to one factor - the lack of quality games. Xbox has struggled to provide a diverse range of games compared to its competitor, PlayStation. It is a shame that Xbox is now picking up its pace just when the situation seems irreversible. Many believe that initiatives like last week's Developer Direct should have happened a decade ago, which could have helped them secure more exclusives.
Unfortunately, it is too late now and it is clear that Microsoft knows that the Xbox Series X/S is not performing well in the market. Switching gears, a reader shares their thoughts on Resident Evil Zero, stating that while it may not be a great game, they would still welcome a remake. They believe that this would be a great opportunity to improve upon the existing game rather than just relying on better graphics. Unlike Resident Evil 2 and 4, which were already great, Zero has room for improvement. The reader suggests that the developers could make significant changes to the game, such as setting it on a train or making it more open-world, without facing much backlash from fans.
Moving on to another topic, a reader expresses their interest in a sequel to Wave Race 64 as a goodbye game for the Nintendo Switch. While they are not convinced that this will happen, they suggest bringing back one of Nintendo's forgotten franchises, such as StarTropics or The Mysterious Murasame Castle. These games are often overlooked, but upon watching gameplay videos on YouTube, it is evident that they were inspired by the early Zelda games. The reader believes it would be fun to see a smaller version of Breath of the Wild using the same technology and gameplay mechanics.
In other news, there have been rumors that GTA 6 will cost $100/£100 upon its release. However, a reader speculates that this could be due to a double pack with GTA Online 2. While they are not a fan of the online aspect, they are willing to pay for the single-player game, and if necessary, the online mode separately. They believe that the cost of making games has increased significantly, and it is understandable to charge more to make a decent profit. And finally, a reader shares a photo of a shop they came across while in Aiya Napa in 2024, which used Mario's image and had brickwork inspired by the first Super Mario Bros game. They also add a humorous anecdote about ice cream vans playing with fire by using video game characters on their vehicles.
There's been a noticeable decrease in demand lately, as noted by the recent sales figures for Xbox. It's a concerning trend, and one that has the gaming community buzzing with discussions and theories. The Friday letters page, for example, had an interesting suggestion from one reader about rebooting some of Nintendo's forgotten Zelda clones. It's a thought-provoking idea that has sparked a lot of conversation.
Speaking of Xbox sales, it's hard to find any silver linings in the recent numbers. It's clear that Microsoft put a lot of effort into their marketing and promotions, yet the results still fell short. Other websites have echoed this sentiment, but I struggle to understand how a mere 2% increase during the busiest time of the year and the biggest Call of Duty release could be considered a success. It seems that even the highly anticipated Black Ops 6 had little impact on Game Pass subscriptions, and the decline in console sales is disheartening.
It's difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for this decline, but it all boils down to one thing: games. Xbox has been lacking in compelling titles for the past two generations, while PlayStation has consistently delivered a strong lineup. It's a shame that Xbox is finally picking up steam just as it may be too late to turn things around. The recent Developer Direct was a step in the right direction, but it should have happened much sooner. Maybe then they could have kept some of these games as exclusives.
At this point, it's clear that Microsoft is aware of the uphill battle they face with the Xbox Series X/S. It's a tough reality to face, but it's important to acknowledge and address the issue in order to move forward.
Moving on to a different topic, I wanted to share my thoughts on the possibility of a Resident Evil Zero remake. While I agree that the original game wasn't the best, I still think a remake could be a great opportunity to improve upon it. Unlike the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 4, which were already fantastic, Zero has more room for improvement. It could be a chance to shake things up and try new things without worrying about upsetting fans. Personally, I would love to see it set on a train or in a more open-world environment. The possibilities are endless!
Speaking of reviving old franchises, I recently came across some rumors about a potential sequel to Wave Race 64 on the Nintendo Switch. While I'm not sure if these rumors are true, I would be thrilled to see this franchise make a comeback. However, if I had the power to bring back any obscure Nintendo franchise, I would choose either StarTropics or The Mysterious Murasame Castle. These games may not be well-known, but they are clear clones of the early Zelda games and have a lot of potential. I can only imagine how amazing a small-scale version of Breath of the Wild could be for these franchises.
As always, we welcome your thoughts and opinions on these topics. Please feel free to email us your comments at the provided email address.
Switching gears, I want to address the recent rumors about the cost of GTA 6. Many are speculating that the game could cost $100/£100 due to a potential double pack with GTA Online 2. While some may be hesitant to pay more for a game, I can understand the reasoning behind it. Games are becoming more expensive to make, and it's important for developers to make a decent profit. If the game is split into a single-player and online component, I would be willing to pay the suggested prices for each. Of course, others may have different preferences and that's understandable. At the end of the day, it's up to each individual to decide what they are willing to pay for the experience they want.
On a lighter note, have you seen that shop in Aiya Napa that uses Mario's image? It's pretty amusing considering Nintendo's recent lawsuit against a restaurant using the name "Super Mario." And let's not forget about all the ice cream trucks playing with fire by using Nintendo characters on their vehicles. It's a funny situation, especially when you consider that I was wearing a shirt with Nathan Drake on it at the time. Oh, the irony!
Thanks for reading and as always, we look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions. Don't forget to email us at the provided address.
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