Honestly, I was a little let down by it. I admire Barlog and co's idea to not stretch it out into a trilogy, but the end result was a game that was unevenly paced and narratively suffered for it. Plot threads involving mcguffins and character relationships were drawn out for a long time and then quickly abandoned or resolved offscreen.
(MILD SPOILERS AHEAD):
Ragnarok, the big battle the whole game is about, had zero preparation phase at all and was anticlimatic.
That mask took forever to assemble and then it was just...meaningless. The rifts weren't really explained and Odin's motivations were And other Qs weren't resolved: Who was behind Faye's fate? What's going on with the giant orbs? Who blew the horn in 2018 GoW and why did the big sequel twist/conflict teased in that never materialize? If Odin can just teleport anywhere at anytime, why didn't he and the crew just appear before Kratos immediately after Baulder returned to report what happened in 2018?
Ragnarok was beautifully acted, some of the sets were awe-inspiring (some less so), and mechanically its sound. But I remember 2018 so much more for its incredible gameplay events, the intrigue, and the emotionally charged story beats that left me wanting more.
I can hardly remember Ragnarok, outside of a few key moments — and even those are murky at best.
GTAV had incredibly long legs, spanning 10 years and 3 console generations. No doubt Rockstar anticipates the same sales tail for GTA 6. They’ll probably prefer not being technologically stifled and releasing on a smaller install base (PS5), knowing that the game will be a incredible profit churner quarter after quarter as more players buy PS5s.
@UltimateOtaku91 Yea I know, I’m not talking about that, I’m saying it’s weird to list a standalone game as DLC (which is both odd for cataloguing and can impact a base game’s trophy completion rate).
@GymratAmarillo I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, but it’s a walled garden platform. Sony already makes universal rules across the board on trophies, how they’re implemented, and how games are listed (this is why you don’t see a game offering 30 platinums for pressing start and DLC fitting under the base game/contributing to overall trophy completion rates). They created the reward system that all games are required to use.
It seems oddly against their own strict policies to let standalone, $70 AAA games get listed as DLC when they’re not. Why wouldn’t they have an issue with something dismantling the rules they implement for everyone else?
Not to take away the heat from Activision for this decision, but how did Sony allow it either? Shouldn’t there be a uniform trophy policy — and even if there isn’t a platinum, shouldn’t a standalone game be listed on its own and not as DLC?
With the rumors that Sony is now backing off the live service/GaaS plans, the expensive Bungie purchase looks even a worse deal.
One criticism that gets lobbed at PlayStation a lot is that all the first- party titles are third-person adventure games. Bungie and their FPS background could fix this.
I mean, is this even a shocking statement? Of course PSVR2 was never going to be their core product. Not only because it’s an add-on, but because it’s more niche and has a much, much smaller audience.
Honestly I don’t think the prognosis for PSVR2 is looking too hot, though I’d love to be wrong. But I don’t think this statement alone really projects that it’s doomed or that it’s their most popular product. It seems like another non-answer from the same guy who said PS+ price increases are because Sony wants to make it better.
The article is a fascinating read, but it's pretty apparent from its context that an EA acquisition isn't very serious and was just suggested as a possibility from another exec. This also comes on the heels of months and months of rumors that Disney will sell to Apple, so it's more about Disney's uncertain future than anything else.
Still, it wouldn't shock me if they try and get more into gaming in some capacity.
Really dug this article. It’s also fun to get to know the person/see the face behind the author (I always assumed you weren’t a murderous Martian, but I didn’t know for sure…)
@ArmoredMore No doubt — I actually work in streaming TV. So I agree — it’s about building a user base early on and then recouping costs down the line. Typically there’s a user threshold they have to clear first though. So for instance, Disney took a loss for a while on D+ until they hit a certain market penetration rate and steadied their platform with exclusive content before doing multiple price hikes a year.
The difference here is that the revamped service is still in its infancy — and hasn’t met on all of its initial promises. In many ways it feels like a WiP still. We know the hyper growth stage is over since the user base has plateaued, but I question what the market penetration rate is for premium. And then audiences are always more like to accept multiple, smaller increases over time over giant lump-sum ones.
The new PS+ tiers still don't feel fully realized (not that many classics, no PS5 streaming, not many day-and-date deals). Now they're raising prices by a significant margin.
This kind of feels like it might kill off the service. Or bring everything crashing back down to Essentials.
I already found less and less value in Gamepass and plan to drop it when my sub is up. My PS+ Premium got a little more play, though not tons either — and this seals it. I'm either dropping down to Extra or Essentials, but probably just going back to Essentials. I'll miss the classics and cloud streaming, but not enough for $40 more a year.
This seems like it's just going to cause everyone to downgrade and Sony will lose even more money.
@Darude84 It's wild. The Quake 2 review was nonstop praise, but ended up with just a "Good" 7. This RDR review is significantly more critical, but gives it a "Not bad" 6.
There seems to be a big disconnect between the review body and the pros/cons and score.
I understand everyone has differing opinions, but the final score doesn’t seem to match the effusive praise of the review text. I can’t quite understand the disconnect.
That said I think this was a must-buy upgrade for one of the most iconic FPS games in history. I got it on PS5 and Switch — and then learned my Steam automatically upgradeded it for free too. I now have it in on three platforms and I’m not upset. Can’t get enough.
They're the world's most fearsome corporate team (Greedy Mutant Gaming Executives) They charge $15 for costumes and they see green (Greedy Mutant Gaming Executives) Waiting for the right time to attack These greedy execs won't cut you no slack!
@Cashews Wow, I stand corrected. That's wild; the industry has gotten to microtransaction-crazy that $2.99 for a cosmetic doesn't sound absurd at all anymore.
@Shepherd_Tallon I’m a mild fan of the franchise but only played Black. I had the same reaction — wasn’t sure what to expect, ended up just loving the show. Finished it the other night and almost tempted to go back and rewatch again soon, which I never do with TV shows.
It was more fun (and more full of heart) than I expected.
I guess if you’re just Extra then it’s not a great month, but Twisted Metal 1 and 2?!? Hot damn. That makes it one of the more exciting Premium months for me (and I’ve been pretty happy with Premium already).
I got in - so excited as an obsessive MK fan for years. I honestly didn’t think I would. Even better, I have a newborn right now so there are plenty of long nights ahead this weekend comforting him and playing MK1.
@kyleforrester87 It’s 100% happened to me with games and movies (I had a huge TLoU2 death spoiled this way before it even came out). It’s happened to a few friends, too. And so many of these videos put a spoilery image or text front and center for attention.
Weird hack but if there’s something I’m interested in coming soon, I stop watching any and all YT videos on the topic like two months in advance. That seems to help.
@MFTWrecks MKX and MK11 had around 4-6 intro dialogue variations that were all character-specific, and they kept adding more over time with DLC characters.
I’d bet my bottom dollar MK1 will do the same (if not more).
@NinjaNicky Agreed. This feels like one of those quota fillers for the site. The PSVR2 and Apple Vision Pro are apples and oranges; the article even essentially says as much. This feels like a weird and very defensive stretch to defend the PSVR2 price.
@Tharsman the modern control option (think Smash Bros) in SF6 are a dream for newcomers or people who claim to be terrible at them. Capcom did an incredible job balancing a game for hardcore fans while making the most accessible fighter yet. Might be worth a look!
The hit detection issues are downright shocking — and very disappointing. Beat Saber was one of the top 3 VR experiences I've ever had, and when you hit that zen-like state where you're slicing boxes in the right order without even thinking you need that tactile feedback to let you know. Taking your eyes off the path for even a split second to see if you missed a note can derail EVERYTHING.
@RobN Yea, this jumped out to me too. As you said, the data can go either way but these trend lines are potentially not promising. It’s all in how you slice up the data.
I mean, what else is he going to say? The thing just launched; they're not going to pull the plug this fast.
In some ways it's an optimistic answer; in others, it's a defensive one. But corporate speak is cheap. If Sony really sees a big future for this, they need to launch a killer app and have to step up advertising. Right now their promotion of it feels like Microsoft with the Xbox: nearly non-existent.
The Playstation 3 was such a classy, refined startup. It was fitting for a high-end, luxury device — and made gaming feel less like a child's toy and more of a respectable entertainment medium. The PS5's startup feels like a more subdued take on the PS3's aesthetic, shortened significantly to reinforce the value of the SSD's speed.
It’s also worth noting that this $3B payout happens if the deal doesn’t close by July 18 — a little over two months away. That’s a tight ticking clock for both parties. I believe Activision can choose to punt on the deadline if they want, but their board may also elect to take the money and run if they think this this deal is doomed — despite what Bobby Kotick may want. The shareholders might start pressuring for this, and I have to imagine some are starting to discuss the possibility.
Similarly, Spencer and the Xbox division may be ready for the long haul but their board may choose to cut their losses before wasting more time and money. Basically with these giant companies there are more players involved than just one or two people, and keeping so many page could be difficult — especially if they’re feeling the crunch from shareholders. I have no doubt Bobby Kotick wants that golden parachute and Phil Spencer wants Activision-Blizzard though.
Not my most exciting month but it’s hard to complain when the last several have been so good; I’m still making my way through many of them, so a so-so month kind of comes as a relief. That said, I know I don’t have nearly as much time to play as I used to/as others might.
@Sakai I’ve heard commentators weigh in and give differing opinions as well, though it sounds like even by most generous predictions it’ll be one uphill battle for MS (which also begs the question whether they’ll continue to sandbag themselves for another year to get this done; and if so, will this really be worth the price they’re paying?).
That Michael Pachter quote makes me wince though. I don’t know how anyone can say an appeal will happen with 100% certainty any more than someone say this will happen with 0% certainty. It just undermines credibility. Only a Sith deals in absolutes and all that.
@GRQuake084 Agreed. “It’ll be the next Minions” is a cliched elevator pitch, but I can see it hitting those same notes. The characters are cute and there’s a lot they can do — besides video game references the new format means they could even mimic Sony movie and tv shows (Ghostbusters, Men in Black, the Karate Kid, etc.).
As others have noted, the PS4 Pro was built to solve for a specific need — the rise of consumer-grade 4K TVs that released after the base model.
A PS5 Pro doesn't just have a "need" to solve. Prettier graphics? Alright, but many people are just NOW getting their hands on a console, and those of us that have been around since launch day haven't had enough "next-gen" experiences to notice the need for an upgrade. Right now everything still looks great because we haven't been flooded with games yet, and many people aren't seeing the need for a performance boost.
I understand giving options to your product line, but it's mildly annoying that this is what Sony is going to invest resources and time in over other, more mass-appeal endeavors.
If this was a controller that somehow had a screen inside it (so it doubled as a Dualsense and a portable device) I'd be more interested. In fact that's what I was always hoping the PS5 controller would be — something you could take with you to cloud stream.
As it is, I don't see why I'd take this over the little attachment that lets me clip my phone to my controller and play on the go...for like $15.
Comments 109
Re: PS5's Twitter Integration Now Offline
B-b-but Lord Elon promised he was looking into it!
Re: Poll: Is God of War Ragnarok Still One of Sony's Best Games, One Year Later?
Honestly, I was a little let down by it. I admire Barlog and co's idea to not stretch it out into a trilogy, but the end result was a game that was unevenly paced and narratively suffered for it. Plot threads involving mcguffins and character relationships were drawn out for a long time and then quickly abandoned or resolved offscreen.
(MILD SPOILERS AHEAD):
Ragnarok, the big battle the whole game is about, had zero preparation phase at all and was anticlimatic.
That mask took forever to assemble and then it was just...meaningless. The rifts weren't really explained and Odin's motivations were And other Qs weren't resolved: Who was behind Faye's fate? What's going on with the giant orbs? Who blew the horn in 2018 GoW and why did the big sequel twist/conflict teased in that never materialize? If Odin can just teleport anywhere at anytime, why didn't he and the crew just appear before Kratos immediately after Baulder returned to report what happened in 2018?
Ragnarok was beautifully acted, some of the sets were awe-inspiring (some less so), and mechanically its sound. But I remember 2018 so much more for its incredible gameplay events, the intrigue, and the emotionally charged story beats that left me wanting more.
I can hardly remember Ragnarok, outside of a few key moments — and even those are murky at best.
Re: Poll: Do You Think GTA 6 Will Release on PS4?
GTAV had incredibly long legs, spanning 10 years and 3 console generations. No doubt Rockstar anticipates the same sales tail for GTA 6. They’ll probably prefer not being technologically stifled and releasing on a smaller install base (PS5), knowing that the game will be a incredible profit churner quarter after quarter as more players buy PS5s.
Re: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Really Is Just DLC, Says Its Trophy List
@UltimateOtaku91 Yea I know, I’m not talking about that, I’m saying it’s weird to list a standalone game as DLC (which is both odd for cataloguing and can impact a base game’s trophy completion rate).
Re: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Really Is Just DLC, Says Its Trophy List
@GymratAmarillo I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, but it’s a walled garden platform. Sony already makes universal rules across the board on trophies, how they’re implemented, and how games are listed (this is why you don’t see a game offering 30 platinums for pressing start and DLC fitting under the base game/contributing to overall trophy completion rates). They created the reward system that all games are required to use.
It seems oddly against their own strict policies to let standalone, $70 AAA games get listed as DLC when they’re not. Why wouldn’t they have an issue with something dismantling the rules they implement for everyone else?
Re: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Really Is Just DLC, Says Its Trophy List
Not to take away the heat from Activision for this decision, but how did Sony allow it either? Shouldn’t there be a uniform trophy policy — and even if there isn’t a platinum, shouldn’t a standalone game be listed on its own and not as DLC?
Re: Interest in Destiny 2 Reportedly at an All-Time Low
With the rumors that Sony is now backing off the live service/GaaS plans, the expensive Bungie purchase looks even a worse deal.
One criticism that gets lobbed at PlayStation a lot is that all the first- party titles are third-person adventure games. Bungie and their FPS background could fix this.
Like, say, a Bungie-developed Killzone?
Re: PSVR2 Is 'Important' to Sony, But 'PS5 Is the Core'
I mean, is this even a shocking statement? Of course PSVR2 was never going to be their core product. Not only because it’s an add-on, but because it’s more niche and has a much, much smaller audience.
Honestly I don’t think the prognosis for PSVR2 is looking too hot, though I’d love to be wrong. But I don’t think this statement alone really projects that it’s doomed or that it’s their most popular product. It seems like another non-answer from the same guy who said PS+ price increases are because Sony wants to make it better.
Re: US Retail Giant Best Buy Allegedly Binning Physical Media
It’s a shame, as physical movies blow digital/streaming out of the water in both looks and sound.
Re: Disney CEO Reportedly Being Pressured to Double Down on Gaming
The article is a fascinating read, but it's pretty apparent from its context that an EA acquisition isn't very serious and was just suggested as a possibility from another exec. This also comes on the heels of months and months of rumors that Disney will sell to Apple, so it's more about Disney's uncertain future than anything else.
Still, it wouldn't shock me if they try and get more into gaming in some capacity.
Re: Prescient RPG Long Gone Days Tackles the Horrors of Modern War on PS5, PS4
Uncomfortable and coincidental timing for launch.
Re: PS Plus Essential Games for October 2023 Announced
"Now that's more like it, Mr. Wayne."
I probably won't have time for these at the moment, but it's great to see PS+ essentials back in form after last month.
Re: Feature: I Visited Yakuza's Real-Life Kamurocho, And Somehow Avoided an Ass Stomping
Really dug this article. It’s also fun to get to know the person/see the face behind the author (I always assumed you weren’t a murderous Martian, but I didn’t know for sure…)
Re: Latest PS5 Firmware Update Out Now, Adds Support for Dolby Atmos, Larger SSDs
Very excited to give my powerful in-ceiling speakers a workout with Atmos. It’s going to be make PS5 game audio even more immersive.
Re: Reaction: Has Sony Put Together the Worst PS Plus Month Ever?
I could see why essential and even extra tier members might stay put.
A more interesting poll would be how many of us premium subscribers plan to stay at this tier. I know I won’t.
Re: PS Plus Essential Games for September 2023 Announced
@ArmoredMore No doubt — I actually work in streaming TV. So I agree — it’s about building a user base early on and then recouping costs down the line. Typically there’s a user threshold they have to clear first though. So for instance, Disney took a loss for a while on D+ until they hit a certain market penetration rate and steadied their platform with exclusive content before doing multiple price hikes a year.
The difference here is that the revamped service is still in its infancy — and hasn’t met on all of its initial promises. In many ways it feels like a WiP still. We know the hyper growth stage is over since the user base has plateaued, but I question what the market penetration rate is for premium. And then audiences are always more like to accept multiple, smaller increases over time over giant lump-sum ones.
Re: PS Plus Essential Games for September 2023 Announced
I wanted to play SR, so I'm interested --- but no doubt about it, this has to be the worst month. At least the worth month in recent memory.
This and the price hike — what are you thinking, Sony?
Re: PS Plus Essential, Extra, Premium Price Increases Announced by Sony
The new PS+ tiers still don't feel fully realized (not that many classics, no PS5 streaming, not many day-and-date deals). Now they're raising prices by a significant margin.
This kind of feels like it might kill off the service. Or bring everything crashing back down to Essentials.
Re: PS Plus Essential, Extra, Premium Price Increases Announced by Sony
I can't express how disappointed I am.
I already found less and less value in Gamepass and plan to drop it when my sub is up. My PS+ Premium got a little more play, though not tons either — and this seals it. I'm either dropping down to Extra or Essentials, but probably just going back to Essentials. I'll miss the classics and cloud streaming, but not enough for $40 more a year.
This seems like it's just going to cause everyone to downgrade and Sony will lose even more money.
Re: Mini Review: Red Dead Redemption (PS4) - Classic Open World Western Deserves Better
@Darude84 It's wild. The Quake 2 review was nonstop praise, but ended up with just a "Good" 7. This RDR review is significantly more critical, but gives it a "Not bad" 6.
There seems to be a big disconnect between the review body and the pros/cons and score.
Re: Mini Review: Quake II (PS5) - A Remastered Classic with Real Bang for Your Buck
I understand everyone has differing opinions, but the final score doesn’t seem to match the effusive praise of the review text. I can’t quite understand the disconnect.
That said I think this was a must-buy upgrade for one of the most iconic FPS games in history. I got it on PS5 and Switch — and then learned my Steam automatically upgradeded it for free too. I now have it in on three platforms and I’m not upset. Can’t get enough.
Re: Twisted Metal Already Peacock's 'Most Binged' Original Comedy Series
Great news; I loved the show and am hoping this will help green light a season 2.
ESPECIALLY with what season 1’s finale sets up for the next season.
Re: Street Fighter 6 Under Fire for Ridiculous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DLC Pricing
They're the world's most fearsome corporate team
(Greedy Mutant Gaming Executives)
They charge $15 for costumes and they see green
(Greedy Mutant Gaming Executives)
Waiting for the right time to attack
These greedy execs won't cut you no slack!
Re: Street Fighter 6 Under Fire for Ridiculous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DLC Pricing
@Cashews Wow, I stand corrected. That's wild; the industry has gotten to microtransaction-crazy that $2.99 for a cosmetic doesn't sound absurd at all anymore.
Re: 17 New PS Plus Extra, Premium Games Revealed for Huge Update Next Week
Premium seems to be on a roll for the last few months. Really enjoying the classics that I've seen added recently.
Re: Street Fighter 6 Under Fire for Ridiculous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DLC Pricing
@Kanji-Tatsumi we’ve come a long way from the $4.99 “horse armor” controversy.
Re: Twisted Metal's TV Show Has Way More Easter Eggs Than You Think
@Shepherd_Tallon I’m a mild fan of the franchise but only played Black. I had the same reaction — wasn’t sure what to expect, ended up just loving the show. Finished it the other night and almost tempted to go back and rewatch again soon, which I never do with TV shows.
It was more fun (and more full of heart) than I expected.
Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for July 2023?
Super, super excited for Twisted Metal 1 and 2. Between these and the show, this is unexpectedly turning into the summer of TM.
Re: 18 More Games Join PS Plus Extra, Premium Next Week
TWISTED METAL!
I guess if you’re just Extra then it’s not a great month, but Twisted Metal 1 and 2?!? Hot damn. That makes it one of the more exciting Premium months for me (and I’ve been pretty happy with Premium already).
Re: PSVR2's Fantavision 202X Gets a $30 Physical Version This Year
Fitting day (in the States at least) for this announcement.
Re: MultiVersus Now Totally Offline, Full Game Will Return in 2024
I’m honestly not sure if it will come back.
Re: Mortal Kombat 1's Online Stress Test PS5 File Size Konfirmed
I got in - so excited as an obsessive MK fan for years. I honestly didn’t think I would. Even better, I have a newborn right now so there are plenty of long nights ahead this weekend comforting him and playing MK1.
Re: Final Fantasy 16 Dev Pleads for Cooperation As PS5 Game Leaks
@kyleforrester87 It’s 100% happened to me with games and movies (I had a huge TLoU2 death spoiled this way before it even came out). It’s happened to a few friends, too. And so many of these videos put a spoilery image or text front and center for attention.
Weird hack but if there’s something I’m interested in coming soon, I stop watching any and all YT videos on the topic like two months in advance. That seems to help.
Re: Mortal Kombat 1's PS5 Character Intros Are Unbelievably Awesome
@MFTWrecks MKX and MK11 had around 4-6 intro dialogue variations that were all character-specific, and they kept adding more over time with DLC characters.
I’d bet my bottom dollar MK1 will do the same (if not more).
Re: In a Shock Twist, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Will Have Music on PS5
Snark is a poor man’s wit.
Re: Random: Thought PSVR2 Was Expensive? Apple's Vision Pro Is Here to Hold Your Beer
@NinjaNicky Agreed. This feels like one of those quota fillers for the site. The PSVR2 and Apple Vision Pro are apples and oranges; the article even essentially says as much. This feels like a weird and very defensive stretch to defend the PSVR2 price.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Street Fighter 6?
@Tharsman the modern control option (think Smash Bros) in SF6 are a dream for newcomers or people who claim to be terrible at them. Capcom did an incredible job balancing a game for hardcore fans while making the most accessible fighter yet. Might be worth a look!
Re: Fast-Paced FPS Bulletstorm VR Kick Stomps PSVR2
@Trousersnake They were clearly being sarcastic.
Re: Mini Review: Beat Saber (PSVR2) - A Serviceable Port of One of VR's Best Games
The hit detection issues are downright shocking — and very disappointing. Beat Saber was one of the top 3 VR experiences I've ever had, and when you hit that zen-like state where you're slicing boxes in the right order without even thinking you need that tactile feedback to let you know. Taking your eyes off the path for even a split second to see if you missed a note can derail EVERYTHING.
Re: PSVR2 Sales at 600,000 Six Weeks After Launch, Sony Confirms
@RobN Yea, this jumped out to me too. As you said, the data can go either way but these trend lines are potentially not promising. It’s all in how you slice up the data.
Re: Sony Says It's Too Early to Judge PSVR2's Popularity
I mean, what else is he going to say? The thing just launched; they're not going to pull the plug this fast.
In some ways it's an optimistic answer; in others, it's a defensive one. But corporate speak is cheap. If Sony really sees a big future for this, they need to launch a killer app and have to step up advertising. Right now their promotion of it feels like Microsoft with the Xbox: nearly non-existent.
Re: Poll: What's the Best PlayStation Startup Sequence?
The Playstation 3 was such a classy, refined startup. It was fitting for a high-end, luxury device — and made gaming feel less like a child's toy and more of a respectable entertainment medium. The PS5's startup feels like a more subdued take on the PS3's aesthetic, shortened significantly to reinforce the value of the SSD's speed.
Re: Activision Poised to Pocket a Cool $3 Billion if Xbox Buyout Breaks Down
It’s also worth noting that this $3B payout happens if the deal doesn’t close by July 18 — a little over two months away. That’s a tight ticking clock for both parties. I believe Activision can choose to punt on the deadline if they want, but their board may also elect to take the money and run if they think this this deal is doomed — despite what Bobby Kotick may want. The shareholders might start pressuring for this, and I have to imagine some are starting to discuss the possibility.
Similarly, Spencer and the Xbox division may be ready for the long haul but their board may choose to cut their losses before wasting more time and money. Basically with these giant companies there are more players involved than just one or two people, and keeping so many page could be difficult — especially if they’re feeling the crunch from shareholders. I have no doubt Bobby Kotick wants that golden parachute and Phil Spencer wants Activision-Blizzard though.
Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for May 2023?
Not my most exciting month but it’s hard to complain when the last several have been so good; I’m still making my way through many of them, so a so-so month kind of comes as a relief. That said, I know I don’t have nearly as much time to play as I used to/as others might.
Re: Activision Poised to Pocket a Cool $3 Billion if Xbox Buyout Breaks Down
@Sakai I’ve heard commentators weigh in and give differing opinions as well, though it sounds like even by most generous predictions it’ll be one uphill battle for MS (which also begs the question whether they’ll continue to sandbag themselves for another year to get this done; and if so, will this really be worth the price they’re paying?).
That Michael Pachter quote makes me wince though. I don’t know how anyone can say an appeal will happen with 100% certainty any more than someone say this will happen with 0% certainty. It just undermines credibility. Only a Sith deals in absolutes and all that.
Re: Expect Some Animated Adaptations of PS5, PS4's Biggest Franchises
@GRQuake084 Agreed. “It’ll be the next Minions” is a cliched elevator pitch, but I can see it hitting those same notes. The characters are cute and there’s a lot they can do — besides video game references the new format means they could even mimic Sony movie and tv shows (Ghostbusters, Men in Black, the Karate Kid, etc.).
Re: Konami Employee Charged with Attempted Murder After Attacking Boss with Fire Extinguisher
“Snake, try to remember the basics of CQC.”
Re: Rumour: PS5 Pro Really Is Targeting 2024 Release Date
As others have noted, the PS4 Pro was built to solve for a specific need — the rise of consumer-grade 4K TVs that released after the base model.
A PS5 Pro doesn't just have a "need" to solve. Prettier graphics? Alright, but many people are just NOW getting their hands on a console, and those of us that have been around since launch day haven't had enough "next-gen" experiences to notice the need for an upgrade. Right now everything still looks great because we haven't been flooded with games yet, and many people aren't seeing the need for a performance boost.
I understand giving options to your product line, but it's mildly annoying that this is what Sony is going to invest resources and time in over other, more mass-appeal endeavors.
Re: Rumour: PS Vita 2 Dreams Killed But Sony Might Have a Handheld for PS5 Remote Play in the Works
If this was a controller that somehow had a screen inside it (so it doubled as a Dualsense and a portable device) I'd be more interested. In fact that's what I was always hoping the PS5 controller would be — something you could take with you to cloud stream.
As it is, I don't see why I'd take this over the little attachment that lets me clip my phone to my controller and play on the go...for like $15.
Re: PS Plus Essential PS5, PS4 Games for April 2023 Announced
Meet Your Maker gives me major Tecmo's Deception vibes from the PS1 days. In a good way.