I think this is sad but unsurprising. It will always be easiest for Sharma to axe people from a studio that has just finished making a game than it will to axe people from a studio mid making a game. She has to cut these people from somewhere (as directed from above her), and these are the low hanging fruit.
The next studio in the firing line will be inXile who will go once they have released Clockwork Revolution. I think Microsoft will spin off the entire studio there.
I think The Coalition are probably safe due to needing people to keep making content for the game due to it being a Live Service game. I think Halo Studios will mostly stay together because I believe they have other games in development. As for the team making Fable, they could well be closed as they are separate from the team that makes Forza Horizon.
It's truly sad to see these people go, and I honestly think that Xbox is making a mistake in letting so many people go because if they keep cutting staff who is left to make the games? All that will happen is that they will have made insufficient revenue this time next year, and the whole round of redundancies will start again...
I'll preface this by saying I have no common sense whatsoever, and neither do I have any self control!
Now, with that out of the way, the second thing I should say is that I buy my games by way of pre-order probably 90% of the time.
With that said, these are the games that I shall be buying by way of pre-order over the next 3 months:
Mortal Shell 2
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Star Wars Zero Company
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Marvel's Wolverine
Control Resonant
Crimson Moon
Dune: Awakening
Silent Hill: Townfall
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Valor Mortis
Phantom Blade Zero
No Rest for the Wicked
That lot should keep me busy whilst everyone else is playing GTA 6...
From what I can gather, no, @Ryu_Niiyama. I looked her up and that was the answer that came back, which means the developers certainly know how to create a beautiful young lady. I'm sure there is some source 'material' somewhere, but I was surprised that she is not based on a real person (if you believe the internet, that is)...
Give it 20 or 30 years and most games will be made by AI. Fully made from start to finish, and that includes big complicated games.
There was a time that people protested against the introduction of electricity, which is mad to think about these days, and whilst it did indeed lead to mass redundancies within industries, people adapted.
The same will be true of game development. In time, people getting upset by the idea of games being made partly by AI will have been forgotten. Society will move on, and games made by AI will be played by the masses.
Things modernise. People protest. Things change anyway, and whether their fears are realised or not society moves on, and the fact that we protested is largely forgotten. The same will be true when it comes to AI, it is just a matter of time...
Thank you, @darylb24. I'm not sure whether the PS6 will be as 'cheap' as you suggest. I guess that depends on when the console releases, and whether components are still highly sought after. I do think there is an argument for the PS6 releasing next year simply on the basis that if it tries to wait out the component crisis, it could be waiting quite a few years, and there is no guarentee that prices will be cheaper in 3 or 4 years than they will be next. Indeed, there is a chance that next year will be cheap by comparison. I think it will hurt the wallet regardless...
The prices are pretty insane, has to be said, but I think I'm right in thinking that the Series X has more memory than the PS5. Would that account for the difference in price, and if so, what would the PS5 likely cost if it had the same sized hard drive? I'm not suggesting that the PS5 isn't better value, but are we seeing a like for like comparison? Also, makes you wonder why Microsoft don't reduce the size of theirs too as surely that would reduce the price of their consoles...
I've very much enjoyed it too, @whitejessegpfc. I am probably only an hour in though, so may have a while to go yet before finishing the beta. It does feel much like the original game (albeit it is a while since I have played it) so I am very happy, and will also be getting it on release.
I am interested in Beast of Reincarnation, but I am insufficiently assured of its quality right now, so I will await reviews before making a decision in whether or not to buy it. Will there be a Push Square review, @get2sammyb?
Mate'Morphosis sounds pretty intriguing too, so I shall keep an eye on that one too...
I'm going to be playing the Mortal Shell 2 Beta on both my Series X and on my Pro so as to unlock the skins, but also (obviously) see what the game is like. I loved the first game so I have high hopes for the sequel.
Once I am done with that (assuming the Beta is not huge) I will play a bit more Forza Horizon 6. I had intended it to be a filler game whilst I was waiting for Halo: Combat Evolved to come out, but find myself thoroughly enjoying it and unable to put it down. Halo will just have to wait.
Tomorrow, I am hoping to play a Master run in Gears 5 Horde. My mate isn't available today, so won't be playing it, which is a bit of a shock to the system!
I'll be buying Resonant, Wolverine, Townfall and Dawnwalker, and all at the time of release too. It's going to be a busy month for me, but it should tide me over nicely whilst everyone else is playing GTA 6...
I absolutely agree, @ElPenitente. Questionable whether they are an adult, but also every one of their 28 comments was anti PlayStation. My Mother always used to tell me if I had nothing useful to say, say nothing, and (for the most part! 😉), I stick to that...
I have the Collector's Edition of Fable on pre-order for PlayStation, so me playing it is a given. As for Laufey, I'll be pre-ordering that too (but only a day or two before it comes out), but I'll be playing it once I have completed Fable...
Personally I really enjoyed Veilguard, and I am saddened that there will not be any future instalments. It may not have had the best character development, and the combat was a bit samey, but it was by no means the bad game that some claim (many just repeating what others have said without actually playing it themselves). It may not have been to the same high standards as previous Dragon Age games, but that does not make it a bad game. It just means there are better Dragon Age games. There are certainly many worse games that Veilguard, and people should try it for themselves...
I do not believe that many that make this threat will do so, @zebric21. A gaming PC is very expensive, you're talking several hundred just for memory, and a graphics card costs many hundreds and can cost thousands. Then cheating on PC is absolutely endemic in a way not seen on consoles. It is not the Utopia that many would have you believe. Yes, there will be some that will move, but chances are they would be going anyway, and have been thinking of doing so for a while. However, for most that say it, they have no idea of what gaming on a PC entails, and how much simpler life is on console. Most probably won't even look into moving, but many that do will quickly baulk at the costs involved and just stick with console gaming...
I've just watched it, @XenonKnight, and I don't like the idea that people do not know that this exists or that it is possible.
What I would say is that I used to be a Police Officer, and so the idea that this can be used to identify those that are committing crimes is a fantastic tool, however, I do believe that people should know that it exists or it should at least be something that is well known in the public sphere as then it becomes up to the individual if they commit a crime and get caught because of this feature. It's much like people using a car and their number plate being visible, if they then commit an offence whilst in their vehicle, that was their choice and it is absolutely the right of authorities to track them. The truth is that pretty much everything we do is trackable these days, and 99.9% of us have nothing to be concerned about when it comes to something like this.
I will revert back to what I always say in these kind of scenarios, people choose to commit crimes. It is their choice. As someone that does not do so, I have no concerns about Microsoft being able to track my PC because I'll never be flagged to the authorities because I don't do anything that would interest them.
Ultimately I think the onus is on the individual and how they behave. If they choose to commit crime, then the consequences are on them...
I think you'll find, @The-punishr, that just as it is a tiny minority that are making all the noise about their outrage over the decision to step away from physical releases, that only a very, very small percentage of of gamers will move from PlayStation to PC.
The truth is that PC gaming is nowhere near as simple as console gaming, although it has become easier in recent years, but more than anything PC gaming, for a decent rig, is very expensive, particularly when compared to consoles.
I think you'll find that a lot of gamers that are being so vocal about physical games, are hoping that their voices sway Sony (which based on these numbers it won't), and they are hoping that their threats to move to PC will scare Sony into changing course. Basically, most of the comments about moving are just idle threats, and I think Sony are wise enough to know this...
I am with you, @Questionable_Duck. I have absolutely no problem playing as a female character. Indeed, where I have the option to create my own character, I always but always create a female, and I say that as a 62 year old heterosexual male! 😂
I am also with you on the talking jelly cube, and said so in my comment at #75, which I wrote before reading yours. My concern is that having such characters removes the sense of realism that you get in the game (and yes, I know they are fantasy games, but there is still a sense of realism within the fantasy setting).
Hopefully they are either barely in the game, can be ignored, or somehow we can get it to change its appearance into something more realistic. Just have to hope it's not our travelling companion... 😂
Whilst not the game that I would have preferred, I will most definitely be pre-ordering this when I am able. I am still a little frustrated that it might be too fanciful with the inclusion of a talking jelly cube, but I'm sure I'll get over it. 😉
As for Deborah Ann Woll, I really like her anyway, so I am glad that she feels unaffected by the trolls who probably do not represent the majority of us anyway.
I'm looking forward to the game even if it is not exactly what I wanted (which, funny enough, is exactly how I feel about Gears of War: E-Day, where I would have preferred to have had Gears 6 first). Still, as I am not the one making these decisions, I am left with just two choices; play it, or don't play it, and I have decided to play them both...
I'm all for choice, @LemanRusk. Also, as someone who buys all my games digitally, but all my films on blu-ray (and who already owns around 2000 blu-rays), I am keen on there being a disc drive on the next PlayStation.
I do think that my suggestion is a reasonable solution that should keep everyone happy (once you get past the inevitable outrage about discs costing more than digital, albeit that is only the case when the disc is buying it for the first time, as the disc will (more often than not) cost less on the second-hand market).
It has always peeved me personally, that digital does cost more than physical, because it literally makes no sense. One has many extra associated costs with it, the other is just there to be downloaded. I've never understood why they cost the same, and indeed, physical is often cheaper. It's absolutely absurd...
I agree that ratings are pointless is a game is not making it's money back (at the very least), @Toot1st, but if we do go down the path of every single game has to make a profit, then we would see studio after studio closing, and every game would play it exceptionally safe. There would be no innovation, and no chances taken.
Most studios barely scrape by as it is, but they tend to have a relatively successful game somewhere along the line that keeps them afloat....
I know this won't go down well with those advocating for physical games, and I personally would prefer to have the choice, but my solution to this would be for Sony etc. to add the cost of manufacturing, distributing, and retailer percentage to the cost of the disc itself. So if Sony have to sell 2 discs to make the same as selling a digital copy, then charge more for the physical copy.
Now, before people come at me with pitchforks, I would also suggest that the cost of digital should be lower so as to incentivise people to buy digital, but mainly to reflect that it costs Sony etc. far less to sell a digital game.
Currently, if 50% of all games are sold physically, and it takes two copies to be sold for Sony to recoup the same amount of money as a digital copy, then the maths is as follows:
1 x digital = Sony receives £70
2 x Physical = Sony receives £70
Currently, if a game sells 1 million copies at £70, then Sony makes £35 million on digital and £17.5 million in physical. Total being £52.5 million.
However, if Sony were to sell 1 million copies of a game (where half were sold digitally) at £60 for a digital copy, then Sony makes £30 million on digital sales, and if they sold the other 500,000 physical copies at £90 then they would make £22.5 million in on the physical sales. Total being £52.5 million.
Now, I know a lot of people would hate the idea of paying £30 more for their game, but ultimately, right now, digital is effectively subsidising physical anyway, which in itself is unfair on those that buy their games digitally. Also, is it not fair that those preferring to buy their games physically are the ones to bear the actual costs involved in doing so?
There are many studios that perform worse, and the iD games consistently review well. They may not sell in vast numbers, but if we simply go on sales numbers then that would make Call of Duty THE best game each year, and I am sure we can agree that is not the case...
I get that, @HonestHick, and I know what they have said, but it isn't a case of too many cooks, it is a case of half their workforce meaning that it'll take them significantly longer than it needed too to get their work completed, and if they are not quick enough, then who knows, maybe Microsoft will return with another bout of sackings.
I mean, there are still another 1600 job losses to come from somewhere, and that's just this year, and we all know that high probabilities are that those 1600 jobs won't be the last to be lost. We'll probably be back here with the same kind of news next year with Microsoft probably unhappy with how production has slowed (and probably confused as to why!), and wanting to save money yet again, and so they will resort to another round of sackings.
So ridiculous that Microsoft should lay of staff from one of their best performing studios. It is so short-sighted of them. They have looked at which studios have just released content, and which will therefore take a while before they release anything else and decided that they are the ones to face cuts, without taking into consideration the speed that the studio puts out high quality content.
On my Pro, I just need to get one more Trophy to get the final Platinum in Mass Effect Legendary Edition. The Trophy in question is raising a weapon to level 10, so I just need to get aboard the Normandy at the start of the game, and it'll pop once I get to the armoury.
On my Series X, I'll be undertaking yet another Master run in Gears 5 Horde, with a team of just 3 on what is meant to be a team of 5 event. They have proven to be very difficult, but we have now managed 22 of the 37 maps, which is pretty good going, and I would suggest probably not have been done by anyone else in the World. I will also finally pop the Re-Up 60 Achievement today, and it has only taken just over 2000 hours too...! 😂
I will also be playing through Dying Light: The Beast in co-op once more on my Series X, but this time undertaking New Game Plus on a higher difficulty . And then lastly, I will probably start playing the new Lego Batman game at some point if I have chance...
I do agree that you could build a PC that is inferior to the PS5 for probably around £1000, @LemanRusk, but do people that have experienced gaming on the PS5 really want to take a step backwards in terms of gaming experience? Obviously, some won't mind, but many more won't want to play on a PC that does not offer the same performance that they have enjoyed thus far.
However, the point remains, that whilst PC gaming does offer many advantages over console gaming, it is also true that for a decent gaming PC you have to expect to pay probably double what the PS6 will cost, plus, if you are only leaving PlayStation behind because they are no longer going to offer physical gaming, then what's the point in going PC who have not done physical for years...?
I totally get what you are saying, @FreasurePlanten. PC gaming does offer many advantages. I do not dispute that.
I do think a good percentage of the people that have said they will go PC next generation, probably won't. I'd even hazard a guess and say as much as 80% won't. PC gaming is fantastic is you have a decent rig. Mine cost me £2600, and has since had a further £1000 in upgrades. And that is my point; if you want to play games at a decent standard, on par with the PS5 or PS6, then you have to expect to pay a lot of money to do so.
We have seen many people saying they will not pay $1000 (£750) for the PS6, so if you consider that the basic entry point for PC gaming is at least double that, do you really think all these people saying they will go PC really will? I certainly don't.
I'm sure you can get a much cheaper PC to play games on (probably close, or just over $1000), but you will not get the same level of performance that you enjoy on the PS5, let alone the Pro or the PS6.
So whilst I get the outrage, and I totally get the idea of sending Sony a message, honestly, I'd be shocked it 20% of the people that said they will go PC next generation actually do. I'm sure a lot of the others will look into PC gaming, but once they see the price versus performance for getting into PC gaming, I think they will baulk at the idea and either stick with their PS5 or buy a PS6 instead...
This is more about people sending a message to Sony than is their real intentions.
Let's face it, a decent PC that can perform as well as a PS6 would be considerably more than the PS6 will cost. Even now you would be lucky to match the PS5 for less than £1500.
Then you have the issue that disc based gaming on PC has been dead for many years. They just don't do it anymore.
So are we really saying that people would leave PlayStation, in protest at Sony no longer doing disc based games, to buy a PC that will cost more than the PS6 that will also not play discs...?
Absolutely loved the first game, and cannot wait to get my hands on the Deluxe version of this game. Not interested in the early access, but just the additional suits...
I mean, it's absolutely fine to set massive targets, but the problem is that when they are not achieved there are often severe repercussions a while later. Repercussions for not hitting obtainable targets is one thing, but repercussions for not hitting unobtainable targets is a bitter pill to swallow.
Personally, I am not sure how close Microsoft are to hitting these targets, and so cannot comment on how obtainable they are, but I am reminded of the target of 100 million Game Pass subscribers by 2030. A target that was massively over estimated because they barely hit a third of that, and even then they only did so by folding in Games With Gold into the equation.
Hopefully, Microsoft are being more conservative with this target, but unfortunately, I have my doubts...
The man is up for election, and so he will say whatever his advisors tell him will play best with any potential voters. He has probably never held a controller in his life, let alone actually played a game from start to finish...
During the course of this generation we have seen people on countless occasions say that they will NEVER play any game that runs at 30fps. It's 60fps, or no buy.
I wonder how their resolve will stand up here... 😂
I get that Destiny 3 would have cost a lot to make, but there is a ready made market for it. It would likely have sold very well and quickly made back it's money. Bungie just had to get the execution right, and Sony would have been laughing all the way to the bank.
When it came to Destiny 2, one of the things I most hated about Bungie's approach to the game was the way it cut out content that I had paid for. They should not have been allowed to do this. If the game was becoming too big, then that was the time to branch into the third game. Not removing content I had paid for. It annoyed me to the point that I not only stopped playing, but also meant that I did not buy the later content that I otherwise would have...
Absolutely Microsoft is partly to blame for what is going on, @8th_Observer, but Xbox is a division of its own. They gain nothing from their parent companies pursuit of AI, but they still have to build the consoles they need to sell, and are still affected by the market conditions just like Apple, Sony etc.
If Xbox were buying up the components for AI, that would be different, but they're not, and they are struggling to source everything just like every one else...
Oh it absolutely Microsoft's fault, @LogicStrikesAgain, but I imagine that Xbox is just as much a victim in this as every other tech company out there...
I suspect that Sony will follow suit right before the release of GTA 6. Sony have always waited a few months after Microsoft have raised their prices. That way, Microsoft look really bad, and then Sony are just levelling the playing field. Sony are being quite crafty in allowing Microsoft to take all the heat, when they then go and do the same themselves, and when you look at console sales from both parties, it's clear that Microsoft is in a lot more trouble than Sony. So who is the bad guy really...? 😉
I used to play Star Wars: Galaxy for Heroes, which was made by Scopely. When I say played, I did so every single day for at least 2 hours for most of that I ran a Guild, and then joined another Guild as an Officer. I might be tempted by a Marvel equivalent, but it is a real time-sink...
Comments 1,829
Re: Halo Made Its PS5 Debut, So Now It's Time for Xbox to Lay Off the Team That Made It
I think this is sad but unsurprising. It will always be easiest for Sharma to axe people from a studio that has just finished making a game than it will to axe people from a studio mid making a game. She has to cut these people from somewhere (as directed from above her), and these are the low hanging fruit.
The next studio in the firing line will be inXile who will go once they have released Clockwork Revolution. I think Microsoft will spin off the entire studio there.
I think The Coalition are probably safe due to needing people to keep making content for the game due to it being a Live Service game. I think Halo Studios will mostly stay together because I believe they have other games in development. As for the team making Fable, they could well be closed as they are separate from the team that makes Forza Horizon.
It's truly sad to see these people go, and I honestly think that Xbox is making a mistake in letting so many people go because if they keep cutting staff who is left to make the games? All that will happen is that they will have made insufficient revenue this time next year, and the whole round of redundancies will start again...
Re: Reminder: The PS5 Release Schedule Is About to Become the Busiest It's Ever Been
I'll preface this by saying I have no common sense whatsoever, and neither do I have any self control!
Now, with that out of the way, the second thing I should say is that I buy my games by way of pre-order probably 90% of the time.
With that said, these are the games that I shall be buying by way of pre-order over the next 3 months:
Mortal Shell 2
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Star Wars Zero Company
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Marvel's Wolverine
Control Resonant
Crimson Moon
Dune: Awakening
Silent Hill: Townfall
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Valor Mortis
Phantom Blade Zero
No Rest for the Wicked
That lot should keep me busy whilst everyone else is playing GTA 6...
Re: Beast of Reincarnation (PS5) - Pokémon Dev's Flower Power Action RPG Is Nearly in Full Bloom
Thank you, @Quintumply. I do like the sound of the combat...
Re: Beast of Reincarnation (PS5) - Pokémon Dev's Flower Power Action RPG Is Nearly in Full Bloom
Great review, thank you, @Quintumply. How long is the game, please? And did you do everything in that time...?
Re: Sounds Like Wolverine Gets His Arse Out in Insomniac's Upcoming PS5 Exclusive
Really looking forward to this, though I remain gutted that there is no Collector's Edition...
Re: 'Evie Was Created by Our Talented Artists': Stellar Blade Dev Responds to 'AI Slop' Accusations
From what I can gather, no, @Ryu_Niiyama. I looked her up and that was the answer that came back, which means the developers certainly know how to create a beautiful young lady. I'm sure there is some source 'material' somewhere, but I was surprised that she is not based on a real person (if you believe the internet, that is)...
Re: 'Evie Was Created by Our Talented Artists': Stellar Blade Dev Responds to 'AI Slop' Accusations
Give it 20 or 30 years and most games will be made by AI. Fully made from start to finish, and that includes big complicated games.
There was a time that people protested against the introduction of electricity, which is mad to think about these days, and whilst it did indeed lead to mass redundancies within industries, people adapted.
The same will be true of game development. In time, people getting upset by the idea of games being made partly by AI will have been forgotten. Society will move on, and games made by AI will be played by the masses.
Things modernise. People protest. Things change anyway, and whether their fears are realised or not society moves on, and the fact that we protested is largely forgotten. The same will be true when it comes to AI, it is just a matter of time...
Re: These New Xbox Prices Are Truly Terrifying for PS6
Thank you, @darylb24. I'm not sure whether the PS6 will be as 'cheap' as you suggest. I guess that depends on when the console releases, and whether components are still highly sought after. I do think there is an argument for the PS6 releasing next year simply on the basis that if it tries to wait out the component crisis, it could be waiting quite a few years, and there is no guarentee that prices will be cheaper in 3 or 4 years than they will be next. Indeed, there is a chance that next year will be cheap by comparison. I think it will hurt the wallet regardless...
Re: These New Xbox Prices Are Truly Terrifying for PS6
The prices are pretty insane, has to be said, but I think I'm right in thinking that the Series X has more memory than the PS5. Would that account for the difference in price, and if so, what would the PS5 likely cost if it had the same sized hard drive? I'm not suggesting that the PS5 isn't better value, but are we seeing a like for like comparison? Also, makes you wonder why Microsoft don't reduce the size of theirs too as surely that would reduce the price of their consoles...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 644
I've very much enjoyed it too, @whitejessegpfc. I am probably only an hour in though, so may have a while to go yet before finishing the beta. It does feel much like the original game (albeit it is a while since I have played it) so I am very happy, and will also be getting it on release.
Glad you enjoyed it too...
Re: These 12+ PS5 and PS Plus Games Are Coming Out Next Week (3rd-9th August)
I am interested in Beast of Reincarnation, but I am insufficiently assured of its quality right now, so I will await reviews before making a decision in whether or not to buy it. Will there be a Push Square review, @get2sammyb?
Mate'Morphosis sounds pretty intriguing too, so I shall keep an eye on that one too...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 644
I'm going to be playing the Mortal Shell 2 Beta on both my Series X and on my Pro so as to unlock the skins, but also (obviously) see what the game is like. I loved the first game so I have high hopes for the sequel.
Once I am done with that (assuming the Beta is not huge) I will play a bit more Forza Horizon 6. I had intended it to be a filler game whilst I was waiting for Halo: Combat Evolved to come out, but find myself thoroughly enjoying it and unable to put it down. Halo will just have to wait.
Tomorrow, I am hoping to play a Master run in Gears 5 Horde. My mate isn't available today, so won't be playing it, which is a bit of a shock to the system!
Anyway, happy gaming everyone...
Re: In the Busiest Gaming Month of the Year, PS5's Control Resonant Will Take Up a Lot of Your Time
I'll be buying Resonant, Wolverine, Townfall and Dawnwalker, and all at the time of release too. It's going to be a busy month for me, but it should tide me over nicely whilst everyone else is playing GTA 6...
Re: Fable PS5 Has Run 'Uncomfortably Beyond Budget', Sources Claim
I absolutely agree, @ElPenitente. Questionable whether they are an adult, but also every one of their 28 comments was anti PlayStation. My Mother always used to tell me if I had nothing useful to say, say nothing, and (for the most part! 😉), I stick to that...
Re: Fable PS5 Has Run 'Uncomfortably Beyond Budget', Sources Claim
Take a look at his comment history, @ElPenitente, and then take a look at his very first one at number 28... 🤣🤣🤣
Re: Fable PS5 Has Run 'Uncomfortably Beyond Budget', Sources Claim
I have the Collector's Edition of Fable on pre-order for PlayStation, so me playing it is a given. As for Laufey, I'll be pre-ordering that too (but only a day or two before it comes out), but I'll be playing it once I have completed Fable...
Re: Sorry, Dragon Age Fans, Don't Expect Another One Anytime Soon
Personally I really enjoyed Veilguard, and I am saddened that there will not be any future instalments. It may not have had the best character development, and the combat was a bit samey, but it was by no means the bad game that some claim (many just repeating what others have said without actually playing it themselves). It may not have been to the same high standards as previous Dragon Age games, but that does not make it a bad game. It just means there are better Dragon Age games. There are certainly many worse games that Veilguard, and people should try it for themselves...
Re: Sales Data Paints a Very Grim Picture for Physical PS5 Games in the USA, UK
I do not believe that many that make this threat will do so, @zebric21. A gaming PC is very expensive, you're talking several hundred just for memory, and a graphics card costs many hundreds and can cost thousands. Then cheating on PC is absolutely endemic in a way not seen on consoles. It is not the Utopia that many would have you believe. Yes, there will be some that will move, but chances are they would be going anyway, and have been thinking of doing so for a while. However, for most that say it, they have no idea of what gaming on a PC entails, and how much simpler life is on console. Most probably won't even look into moving, but many that do will quickly baulk at the costs involved and just stick with console gaming...
Re: Sales Data Paints a Very Grim Picture for Physical PS5 Games in the USA, UK
I've just watched it, @XenonKnight, and I don't like the idea that people do not know that this exists or that it is possible.
What I would say is that I used to be a Police Officer, and so the idea that this can be used to identify those that are committing crimes is a fantastic tool, however, I do believe that people should know that it exists or it should at least be something that is well known in the public sphere as then it becomes up to the individual if they commit a crime and get caught because of this feature. It's much like people using a car and their number plate being visible, if they then commit an offence whilst in their vehicle, that was their choice and it is absolutely the right of authorities to track them. The truth is that pretty much everything we do is trackable these days, and 99.9% of us have nothing to be concerned about when it comes to something like this.
I will revert back to what I always say in these kind of scenarios, people choose to commit crimes. It is their choice. As someone that does not do so, I have no concerns about Microsoft being able to track my PC because I'll never be flagged to the authorities because I don't do anything that would interest them.
Ultimately I think the onus is on the individual and how they behave. If they choose to commit crime, then the consequences are on them...
Re: Sales Data Paints a Very Grim Picture for Physical PS5 Games in the USA, UK
I think you'll find, @The-punishr, that just as it is a tiny minority that are making all the noise about their outrage over the decision to step away from physical releases, that only a very, very small percentage of of gamers will move from PlayStation to PC.
The truth is that PC gaming is nowhere near as simple as console gaming, although it has become easier in recent years, but more than anything PC gaming, for a decent rig, is very expensive, particularly when compared to consoles.
I think you'll find that a lot of gamers that are being so vocal about physical games, are hoping that their voices sway Sony (which based on these numbers it won't), and they are hoping that their threats to move to PC will scare Sony into changing course. Basically, most of the comments about moving are just idle threats, and I think Sony are wise enough to know this...
Re: God of War Laufey's Deborah Ann Woll Feels 'Totally Unbothered' by Online Haters
I am with you, @Questionable_Duck. I have absolutely no problem playing as a female character. Indeed, where I have the option to create my own character, I always but always create a female, and I say that as a 62 year old heterosexual male! 😂
I am also with you on the talking jelly cube, and said so in my comment at #75, which I wrote before reading yours. My concern is that having such characters removes the sense of realism that you get in the game (and yes, I know they are fantasy games, but there is still a sense of realism within the fantasy setting).
Hopefully they are either barely in the game, can be ignored, or somehow we can get it to change its appearance into something more realistic. Just have to hope it's not our travelling companion... 😂
Re: God of War Laufey's Deborah Ann Woll Feels 'Totally Unbothered' by Online Haters
Whilst not the game that I would have preferred, I will most definitely be pre-ordering this when I am able. I am still a little frustrated that it might be too fanciful with the inclusion of a talking jelly cube, but I'm sure I'll get over it. 😉
As for Deborah Ann Woll, I really like her anyway, so I am glad that she feels unaffected by the trolls who probably do not represent the majority of us anyway.
I'm looking forward to the game even if it is not exactly what I wanted (which, funny enough, is exactly how I feel about Gears of War: E-Day, where I would have preferred to have had Gears 6 first). Still, as I am not the one making these decisions, I am left with just two choices; play it, or don't play it, and I have decided to play them both...
Re: 'Millions of Gamers Value True Ownership': PS5, PS4 Represented Half of All UK Physical Game Revenue in 2025
I'm all for choice, @LemanRusk. Also, as someone who buys all my games digitally, but all my films on blu-ray (and who already owns around 2000 blu-rays), I am keen on there being a disc drive on the next PlayStation.
I do think that my suggestion is a reasonable solution that should keep everyone happy (once you get past the inevitable outrage about discs costing more than digital, albeit that is only the case when the disc is buying it for the first time, as the disc will (more often than not) cost less on the second-hand market).
It has always peeved me personally, that digital does cost more than physical, because it literally makes no sense. One has many extra associated costs with it, the other is just there to be downloaded. I've never understood why they cost the same, and indeed, physical is often cheaper. It's absolutely absurd...
Re: DOOM PS5 DLC Quietly Becomes One of 2026's Best-Rated Releases
I agree that ratings are pointless is a game is not making it's money back (at the very least), @Toot1st, but if we do go down the path of every single game has to make a profit, then we would see studio after studio closing, and every game would play it exceptionally safe. There would be no innovation, and no chances taken.
Most studios barely scrape by as it is, but they tend to have a relatively successful game somewhere along the line that keeps them afloat....
Re: 'Millions of Gamers Value True Ownership': PS5, PS4 Represented Half of All UK Physical Game Revenue in 2025
I know this won't go down well with those advocating for physical games, and I personally would prefer to have the choice, but my solution to this would be for Sony etc. to add the cost of manufacturing, distributing, and retailer percentage to the cost of the disc itself. So if Sony have to sell 2 discs to make the same as selling a digital copy, then charge more for the physical copy.
Now, before people come at me with pitchforks, I would also suggest that the cost of digital should be lower so as to incentivise people to buy digital, but mainly to reflect that it costs Sony etc. far less to sell a digital game.
Currently, if 50% of all games are sold physically, and it takes two copies to be sold for Sony to recoup the same amount of money as a digital copy, then the maths is as follows:
1 x digital = Sony receives £70
2 x Physical = Sony receives £70
Currently, if a game sells 1 million copies at £70, then Sony makes £35 million on digital and £17.5 million in physical. Total being £52.5 million.
However, if Sony were to sell 1 million copies of a game (where half were sold digitally) at £60 for a digital copy, then Sony makes £30 million on digital sales, and if they sold the other 500,000 physical copies at £90 then they would make £22.5 million in on the physical sales. Total being £52.5 million.
Now, I know a lot of people would hate the idea of paying £30 more for their game, but ultimately, right now, digital is effectively subsidising physical anyway, which in itself is unfair on those that buy their games digitally. Also, is it not fair that those preferring to buy their games physically are the ones to bear the actual costs involved in doing so?
Just a thought...
Re: DOOM PS5 DLC Quietly Becomes One of 2026's Best-Rated Releases
@Toot1st
its not their best performing studio
I didn't say they were. I said:
one of their best performing studios
There are many studios that perform worse, and the iD games consistently review well. They may not sell in vast numbers, but if we simply go on sales numbers then that would make Call of Duty THE best game each year, and I am sure we can agree that is not the case...
Re: DOOM PS5 DLC Quietly Becomes One of 2026's Best-Rated Releases
I didn't say it was, @Toot1st...
Re: DOOM PS5 DLC Quietly Becomes One of 2026's Best-Rated Releases
I get that, @HonestHick, and I know what they have said, but it isn't a case of too many cooks, it is a case of half their workforce meaning that it'll take them significantly longer than it needed too to get their work completed, and if they are not quick enough, then who knows, maybe Microsoft will return with another bout of sackings.
I mean, there are still another 1600 job losses to come from somewhere, and that's just this year, and we all know that high probabilities are that those 1600 jobs won't be the last to be lost. We'll probably be back here with the same kind of news next year with Microsoft probably unhappy with how production has slowed (and probably confused as to why!), and wanting to save money yet again, and so they will resort to another round of sackings.
We all know it...
Re: DOOM PS5 DLC Quietly Becomes One of 2026's Best-Rated Releases
I don't know where you got that gem, @DarianStarfrog. I've certainly not seen that anywhere before...
Re: DOOM PS5 DLC Quietly Becomes One of 2026's Best-Rated Releases
So ridiculous that Microsoft should lay of staff from one of their best performing studios. It is so short-sighted of them. They have looked at which studios have just released content, and which will therefore take a while before they release anything else and decided that they are the ones to face cuts, without taking into consideration the speed that the studio puts out high quality content.
Utterly ridiculous...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 641
On my Pro, I just need to get one more Trophy to get the final Platinum in Mass Effect Legendary Edition. The Trophy in question is raising a weapon to level 10, so I just need to get aboard the Normandy at the start of the game, and it'll pop once I get to the armoury.
On my Series X, I'll be undertaking yet another Master run in Gears 5 Horde, with a team of just 3 on what is meant to be a team of 5 event. They have proven to be very difficult, but we have now managed 22 of the 37 maps, which is pretty good going, and I would suggest probably not have been done by anyone else in the World. I will also finally pop the Re-Up 60 Achievement today, and it has only taken just over 2000 hours too...! 😂
I will also be playing through Dying Light: The Beast in co-op once more on my Series X, but this time undertaking New Game Plus on a higher difficulty . And then lastly, I will probably start playing the new Lego Batman game at some point if I have chance...
Re: 'PS5 Has Put a Dampener on Gaming': 45% of Enthusiasts 'Seriously Considering' Leaving Sony for PC
I do agree that you could build a PC that is inferior to the PS5 for probably around £1000, @LemanRusk, but do people that have experienced gaming on the PS5 really want to take a step backwards in terms of gaming experience? Obviously, some won't mind, but many more won't want to play on a PC that does not offer the same performance that they have enjoyed thus far.
However, the point remains, that whilst PC gaming does offer many advantages over console gaming, it is also true that for a decent gaming PC you have to expect to pay probably double what the PS6 will cost, plus, if you are only leaving PlayStation behind because they are no longer going to offer physical gaming, then what's the point in going PC who have not done physical for years...?
Re: 'PS5 Has Put a Dampener on Gaming': 45% of Enthusiasts 'Seriously Considering' Leaving Sony for PC
I totally get what you are saying, @FreasurePlanten. PC gaming does offer many advantages. I do not dispute that.
I do think a good percentage of the people that have said they will go PC next generation, probably won't. I'd even hazard a guess and say as much as 80% won't. PC gaming is fantastic is you have a decent rig. Mine cost me £2600, and has since had a further £1000 in upgrades. And that is my point; if you want to play games at a decent standard, on par with the PS5 or PS6, then you have to expect to pay a lot of money to do so.
We have seen many people saying they will not pay $1000 (£750) for the PS6, so if you consider that the basic entry point for PC gaming is at least double that, do you really think all these people saying they will go PC really will? I certainly don't.
I'm sure you can get a much cheaper PC to play games on (probably close, or just over $1000), but you will not get the same level of performance that you enjoy on the PS5, let alone the Pro or the PS6.
So whilst I get the outrage, and I totally get the idea of sending Sony a message, honestly, I'd be shocked it 20% of the people that said they will go PC next generation actually do. I'm sure a lot of the others will look into PC gaming, but once they see the price versus performance for getting into PC gaming, I think they will baulk at the idea and either stick with their PS5 or buy a PS6 instead...
Re: 'PS5 Has Put a Dampener on Gaming': 45% of Enthusiasts 'Seriously Considering' Leaving Sony for PC
This is more about people sending a message to Sony than is their real intentions.
Let's face it, a decent PC that can perform as well as a PS6 would be considerably more than the PS6 will cost. Even now you would be lucky to match the PS5 for less than £1500.
Then you have the issue that disc based gaming on PC has been dead for many years. They just don't do it anymore.
So are we really saying that people would leave PlayStation, in protest at Sony no longer doing disc based games, to buy a PC that will cost more than the PS6 that will also not play discs...?
I think not...
Re: Mortal Shell 2 Promises Quality Souls Action on PS5, Out Next Month
Absolutely loved the first game, and cannot wait to get my hands on the Deluxe version of this game. Not interested in the early access, but just the additional suits...
Re: Despite Eliminating 15% of Its Workforce, Xbox Wants a Billion Players Per Day
I mean, it's absolutely fine to set massive targets, but the problem is that when they are not achieved there are often severe repercussions a while later. Repercussions for not hitting obtainable targets is one thing, but repercussions for not hitting unobtainable targets is a bitter pill to swallow.
Personally, I am not sure how close Microsoft are to hitting these targets, and so cannot comment on how obtainable they are, but I am reminded of the target of 100 million Game Pass subscribers by 2030. A target that was massively over estimated because they barely hit a third of that, and even then they only did so by folding in Games With Gold into the equation.
Hopefully, Microsoft are being more conservative with this target, but unfortunately, I have my doubts...
Re: Stunning Single Player Game Blood Message Exploring PS5 Pro Upscaling, Ray Tracing
Very much looking forward to this game. It looks like it could be quite special...
Re: Even Politicians Are Commenting on Sony's Decision to Stop Making Physical Games
The man is up for election, and so he will say whatever his advisors tell him will play best with any potential voters. He has probably never held a controller in his life, let alone actually played a game from start to finish...
Re: GTA 6 Not Expected to Run at 60fps on Any PS5 Console
During the course of this generation we have seen people on countless occasions say that they will NEVER play any game that runs at 30fps. It's 60fps, or no buy.
I wonder how their resolve will stand up here... 😂
Re: Sony Will Continue to Chase Live Service Dream, Despite Mostly Disastrous Execution to Date
I get that Destiny 3 would have cost a lot to make, but there is a ready made market for it. It would likely have sold very well and quickly made back it's money. Bungie just had to get the execution right, and Sony would have been laughing all the way to the bank.
When it came to Destiny 2, one of the things I most hated about Bungie's approach to the game was the way it cut out content that I had paid for. They should not have been allowed to do this. If the game was becoming too big, then that was the time to branch into the third game. Not removing content I had paid for. It annoyed me to the point that I not only stopped playing, but also meant that I did not buy the later content that I otherwise would have...
Re: PS5 Costs Too Much, But These New Xbox Price Increases Are Just Absurd
Absolutely Microsoft is partly to blame for what is going on, @8th_Observer, but Xbox is a division of its own. They gain nothing from their parent companies pursuit of AI, but they still have to build the consoles they need to sell, and are still affected by the market conditions just like Apple, Sony etc.
If Xbox were buying up the components for AI, that would be different, but they're not, and they are struggling to source everything just like every one else...
Re: PS5 Costs Too Much, But These New Xbox Price Increases Are Just Absurd
It's not fanboyism, @8th_Observer. Xbox is not buying up all the components for AI is it...?
Re: Don't Worry, Bub, Marvel's Wolverine PS5 Physical Version Has a Disc in the Box
I have noticed, @LiamOliver. I bought one on release, and so paid full price for it, so every time I see it I kind of wince...
Re: Don't Worry, Bub, Marvel's Wolverine PS5 Physical Version Has a Disc in the Box
I would be buying the Collector's Edition, if they did one. Still cannot believe they're not doing one.
Cannot wait to get my hands on the game, but it feels like an opportunity missed...
Re: PS5 Costs Too Much, But These New Xbox Price Increases Are Just Absurd
Oh it absolutely Microsoft's fault, @LogicStrikesAgain, but I imagine that Xbox is just as much a victim in this as every other tech company out there...
Re: PS5 Costs Too Much, But These New Xbox Price Increases Are Just Absurd
I suspect that Sony will follow suit right before the release of GTA 6. Sony have always waited a few months after Microsoft have raised their prices. That way, Microsoft look really bad, and then Sony are just levelling the playing field. Sony are being quite crafty in allowing Microsoft to take all the heat, when they then go and do the same themselves, and when you look at console sales from both parties, it's clear that Microsoft is in a lot more trouble than Sony. So who is the bad guy really...? 😉
Re: Where to Pre-Order GTA 6 on PS5
Is there no Collector's Edition, @LiamCroft...?
Re: Rumour: Marvel Poised to Attack Free-to-Play RPG Market with 'Project Comet'
I used to play Star Wars: Galaxy for Heroes, which was made by Scopely. When I say played, I did so every single day for at least 2 hours for most of that I ran a Guild, and then joined another Guild as an Officer. I might be tempted by a Marvel equivalent, but it is a real time-sink...
Re: Rumour: GTA 6 Price Potentially Leaked by European Retailer
Although I have no interest in playing the game, I might be tempted to buy the Collector's Edition, if it has a decent model...
Re: Sony Aims to Drive PS Plus Profits by 'Improving Service Proposition'
I haven't been subbed for years. I don't need it, and I don't miss it...