Fizza

airing the day after Gamescom damn poor Geoff 😭

I'm curious as to whether we will see proper 'gameplay' for GTA 6 here or just multiple in-engine cutscenes stitched together to give the illusion of gameplay but all will be revealed at the end of August I suppose XD

also yes I know I'm being very cynical here but after GTA 6 effectively kicked the door down on an all-digital future for PlayStation, I have very little positive to say about it other than 'it looks nice' 💀

@Oram77 100% agree with you there. Especially true with Capcom games as well: Pragmata is my GotY so far and I doubt I would've picked it up day-one like I ended up doing if the demo showing off how good the hacking-shooting gameplay loop felt wasn't available 😅

I remember trying a demo for Rise years ago and bouncing off of it very hard but I'd be willing to give the series a go again with this Wilds demo to see if it can finally click with me the same way almost every other Capcom franchise has for me so far XD

A game which shines in its gameplay and world but struggles with technical aspects like performance and visual fidelity? That sounds like a Game Freak game alright XD

I've always held a soft spot for Game Freak's non-Pokemon works as they tend to offer a pretty distinctive flavour of their respective genres so I'd love to give Beast of Reincarnation a go in the near future myself, though preferably on a discount 🙏

News stories like this just make me even more convinced that the next generation of consoles is going to go disastrously for all parties involved that aren't named Nintendo (and even they're having some difficulties as of now). With the diminishing visual returns console gaming has reached, distinct advantages of the platform compared to PC gaming like physical media getting snapped out of existence post-2028 and the glacial release cadence of exclusive titles, I can't see why people would shell out $1000+ for a PS6 or Xbox Helix when the previous generation would still be supported to hell and back by third-parties.

well if they're going to cautiously move to an all-digital future then I will cautiously say adios to PlayStation and hop on over to PC instead of PS6 😶

The fact that they only addressed it during an investor meeting after an entire month of silence on the matter says all you really need to know about how Sony views its fanbase nowadays IMO 🙃

I'm not gonna sit here and argue with statistics but framing it as a 'reality check' for fans of physical media seems pretty inflammatory no? Like obviously physical media is a smaller piece of the pie compared to digital but 6.7% out of millions of game sales across all of Capcom's titles is nothing to scoff at and certainly not this embarrassing figure which should be mocked. Plus a lot of Capcom games such as their collections don't really get physical versions anyways (or if they do, they're either Japan-only or in limited supplies) so the data will naturally skew in favour of the digital side.

I still maintain that if physical isn't going to be the primarily supported means of delivering video games to the masses anymore then it should be transitioned into a more luxury item in the same way as vinyls for music or DVDs/Blu-Rays for movies. Going full scorched-earth on physical media only benefits corporations who not only get to save money on production costs but also gain full control over the markets which players utilise.

Sitting at a very firm 'maybe' right now personally XD

I've had a blast with the gameplay these past couple days (Ghost Rider and Ms Marvel being my primary character choices) but there are two major things preventing me from hopping on the full release right away: the €70 price tag and the necessity to have an active PS Plus membership to play online. Both of those aspects combined with the general questions regarding Tokon's longevity as a more casual-oriented fighter with deep ties to Sony (which is an especially bad mark to have if the PC version is any indicator) has me feeling a lot more hesitant on it than I would like to be right now 😓

@TensuraFan7 You're definitely correct there but with the way Sony is going right now, it wouldn't surprise me if they found a way to muck that up too XD

@johnedwin I mean content that you paid for becoming unusable because of a server went down is literally one of the most obvious disadvantages of an all-digital future, people have every right to complain about it if you ask me XD

Tokon beta gave me a connection error and my friends list is missing, there is no way in hell it just went down again right?????

If a momentary AWS blip can nuke PSN this badly then how the hell can we trust Sony to keep it steady in a proposed all-digital future 😭

(answer: we most certainly cannot XD)

@Dart-TheRedDragoon Its a fighting game/live-service staple at this point, whether we like it or not XD

@AdamNovice TBF there have been a lot of characters who have had the Phoenix Force inside them over the years XD

Given that this version of Cyclops is pulling from Avengers VS X-Men specifically though, it could be a safe bet to look at characters from that run for the DLC Pass, which gives us choices like Emma Frost, Colossus and Namor in terms of the Phoenix Five (Magik was also a part of that but she's base roster already).

That is one HELL of an asspull for a roster slot good lord XD

I'm a bit bummed it isn't regular Cyclops but I'm certainly very intrigued as to what kind of crazy stuff they're gonna give a version of the fella empowered by the Phoenix Force 🔥

I won't argue that physical game sales have been on a downturn, that's been visible for years before Sony's chicanery. However, I will not agree with the idea that its all-or-nothing when it comes to physical media on game consoles going forward (either they continue to be regularly stocked at retailers or just go extinct entirely) as we've had the solution for the decreased demand be utilised with film, music and books for many years already: keep physicals around but in smaller supplies and position them as a boutique item for the more hardcore gaming faithful.

Unfortunately, the sad fact of the matter is that physical games existing in any capacity is a way for the consumer to obtain a game without directly paying the console manufacturer for it so Sony will most likely plow on through this with reckless abandon all the same until all of the ill-will they've accumulated comes back to bite them 🙃

A second Classic title in one month, my god what a revelatory concept 🤯

While I am happy they are putting out more than one Classic title in a PS Plus drop for the first time in months, the rest of the lineup feels rather weak outside of Power Rangers and Citizen Sleeper 2 (which are both pretty acquired tastes). Coupled with them insisting on the same staggered launch which was already very disliked last month and I'm feeling rather apathetic towards this personally (especially in conjunction with Sony's horrid communication towards its fanbase this past while).

@Grumblevolcano Red Art Games (the devs behind the collection) confirmed that the PS5 and Xbox physicals will have Panic Bomber W on-disc while the Switch/Switch 2 physicals will need an update for it.

Literally was playing Bomberman II from the collection earlier today, what amazing timing this is XD

Certainly won't complain about a free game though, especially one as obscure as Panic Bomber W 🙌

An absolutely horrid bloodbath of layoffs that somehow could've been infinitely worse if previous reports and leaks were any indication. My heart goes out to the thousands of incredible employees affected by this but there is at least the silver lining that studios who were assumed to be on the chopping block are instead being allowed to move elsewhere and continue existing (be it independently or under new ownership). Again, still a devastating day all around but one that at least feels a bit more hopeful than I imagine we were all anticipating going into it.

A $1000+ price tag and no support for physicals would already be a dealbreaker on its own but I'd also be incredibly surprised if the PS6 has any truly worthwhile games to its name. PS5 has shown time and time again that Sony has two things on its mind with first-party output: sequels to PS4 games that look, feel and play extremely similarly to their predecessors and live-service sludge designed first and foremost to drain money out of you and boost player-retention stats for shareholder meetings. Paired with the fact that we've gotten about 2-3 first-party games per year this past half-decade and even if Sony suddenly turned around and slashed the price in half while also bringing back physicals, I doubt I'd ever choose to upgrade past my existing PS5 💀

I'm not even sure what to say, I'm genuinely just kind of speechless. Obviously gaming companies can't stand making physical releases for a variety of reasons (second-hand market, cost of production, smaller purchase-base than digital) but to outright cease production on all physical output (both first and third party) in less than two years time is utterly unprecedented.

If there was ever a decision that finalised whether or not I would be getting a PS6 at some point in the future, it would be this one. Yes, I would be mainly digital in terms of my PS5 library, but removing the option for physical games entirely is objectively terrible for the consumer and will only lead to even more diabolical practices on the PS Store. Absolutely abhorrent decision and one that might just be the final nail in the coffin towards me supporting Sony in a post-PS5 world.

@AdamNovice I think I've already seen more than enough to determine what direction Sony is headed in 😵‍💫

eighty f***ing dollars and you don't even get a proper physical, this is outrageous 😭

Time will tell whether this actually causes the standard RRP for AAA games to escalate or if it'll be smoke-and-mirrors in the same way as Mario Kart World but christ alive I am not paying that much for a singular game 💀

this news going live directly after the Halo split-screen debauchery is incredible timing XD

I haven't subbed to PS Plus at all yet myself (the base tier costing about €100+ annually radicalised me against it almost instantly XD) but I keep seeing Sony say they're gonna improve the service over and over again and after a certain point it just sounds like white noise. I would argue the only significant addition/improvement PS Plus has had since its overhaul at the start of the decade has been their genuinely excellent new PS2 emulator; everything else about the service has either stayed mediocre or only gotten worse with time (see pricing rising across the board, Premium only getting a single Classic per month and the new staggered release cadence for monthly titles). Maybe if they actually start following through on these promises I'd be inclined to subscribe but right now everything they say about the potential of PS Plus just rings hollow to me.

@Deadlyblack I thought so too initially but if you analyse the art you see a bunch of errors that are hallmarks of AI-generated imagery: certain details on accessories like the shoes and chains are absent, the perspective work is all over the place and, most damningly, Donald has 4 fingers on one hand and 5 on the other 💀

I was pretty excited to have a native PS5 version of the older collection with KH3's DLC bundled in but unless they change this artwork I don't want anything to do with it 😭

@INeedGoodGraphics DLSS5 was already an omen of this honestly: who needs actual visuals when you can just grey-box everything and let an AI model s*** out a result for you amirite 🙃

I just can't stand the erosion of creativity AI encourages with entertainment mediums (games, films, books, etc.) and the more people try to normalise its inclusion as being 'inevitable', the more quality standards across the board will nosedive 😓

Amazon has placed a mandate on all of the studios they own/collaborate with for IPs they own to use AI in some capacity so while this isn't particularly surprising when you know that context, its still massively disappointing and will inevitably lead to TR getting raked over the coals once people discover the AI assets in question (and people will find them, especially when they specify that not all temporary assets have been replaced but rather 'refined' 💀).

Obviously this is not the worst instance of using AI in game development but its a major detriment to an otherwise solid-looking game for me 😭

I'm gonna be brutally honest here: I did not have a good time whatsoever here XD

There was definitely stuff I liked such as Gitaroo Man/Onimusha Dawn of Dreams coming to PS Classics and games like Marvel Tokon and Onimusha Way of the Sword continue to look ace....but christ alive man there were six brand new game reveals (half of which leaked in advance) and the rest of the show was dedicated to stuff we already heard a bunch about with the only really new bits of info coming in the form of release dates. I can definitely see why it'd click hard for others but it really didn't do anything for me unfortunately 😭

While I doubt Kojima had full involvement in this, he should absolutely know better than to align himself with slop like this given his extensive history with social commentary in his works like MGS and Death Stranding. Deeply disappointing to see and the only silver-lining you can really hope for now is that he doesn't do it again (which feels pretty unlikely given the generally less taboo stance towards Gen-AI in Eastern territories 😓).

Undoubtedly a nice gesture (I don't if I'll partake in it myself due to not generally enjoying more hardcore multiplayer experiences but its a good move all the same), but this occurring two months after release is....worrying to say the least 😓

I knew development for DQ12 was not going particularly well but I don't think I could've ever anticipated a full restart 😳

Nice to see some actual gameplay footage now at least, even if I feel like the character designs don't quite do it for me right now (though they could definitely grow on me in due time). The environments look great though (and very DBZ-esque I might add XD) and hopefully it isn't too long until DQ12 actually materialises a release date 🙏

Two weeks away is a hard pill to swallow but if they're gassing it up so much in advance then its gotta be pretty good right?

....right?

tbf the last State of Play was the best one they ever had so I'm going into this a bit more optimistic than usual; all I'm really hoping for is a release date for CV Belmont's Curse and maybe a 3D Castlevania collection if we're lucky 🙏

I'm excited to see which first-party team they shut down a week after the showcase if last time was any indication 🙃

Half-joking aside, I'm mainly looking towards third-party announcements for the next showcase myself as the state of Sony and their first-party studios is leaving me feeling quite disillusioned currently. My main hope would be for Castlevania Belmont's Curse to finally get a release date (plus maybe a 3D Castlevania collection alongside it as well for the 40th Anniversary) but only time will tell I suppose.

I know SNK's always had a bit of a void left open when it comes to 3D fighting games but goddamn I did not expect them to bring on HARADA of all people to lead a new internal studio that is, presumably, gonna be making a new 3D fighter under SNK's stewardship 🤯

Thrilled its coming out so soon and for such a low pricepoint but a part of me is genuinely wondering how Yacht Club won't go under with all the pro-consumer moves they've made throughout their existence as a studio XD

The demo for Mina was very good though so I'd be down to give it a go whenever possible (especially for such a low pricetag 🙌).

Hulk was a given for this kind of game (though I do really like his more Savage Land/Planet Hulk-esque look he's got going on here) but Black Panther Shuri is genuinely a big surprise in the best way, especially with how much stuff she's got going on in her moveset between claw swipes, spear tosses and Vibranium gadgets. Very solid duo of reveals and if the end card is any indication, it seems like we'll be getting Green Goblin and Carnage next which would be sick as hell XD

Been praying for this to be the case from the moment I first rolled credits: easily my 2026 GotY so far (and I would be very surprised if that changes before TGA in December XD) and one of my new all-time Capcom favourites alongside games like DMC3/5, MMX4 and TGAAC 💙

oh and not to give too much away but the endgame definitely leaves a lot of stuff on the table for a potential sequel 🙏

@get2sammyb Massive props to you for keeping up to date with this whole debacle as it develops, trying to keep with all of this while Sony maintains pure silence would do anyone's head in😵‍💫

This would certainly a more bearable outcome if this is actually what's going on with this whole debacle but again it raises concerns about future preservation efforts, particularly in regards to games which get delisted from the PS Store (if you buy a game less than two weeks before it gets delisted, is there even a confirmation file that's able to be obtained or does it become unplayable after that two-week period?).

If anything this being the potential most likely explanation for what's transpiring right now makes Sony's radio silence on the matter even more infuriating. If this is the actual reason behind the issue then why don't they just say as much rather than leaving so much justifiable doomposting to fester 😭

I find the dismissiveness towards this from a lot of the PlayStation faithful to be pretty disheartening personally as the issue isn't necessarily there being a timer on playing games (since realistically the average PS5 gamer will almost always be playing on Wi-Fi to where this won't crop up) but rather that Sony is literally removing the option for people to play offline for extended periods of time without a login (most likely in an attempt to artificially boost monthly active user stats for investors) and doing so in a way which massively threatens efforts to preserve and archive games released on PS4/5 for future generations to come.

and to think this is the same company which made an entire ad directly calling out Xbox for this exact kind of DRM back at the start of the Xbox One, how times have changed 🙃

@RBMango Judging by your PFP I can see that you are one with both the whee and the whoo XD

'fixed an issue where Danseuse outfit for Lune and Sciel made the character menu too obscur'

Happy 1st Anniversary to my 2025 Game of the Year ❤