This is about numbers of games, not $ cost sold. Indie games like Hollow Knight 2 don’t tend to have a physical option to buy, and are cheaper and more accessible to all players. I would be curious to see what the ratio is on just AAA games like Wolverine and GTA6 when they turn up.
My iPad did something similar. It put up a message saying it needed ID to confirm I was over 18, then put up another message saying I had an iTunes account which proved I was old and I didn’t need to do anything after all.
Couldn’t care less about chatting online on the PS5.
You have to feel sorry for the guy, because games and films and TV shows take so long to develop now. You can’t just say ‘We need an Uncharted or another Astrobot game for Christmas or next year’, what you have to sell was what the guy 5-7 years ago greenlit (and hopefully hasn’t been cancelled since then). The changes this guy makes won’t be felt until the next decade.
The market is moving so fast now, and it feels that the industry is stuck in its ways worrying just about big triple A games that are being sent out to die because they are no longer in fashion and too expensive in any way you can think. So many 3rd party games and studios are being cancelled so Sony can’t just expect to prop up the lack of 1st party.
GTA6 SHOULD do well, but there is no guarantee it will do as well as people expect, especially in this climate.
There are core PS4 owners that have moved on because they’ve had kids, grown out of gaming, can’t afford the PS5 or are just uninspired by this gens games. I sort of wish I hadn’t bothered myself.
The question is are there really enough new young gamers attracted to these games at this price for a console to replace them?
I will be curious to see if there is a mad rush to buy PS5s when GTA6 comes out. I’m wondering if some of that GTA5 base has moved on or is happy to stick with 5.
95m PS5s sold, 35m XBX’s sold- let’s say that’s 110m modern console owners some owning both consoles. Probably less.
GTA5 sold 225m copies. Is half the install base going to wait for it on PC, or is this a big warning sign for triple A developers?
A lot of companies have shifted their business plans to low effort and high profit. Concerts, sports, theme parks, casinos, high end manufacturers like furniture, tech and musical instruments, video games- they don't care about lowering their prices to appeal to the mass market, the want the few rich whales to spend above common sense. This is scooping out the middle ground of production.
Its baseball where only bases loaded home runs matter.
Currently there are so many games and hardware companies that are doubling down on the idea that all of their customers want more powerful, more expensive consoles and graphics cards, but I think it’s pretty obvious younger gamers couldn’t care less, and a large percentage of gamers that invested in the current generation are questioning if the extra power has been beneficial in the games we’ve actually got. I know I and my friends and family are all questioning if the PS5 has been worth it at the moment.
It’s hard enough to give live action Wolverine a haircut and costume that doesn’t look naff. Kratos is a ridiculous character with the complexion, facepaint and refusal to wear a jumper in Norway to try and make reality.
In my opinion she’s just saying anything to try and make people happy at the moment. AI, exclusivity, keeping staff employed, prices, the future of Gamepass the next Xbox- it doesn’t really mean anything because like under Phil, if the people above tell her something has to happen, it will.
The biggest problem the PS5 has been it’s lack of games, especially exclusives. This doesn’t help the problem for the PS5, and doesn’t bode well for the PS6.
Seeing how happy the community is for the delay, I wonder how well the rumoured Next Xbox will do in 2027? You would think releasing on its own would give it a larger audience, but you would also guess the games will be held back by having to release on the PS5 as well. Plus it will stick out like a sore thumb if it releases at over a grand.
Ubisoft have always had the problem of their games feeling samey to their other titles. It’s sad for the people losing their jobs, but Watchdogs was just another Assassin’s Creed clone. Ubisoft made the biggest mistake that infinite exponential growth exists and people would keep buying no matter what they put out.
Anthem’s problem was being more of the same. It didn’t matter if it was good or bad, it was another online shooter and people weren’t to give up the games they were committed to already.
Sony are treading water at the moment. They’ve committed to this console, the triple A system that now takes 6+ years to produce this quality of game, and have very little in unknown games to spark the business. Wolverine and GTA6 are the things that could sell some more consoles, but beyond that if you don’t have a PS5, I doubt much will push you to buy one.
The real story is does Sony keep pushing power on the next console, or cap it and be price (and development) conscious on the PS6?
To be fair there was probably 30-40% of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth content I never saw and I finished the game, and I’m guessing lots of other people didn’t. I think they could be a little more restrained with their budgets and customers wouldn’t notice.
When you give everything and the kitchen sink in the original, where can you go? Spider-Man has all the powers and you can’t really give him a horse or car or a jet pack to advance the gameplay, and you can’t set it in the Sahara desert or Space. They painted themselves into a corner.
No excuse to not come up with more interesting ideas in the other games though!
If you don’t like the sort of exclusive sand box narrative games Sony has- God of War, Horizon, Death Stranding, Spider-Man, Ghost Of Yotei, etc…
…How many reasons do you have to buy an expensive console? Playstation needs variety this generation has been lacking, and it’s deeply evident in the Japanese market.
Currently PlayStation isn’t a rounded business. Aside from Astrobot, Sackboy and (sort of) Ratchet and Clank there hasn’t been much fun, colourful family stuff to appeal to that audience which is a big part of Japanese gaming. I don’t think subsidising the console makes a damn bit of difference if you don’t have the games that this audience wants- just look at XBox in Japan.
They aren’t going to fix this overnight without investing in some studios to make these sort of games- and I question if they will do that?
It hits home now that the sort of games I play aren’t really the stuff the game awards wants to promote, and the stuff they promote rarely interests me at all.
Aside from Nintendo there is a definite homogenisation of video games heading towards PC gaming. The home console will just be using the TV as a window into these platforms. We’re likely to see $1000 consoles next Gen, and gaming is going to become a little more niche. I’m guessing people will choose a single console based on where their friends play and where their libraries predominantly are.
Nice to hear any company listening to its customers, let alone Sony.
Seeing the calls for cheaper, more sustainable titles with quicker turnarounds was already being discussed sometime in 2020, it wouldn’t have made sense to expect us to invest in a more expensive console with specs that inflated their problems even more.
I can’t help reading that as ‘people who own the PlayStation Portal are more likely to play on the PlayStation Portal than people who don’t own a PlayStation Portal.’
I’m now closer to 50 than 40, and although I still game there is definitely more competition for my time.
When I look at my 20 something nephew, he wants games but is not willing to pay for them- especially PlayStation, because beyond Astrobot nothing has interested him. He spends money on holidays, concerts, the cinema, and theme parks because he gets to do that with his friends. I see him come online with his Switch and has over 1000 hours watching YouTube on it. He still plays a bit of FNAF and Minecraft, but not much else.
I definitely think Playstation is ignorant to younger gamers at the moment, making expensive, long winded story games that kids aren’t willing to invest their time and money in.
A very niche event in a time where people have to worry about paying for the essentials. I get the feeling 2026 you’ll see bigger acts and live events have to cancel as prices scare customers off.
If all the Microsoft owned games are on PlayStation, but the Sony games aren't going to be ported to the Xbox, then there is no valid reason to own an XBox beyond brand loyalty.
But then it's more than likely all going to move to PC next generation except Nintendo.
The idea of a film of a girl fighting robot dinosaurs is a perfect summer blockbuster, but things will have to change from the game. Aloy is more robotic than the metal T-Rex she fights, and that’s why she’s disliked by some fans. If we could just have some humour, or vulnerability, or anger from the character in the game, you could relate to her.
Not just a slight on Sony, but modern gaming is less concerned on fun these days. It’s more concerned with making films that you wander through. Couple that with the cost, lack of games and push towards online really puts me off investing hundreds into a new PlayStation.
Hoping Nintendo has some fun Switch 2 games next year, because even they are falling foul to these criticisms.
Comments 512
Re: Physical Game Fans, Beware: Digital Downloads Hit an Astonishing 85% on PS5, PS4 Last Quarter
This is about numbers of games, not $ cost sold. Indie games like Hollow Knight 2 don’t tend to have a physical option to buy, and are cheaper and more accessible to all players. I would be curious to see what the ratio is on just AAA games like Wolverine and GTA6 when they turn up.
Re: PS5 Will Soon Be Cheaper Than Switch 2 in Japan, But Is It Going to Make Any Difference?
I’m in the UK, and I’m disappointed in the lack of Japanese-centric games on the PS5.
Or just a lack of fun games on the PS5. I’m fed up of Western Dad Sandboxes.
Re: Pragmata Looks Best on PS5 Pro, Says Tech Experts
The question is does is justify buying a PS5 Pro?
Or are other options ‘good enough’?
Re: PS5 Age Verification Coming to UK and Ireland, Needed for Messages and Voice Chat
My iPad did something similar. It put up a message saying it needed ID to confirm I was over 18, then put up another message saying I had an iTunes account which proved I was old and I didn’t need to do anything after all.
Couldn’t care less about chatting online on the PS5.
Re: After Critics Panned Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Maybe Sony's Legend of Zelda Film Can Pull It Back
The sad state of cinema means the bad films that make millions are more important than the good ones that are a commercial failure.
Re: 'We Were Forced to Change': Sony CEO Outlines Shift to Entertainment, and Says PS5 Must Be the Best Place to Play
You have to feel sorry for the guy, because games and films and TV shows take so long to develop now. You can’t just say ‘We need an Uncharted or another Astrobot game for Christmas or next year’, what you have to sell was what the guy 5-7 years ago greenlit (and hopefully hasn’t been cancelled since then). The changes this guy makes won’t be felt until the next decade.
The market is moving so fast now, and it feels that the industry is stuck in its ways worrying just about big triple A games that are being sent out to die because they are no longer in fashion and too expensive in any way you can think. So many 3rd party games and studios are being cancelled so Sony can’t just expect to prop up the lack of 1st party.
GTA6 SHOULD do well, but there is no guarantee it will do as well as people expect, especially in this climate.
Re: Poll: Do You Think PS5 Can Outsell PS4 with Its New Price Point?
There are core PS4 owners that have moved on because they’ve had kids, grown out of gaming, can’t afford the PS5 or are just uninspired by this gens games. I sort of wish I hadn’t bothered myself.
The question is are there really enough new young gamers attracted to these games at this price for a console to replace them?
Re: PS5 Price Increases Start, Live Now at Some Retailers
I will be curious to see if there is a mad rush to buy PS5s when GTA6 comes out. I’m wondering if some of that GTA5 base has moved on or is happy to stick with 5.
95m PS5s sold, 35m XBX’s sold- let’s say that’s 110m modern console owners some owning both consoles. Probably less.
GTA5 sold 225m copies. Is half the install base going to wait for it on PC, or is this a big warning sign for triple A developers?
Re: Iconic Devs Say the Industry Feels 'Crashier' Now Than the Actual Video Game Crash of the 80s
A lot of companies have shifted their business plans to low effort and high profit. Concerts, sports, theme parks, casinos, high end manufacturers like furniture, tech and musical instruments, video games- they don't care about lowering their prices to appeal to the mass market, the want the few rich whales to spend above common sense. This is scooping out the middle ground of production.
Its baseball where only bases loaded home runs matter.
Re: 'Onwards to More Graphics Breakthroughs': PS6 Architect Mark Cerny Shares a Staged Exchange with AMD Bigwig
Currently there are so many games and hardware companies that are doubling down on the idea that all of their customers want more powerful, more expensive consoles and graphics cards, but I think it’s pretty obvious younger gamers couldn’t care less, and a large percentage of gamers that invested in the current generation are questioning if the extra power has been beneficial in the games we’ve actually got. I know I and my friends and family are all questioning if the PS5 has been worth it at the moment.
Re: Rumour: Fallout Project, Possibly Remasters, Teased by Surprise Developer
At the moment for any developer to be making anything means they are staving off closure. Good for them if true.
Re: Hands On: Marathon Is Dense, Demanding, and Drop Dead Gorgeous
I thought they renamed it Snickers.
Re: Here's Your First Look at the God of War TV Show
It’s hard enough to give live action Wolverine a haircut and costume that doesn’t look naff. Kratos is a ridiculous character with the complexion, facepaint and refusal to wear a jumper in Norway to try and make reality.
Re: WB Games Is Bringing Back Its 'Biggest Franchises' Starting Next Year
So much planned.
Only to be cancelled when Paramount or Netflix buy them.
Re: Sony Puts Must-Own PS5 Accessories on Sale in the US
Still not entirely sure the PS5 itself is must own to be honest.
Re: Incoming Xbox Boss Promises a 'Renewed Commitment to Console', and 'Hears' Fans on Skipping PS5
In my opinion she’s just saying anything to try and make people happy at the moment. AI, exclusivity, keeping staff employed, prices, the future of Gamepass the next Xbox- it doesn’t really mean anything because like under Phil, if the people above tell her something has to happen, it will.
Re: Phil Spencer Stepping Down, Sarah Bond Leaving Microsoft in Huge Xbox Shake-Up
Perfect excuse for Microsoft to now get rid of the box and have it accessible from a data centre for thirty quid a month.
Re: Sony Goes Silent on Social Media as Fans Turn Feral Following Bluepoint Closure
The biggest problem the PS5 has been it’s lack of games, especially exclusives. This doesn’t help the problem for the PS5, and doesn’t bode well for the PS6.
Re: Sony Considering PS6 Delay to 2028 or Even 2029, New Report Says
Seeing how happy the community is for the delay, I wonder how well the rumoured Next Xbox will do in 2027? You would think releasing on its own would give it a larger audience, but you would also guess the games will be held back by having to release on the PS5 as well. Plus it will stick out like a sore thumb if it releases at over a grand.
Re: Beyond Good & Evil 2 Director Passes Comment on Ubisoft's Major Reshuffle
If they’re committed to still throwing money at this… what does that say about what they cancelled?
Re: Sony's Sending Messages to PS4 Players Encouraging Them to Upgrade to PS5
I bought a PS5 about 18 months in to experience all those ‘must play games’ unique to the PS5.
Still waiting.
FF7R and Astrobot have been pretty good, but I wouldn’t call them essential.
Re: Ubisoft May Have Put Watch Dogs Down for Good
Ubisoft have always had the problem of their games feeling samey to their other titles. It’s sad for the people losing their jobs, but Watchdogs was just another Assassin’s Creed clone. Ubisoft made the biggest mistake that infinite exponential growth exists and people would keep buying no matter what they put out.
Re: Comedy TV Classics Inspire Fable PS5 with Interview Cutscenes
Finally a PS5 release I’m excited for!
…Which is an XBox game. Oh the irony.
Re: Amazon's God of War TV Series Casts Its Kratos, Story Setup Revealed
Are you big and beardy?
✔️
Then welcome aboard!
Re: Talking Point: Did ANTHEM Deserve the Hate?
Anthem’s problem was being more of the same. It didn’t
matter if it was good or bad, it was another online shooter and people weren’t to give up the games they were committed to already.
Re: Push Square's PlayStation Quiz of the Year 2025
I got so bored of Playstation and their lineup this year I stopped paying attention.
Here’s hoping they do better next year.
Re: PS5 Enjoys a Decent November in the UK, Even Excluding Black Friday
Sony are treading water at the moment. They’ve committed to this console, the triple A system that now takes 6+ years to produce this quality of game, and have very little in unknown games to spark the business. Wolverine and GTA6 are the things that could sell some more consoles, but beyond that if you don’t have a PS5, I doubt much will push you to buy one.
The real story is does Sony keep pushing power on the next console, or cap it and be price (and development) conscious on the PS6?
Re: Poll: Vote for Your PS5 Game of the Year 2025
I haven’t played or had the desire to play any of them. It’s been a bad year for the PS5 for me personally.
Guessing BBC iplayer wins then?
Re: Feature: Predict The Game Awards 2025 with Our 20 Question Quiz
Don’t hope for much and don’t lose any sleep. The trailers will be on YouTube when you wake up.
Re: Key Square Enix Shareholder Publicly Criticises Weak Game Sales, Company Management
To be fair there was probably 30-40% of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth content I never saw and I finished the game, and I’m guessing lots of other people didn’t. I think they could be a little more restrained with their budgets and customers wouldn’t notice.
Re: Geoff Keighley's Cryptic Post Has Fans Speculating Wildly About The Game Awards Announcement
Just imagine how disappointed people will be when they find he’s licensed U2’s music from the Joshua Tree to promote Doritos and Mountain Dew.
Re: PS5 Is Edging Out the Switch 2 in the UK So Far This Year
@RadioHedgeFund
Which was my point, if in a sarcastic tone. I find it amusing the narrative changes when it puts the company in a positive or negative light.
Re: PS5 Is Edging Out the Switch 2 in the UK So Far This Year
Remember, Playstation isn’t competing in the same market as Nintendo, they’re entirely different things.
Unless there is a story where Sony is winning then it is.
Re: Talking Point: Does PS5 Have a Sequel Problem?
When you give everything and the kitchen sink in the original, where can you go? Spider-Man has all the powers and you can’t really give him a horse or car or a jet pack to advance the gameplay, and you can’t set it in the Sahara desert or Space. They painted themselves into a corner.
No excuse to not come up with more interesting ideas in the other games though!
Re: Poll: Five Years of PS5 - How Would You Rate Sony's Console?
The other day I saw a £85 bottle opener. I'm sure it's a very nice bottle opener, but it's far excessive than for my needs to open a bottle.
This is my mentality of a £750+ console or gaming PC. I don't need AI RAM to play 2D Mario and Tetris.
Re: Poll: Five Years of PS5 - How Would You Rate Sony's Console?
I like the fact I can watch Sky+ through it, but as a games console it leaves a lot to be desired. Not enough games I have enjoyed I’m afraid to say.
Re: PS5 Sales Collapse in Japan as Sony Readies Overdue Rescue Plan
If you don’t like the sort of exclusive sand box narrative games Sony has- God of War, Horizon, Death Stranding, Spider-Man, Ghost Of Yotei, etc…
…How many reasons do you have to buy an expensive console? Playstation needs variety this generation has been lacking, and it’s deeply evident in the Japanese market.
Re: PlayStation CEO Pushed Through Cut-Price PS5 in Japan After Seeing System Slump Against Switch 2
Currently PlayStation isn’t a rounded business. Aside from Astrobot, Sackboy and (sort of) Ratchet and Clank there hasn’t been much fun, colourful family stuff to appeal to that audience which is a big part of Japanese gaming. I don’t think subsidising the console makes a damn bit of difference if you don’t have the games that this audience wants- just look at XBox in Japan.
They aren’t going to fix this overnight without investing in some studios to make these sort of games- and I question if they will do that?
Re: Talking Point: The Game Awards 2025 Nominations Announced: Who Are Your Winners?
It hits home now that the sort of games I play aren’t really the stuff the game awards wants to promote, and the stuff they promote rarely interests me at all.
Re: Poll: Does the Steam Machine Pose a Threat to PS5?
Aside from Nintendo there is a definite homogenisation of video games heading towards PC gaming. The home console will just be using the TV as a window into these platforms. We’re likely to see $1000 consoles next Gen, and gaming is going to become a little more niche. I’m guessing people will choose a single console based on where their friends play and where their libraries predominantly are.
Re: Round Up: What Was Announced in Sony's State of Play Livestream for November 2025?
It was aimed at trying to get Japanese gamers and Nintendo owners to get interested in the PS5.
I’m interested in some of these titles, but would probably chose to get them on Switch 2 for the portability factor.
Re: PS5 'In the Middle' of Its Lifecycle, Claims Sony
Nice to hear any company listening to its customers, let alone Sony.
Seeing the calls for cheaper, more sustainable titles with quicker turnarounds was already being discussed sometime in 2020, it wouldn’t have made sense to expect us to invest in a more expensive console with specs that inflated their problems even more.
Re: 'PS Portal Users Are More Engaged Than Non-Users': Sony's Hit Handheld Outperforms All Other Remote Play Methods
I can’t help reading that as ‘people who own the PlayStation Portal are more likely to play on the PlayStation Portal than people who don’t own a PlayStation Portal.’
Re: Talking Point: Is PS5 Really in Competition with TikTok?
I’m now closer to 50 than 40, and although I still game there is definitely more competition for my time.
When I look at my 20 something nephew, he wants games but is not willing to pay for them- especially PlayStation, because beyond Astrobot nothing has interested him. He spends money on holidays, concerts, the cinema, and theme parks because he gets to do that with his friends. I see him come online with his Switch and has over 1000 hours watching YouTube on it. He still plays a bit of FNAF and Minecraft, but not much else.
I definitely think Playstation is ignorant to younger gamers at the moment, making expensive, long winded story games that kids aren’t willing to invest their time and money in.
Re: PlayStation Is Trying to Scrub Any Mention of Its Failed Concerts from the Internet
A very niche event in a time where people have to worry about paying for the essentials. I get the feeling 2026 you’ll see bigger acts and live events have to cancel as prices scare customers off.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
If all the Microsoft owned games are on PlayStation, but the Sony games aren't going to be ported to the Xbox, then there is no valid reason to own an XBox beyond brand loyalty.
But then it's more than likely all going to move to PC next generation except Nintendo.
Re: PS5 Surpasses Lifetime PS3 Sales in the US
I’ve yet to see an attach rate for games for the PS5. I’d like to know that.
Re: PS6 Could Be Less Than Half the Price of Microsoft's 'Very Premium' Next-Gen Xbox
I think all three companies have lost a lot of good will with their fans recently:
None of these companies can expect to grow or even keep all of their customers if they don’t address these problems.
Re: Sony Plans to Start Shooting Horizon Movie in 2026, with 2027 Release Planned
The idea of a film of a girl fighting robot dinosaurs is a perfect summer blockbuster, but things will have to change from the game. Aloy is more robotic than the metal T-Rex she fights, and that’s why she’s disliked by some fans. If we could just have some humour, or vulnerability, or anger from the character in the game, you could relate to her.
Re: Talking Point: PS6 In 2027 - How Do You Feel About Sony's Next-Gen Console?
Not just a slight on Sony, but modern gaming is less concerned on fun these days. It’s more concerned with making films that you wander through. Couple that with the cost, lack of games and push towards online really puts me off investing hundreds into a new PlayStation.
Hoping Nintendo has some fun Switch 2 games next year, because even they are falling foul to these criticisms.