I'm surprised how bad online stores are on consoles in general, so hopefully this can finally land on something more intuitive. I rarely buy digital games though, so this doesn't really affect me either way.
I've wondered why they don't implement streaming into a store system that allows us to play demos of games instantly. It seems like the perfect use for it. Imagine a hub similar to the way Playstation Home used to work, but it was a virtual store that looked like an arcade and you could try any game for the first few levels or a selected slice if the game. That would be pretty awesome, but I imagine it would be incredibly hard to actually pull off. They could at least do it for a selection of games every month.
It's frustrating that a lot of us are paying for irresponsible spending on live service failures through ongoing price hikes to make up for games we never asked for. The worst part is that if one of these whale hunting cynical GaaS stabs in the dark actually hits it will only decrease the need to put effort into making actual quality games and experiences. It's pretty awful really. It either ends up with Sony destroying themselves or a live service game taking over completely.
At that point why not just finish it and give it to all ps+ subscribers as a loss leader? That's coming from someone who despises what live service games have done to the industry too. It feels like Playstation is run by people who have never played a game before or have any idea about the industry. Utter madness.
It's also ironic that Bungie's advice played a big part in the game being cancelled. It's not like their live service games are lighting up the charts.
I wonder how the industry will cope. I can't see many people accepting prices like this, only a few fools prepared to part with their money.
The real question will be what happens to the industry as a whole if so few people have access to the latest hardware? Sites like this will lose readers, developers will be making games for no one. It wouldn't take long for people to abandon a platform nobody bought into. There's nothing worse than buying an expensive console that ends up with no games because it sold badly. Just look at the Dreamcast, Jaguar and PSVR2.
The pro bundle I bought November 24' looks like a bargain now. It's like they're giving up on the younger generation completely. There's no way kids or even most parents will be able to afford this. It's hard not to imagine the impending release of GTA6 didn't have anything to do with this. People will be desperate to play it and Sony know it.
Maybe I should sell my OG PS5. It's unreal that it's worth more now than when I bought it 6 years ago.
They should be thinking about how to make fun or interesting games that don't break the bank, take 8 years to make and end up needing to be priced so high for the punters.
As someone who probably can afford to spend £70 on a game, I simply won't. It's the point where a game needs to be really special for me to spend that kind of money, and you only get two or three of those games a generation. Games like Elden Ring or GTA6.
Games like Intergalactic, Horizon, Spider-Man and Saros (and I loved Returnal) are just not that special. They're more like £30-50 (£20 end of gen secondhand even) games. I don't know what the answer is, but my spending on games this generation for PS5 and Switch 2 have fallen off a cliff. Most of my budget has moved over to buying quality retro stuff on eBay. Where it was probably much more event split with retro and new titles when they were still around £45 new.
I'm now more than happy to wait a year or so to pick up a game when it comes down to a more reasonable price. I still try to buy them new if I can, to help out the developers, but the truth is, buying games on launch is a mugs game now. You're much better off waiting for all the dlc and patches to be included at a lower price.
So games like Fortnite are not only responsible for a decline in variety and creative output in the industry, to top it off they're also costing more to run than they make themselves. It reminds me of the situation with Starbucks where they'd just irresponsibly open up cafés at a loss to kill the competition.
Glad I waited on this after the mandatory update for physical was revealed. I actually think I'll enjoy the game, but I can wait until it's fully patched with all the dlc.
Or as the first few reviews suggest, it's going to be a fairly good game with quite a few QoL issues that should be fixed if you're patient. It's sound like a high 7 to mid 8 that could raise to 9 after the kinks are ironed out and all dlc is included. It's definitely a 'wait for the inevitable complete edition' situation, especially after it's been revealed that the game isn't playable from the disc.
I was going to borrow it a month or so after release, but it might actually be better to wait six months to a year, to get the best experience and final build at a cheaper price. Hopefully, there will be a complete on disc version down the line too.
You could argue that by constantly stuffing s****y live service games with manipulative monetisation that diminishes the output of quality games in this is what you get coming out the other end. I'd rather a world where neither existed.
A 9 from me, it's only issue is there could have been more of each character, which is really a backhanded compliment I suppose.
It's been a much longer game on insanity difficulty. They're not kidding with the title for that difficulty. If you play it without too many cheats like infinite ammo or the rocket launcher, it's so intense. The change of item pick up locations, safe codes and enemies was also a neat touch.
If it also had PSVR2 support on launch it would be an easy 10, as that would justify a 4th playthrough. Maybe I'll wait until then to make my review score official, with a new precident being set for Marathon 😉
Blah blah... something about slippery slopes...blah blah... credibility...blah blah. Not a good look to be honest.
Would Push Square do the same for a game that released a bit of a mess and has an update promised a month later? If they're releasing a game and charging money for it, shouldn't you be reviewing that product so your readers can make an educated decision based on that? Isn't that pretty much one of the main reason a site that reviews games exists?
Seems like Push Square have a responsibility to at least review the game and offer an opinion on whether they recommend buying Marathon in its current state or not. Even if they want to hold back a score until Bungie decide it's time for everyone to rate it.
If that last sentence doesn't make a review site reconsider its standing and purpose in a situation like this, nothing will. What if Bungie suddenly add in loads of extra micro transactions or egregious loot boxes? Will Push Square then re-review the game to drop the score? The real issue here is this situation only serves to raise the score in the favour of Bungie and Sony. That's kind of awful practice really.
I think it probably will force Sony into action earlier than they need to, but I also think both Sony and Microsoft might be in for a bit of a shock when they find out a lot of trust is gone and most people won't buy in to the next gen early for various reasons.
The consoles will be way too expensive and they kind of sh@t the bed with too many games crossing generations for too long. They've essentially trained a lot of us to realise that we can probably go the whole next generation without upgrading and still have access to the majority of games released.
It might just be me, but I'm definitely in a wait and see mode going forward. If I don't like what I see with the direction they take, especially with things like dynamic pricing, physical games dying out and rising prices to simply play online, then I'm leaving Playstation for good.
I think it's a wise decision, but it won't change my mind on getting a Steam machine or PC instead of a PS6, especially on launch.
It would take Sony doing something really special to get me to buy in early next gen. No more paying for online, cheaper digital games, a more secure digital library and a Linux functioning PC, I can't see Sony swaying me from that. I feel like they've lost me now after a pretty wretched 1st party generation and some unsavoury strategies.
It's possible I could get a PS6 eventually, but only if there are a load of killer exclusive games by the end of its cycle and prices have come back down to earth.
I'm not sure it's enough for me. It really depends on whether there's still a physical option. The overriding factor for me personally is that if I'm being forced into digital for modern releases then I'm going Steam all the way.
This definitely shows that Sony have considered they might have underestimated how important good exclusive games are for a lot of people.
Finished it over the weekend, amazing game. I haven't enjoyed a game like that in ages. Can't wait to start it again. All the talk of lack of balance seems a bit misleading to me. It's essentially two 8 hour games. The first half is mostly one location classic resi survival horror with puzzles and the second half is all out resi 4 style action. It's superb!
It's the most I've enjoyed a game since RE4 remake, it's amazing so far. I don't really understand the Push Square reviewer's sentiments at all. There's been so much more of Grace in the first half, it makes total sense to have more Leon in the second half. I can't wait, personal GOTY for me. I can't wait to start it again and go through with infinite ammo and mess around. The zombie A.I and set pieces have been top tier.
I've been playing through hitman and midnight walk recently, both excellent games in PSVR2. It's definitely niche, but I've enjoyed collecting the physical copies and now actually have a complete collection, with a few new ones coming here and there. I figured this will be an amazing curiosity in years to come, so I've picked up a spare headset. The quality of the kit and once you have some comfort elements added, it's a really special experience.
Personally, I think it's the best possible thing that could have happened. It might actually make a difference. I hope it continues. People kept trying to justify these stupid GaaS nobody wanted, saying they can co-exist alongside the games we actually want and here we are with exactly what many of us tried to warn everyone of. Sony aren't interested in making good games anymore, because games like Demon's Souls eat into the potential profit and engagement they can get from live service trash. They simply want as much of your money for as little effort as possible, preferably though the psychological manipulation of children. Take em' down I say, until they realise they need us more than we need them.
The journalists on sites like this should also be going in hard on them unless they want to spend the rest of their careers writing about skins or season passes for three or four games.
I think they underestimated this decision, it shows how out of touch they are. Maybe it's the straw that broke the camel's back, because it seems like the whole fan base has finally turned on them on social media. It will be really interesting to see if/how they react.
Yeah, I'm done with Sony, they're gone. To profit off, buy, mismanage and then shut down a studio in this way shows exactly where their head is at. I won't be buying any more of their hardware going forward. It started with the closure of all the talented Japanese studios they had and it's just got worse. They clearly have no interest in providing games that are actually good value or fun anymore. Even Nintendo are on the slide. It makes me really sad to see what has happened to the leaders of the industry. Man, am I glad I kept all my games and consoles. Good riddance.
I haven't played a ps+ game since Final Fantasy 7 Remake whenever that was. If they raise the price again just to pay online (in my case) I'm done. It really feels like Sony are trying to push my away at this point. Don't they make enough money already? I thought they just announced record profits. Next they'll be trying to paywall charging my controllers.
I really must be in a minority, with my spending on new games this generation down to a fraction of what it was on PS4. Most of my money goes on eBay retro and secondhand purchases now. Are people really spending £70 on games at the same rate they were before? Have people really been suckered into the expensive subs? How do they have time to play all those games? I'm so out of touch now 😂
I think from my view and quite a few others in the same situation as me, we see it as the last generation of physical media and thus the last one we will stick with Sony and PlayStation as a platform holder.
I have no digital library on my PS account, so don't feel trapped in their ecosystem. The longer this generation lasts and the longer games are optimised for the PS5, the better it is for me. It also gives me a nice long tail to collect from with PS5 games oddly being quite good for playing from the disc.
I'm tired of edging forward with specs and expensive upgrades, with constant re-releases of games over generations.
A big shift is coming and the owners/contributors of this site, Pure Xbox (and to a lesser extent) Nintendolife would do well to prepare for an industry more focused on individual releases instead of platforms. I like these sites and the communities and hope they can adjust and thrive.
Isn't this just a pay to win game with the dial notched up to 11? Selling fomo loot that can also be lost on a run seems like a pretty heinous manipulation of people susceptable to this kind of abuse to me. I can only imagine what's going on under the hood to capture and keep whales hooked in this kind of game. Am I missing something?
I think there's also a big decision about physical media to make too. The longer it takes the more likely it is the PS6 will be digital only.
At this point they might as well go for it, so I and many others can move over to Steam.
@get2sammyb "Speaking personally from the editor of a website’s perspective, this is kind of a nightmare haha."
At least you're honest about it, but with the price of everything and the fact that it's the quality of game design that needs to improve, not graphics, it makes perfect sense to hold off a new generation. The point of diminishing returns is real and needs to be acknowledged.
Gross, I would have probably supported them after enjoying Returnal, but now I'll just wait until I can get it for cheap second hand. I wonder if it's really worth it for them.
I understand the sentiment, but actually putting something so subjective into practice would be open to abuse on so many levels.
My main problem with reviews is that reviewers and journalists in the industry generally get their games for free. Not to mention publishers throwing in events and freebies (which I understand is not so common anymore). Not only has this made journos readily jump on the digital future train, it also means that they'll never really understand the monetary (and rising) cost of playing games, outside of buying the occasional game themselves.
I've often wondered what a system where reviewers have to pay for the games and then lose access to it if they want their money back would do to the reviewing landscape.
Still, I can't think of a better system and I like reading reviews and content from sites like this, so it's best to just let it lie and develop a gauge of different reviewers and sites tendencies and tastes.
With the PS6 probably going all in on digital distribution, why not wait longer?
I think the next gen will be the biggest shift the industry has seen since the crash. It makes a lot of sense to see where things are heading while allowing prices to stabilise and dev time to reduce.
It would also do them well to consider a customer base without my generation propping them up, as we tire out and decide where to go if there aren't physical copies to collect anymore. I know for sure I'm going to Steam if I have to go digital.
The scale of the accolades this game has received kind of makes me like it less haha. I enjoyed it, but the fact that you could never really beat a boss the first time because there's no way of knowing how to parry them without practice rubbed me up the wrong way. It's a fine game though, and I hope it leads to more experimentation in the industry.
I do think it's sad that Nintendo games outside of Zelda aren't really considered for GOTY. Thinking as objectively as you can, Donkey Kong Bananza is a far superior video game overall, especially regarding mechanics and gameplay.
I would love for it to be great, but Bethesda have really lost their way. They haven't made a great game in 14 years, so it's amazing how much clout they do have considering how little quality they've put out in the past decade.
I've actually just picked up an OG Xbox with a copy of Morrowind, so I'm looking forward to seeing why it's so highly regarded.
@8bitOG I do this with most friends, but the Playstation buddies are reluctant.
@EVIL-C Ha, I didn't realise that, maybe I should let the sub go then. I did need it to play Monster Hunter online, so I guess that game cost me £130 essentially.
It's actually quite manipulative that they call it essential, basically suggesting that you must pay them £70 a year by proxy.
Anyway, I actually think it is a good deal overall if you don't have much money to spend on games and aren't some kind of physical collecting freak like I am. I do wish there was a basic online option though, that cost £10-20 a year for online play.
And yet I didn't play a single one of them. To be fair, I do usually play at least 2 or 3 games from PS+ a year to justify the sub, but I've not played my playstation much this year. All this makes me realise is there's too many games, not enough time, they're not even close to worth the prices they're charging and I'm paying the best part of £100 a year to occasionally talk to a few friends in chat while we play different games. If anything it's made me feel a bit stupid for buying Alan Wake 2 for full price and not getting round to playing it. Online play should be free, I'm more than happy to give up the library of unplayed PS+ games.
As others have pointed out, this game with a steering wheel, pedals, gear stick and PSVR2 is unbelievable. I'm not really a petrol head, but the thrill and immersion I've experienced in this game is unmatched.
This looks fun. I've just got the PSVR2 out, as I tend to do on holiday breaks and I'm playing The Midnight Walk and Hitman. I'm still blown away by how good the headset and controllers are. I hope we still get a few more games for it on PS5.
The most important point for me is a whether Sony offer a physical option or not. If they force us to go digital only I'm far more likely to build a digital library on Steam than Playstation.
I think Sony are a bit concerned and they should be. I also think putting their exclusives on PC was a bit mistake. With no physical options or exclusive 1st party games they've willingly whittled down all selling points they had from my perspective.
This is where I'm going once there's no physical option from Playstation. Games on PS5 have actually been quite good for running from the disc.
But if I have to buy digital only, Steam is where it's at. I'm lucky I haven't built up a massive playstation digital library outside of the subscription, which I'm happy to let go.
The prices on Playstation store are awful compared to Steam. Plus, no extra cost to play online games either. You'd have to be pretty devoted to Sony to stick with them going forward without a thriving/cheap second hand market.
This kind of thinking only shows how little respect companies like Microsoft have for video games. Video games, TV, music, short form video and cinema are all different forms of entertainment. News flash, not one of them can capture everyone's attention.
If Microsoft want eyeballs in the short form video space they got into the wrong platform.
Idiots.
All this does is show that they have no interest in making anything of worth, all they care about is market share and control.
This is like someone in the music industry complaining that they're competing with art galleries. Just stick to what you're good at, treat your customers with respect and provide good quality products at the best possible value. Trying to start a fist fight with the wind, idiots.
If Xbox made better games than Sony and Nintendo, didn't have ads on the os menu, didn't try to force konnect in my home and push things like locking games to a console to kill the secondhand market and physical games, I might have considered them over the competition.
It's embarrassing that they don't acknowledge why so few people want to invest in their ecosystem. They've only had a negative impact on the gaming industry, it's that simple.
It's baffling to me that anyone would stick up for a company that is so intent on controlling and destroying a hobby they love so much. I suppose there's probably some kind of Stockholm syndrome thing going on with people who still stand by Microsoft.
Comments 810
Re: PS5's PS Store Is Getting a Netflix-Style Makeover Soon
I'm surprised how bad online stores are on consoles in general, so hopefully this can finally land on something more intuitive. I rarely buy digital games though, so this doesn't really affect me either way.
I've wondered why they don't implement streaming into a store system that allows us to play demos of games instantly. It seems like the perfect use for it. Imagine a hub similar to the way Playstation Home used to work, but it was a virtual store that looked like an arcade and you could try any game for the first few levels or a selected slice if the game. That would be pretty awesome, but I imagine it would be incredibly hard to actually pull off. They could at least do it for a selection of games every month.
Re: 'I Saw How It Was Getting Damaged': Ex-Bethesda Exec Goes to Town on Xbox's Mistreatment
As someone currently playing Morrowind, I can confirm that Bethesda went in all the wrong directions.
Re: You Might Not Want to Know How Much It Reportedly Cost Bungie to Make Marathon
It's frustrating that a lot of us are paying for irresponsible spending on live service failures through ongoing price hikes to make up for games we never asked for. The worst part is that if one of these whale hunting cynical GaaS stabs in the dark actually hits it will only decrease the need to put effort into making actual quality games and experiences. It's pretty awful really. It either ends up with Sony destroying themselves or a live service game taking over completely.
Re: Saros PS5 Marketing in Full Swing as Sony Drops Yet Another Trailer
It looks so good, cannot wait!
Re: Saros Looks Like Pure Chaotic Bullet Hell Madness in Latest PS5 Gameplay Clip
Looking forward to this, Returnal is an amazing game. I hope Saros can build on it in a satisfying way.
Re: The Last of Us Multiplayer Was 80% Complete Before Cancellation, Spent 7 Years in Development
At that point why not just finish it and give it to all ps+ subscribers as a loss leader? That's coming from someone who despises what live service games have done to the industry too. It feels like Playstation is run by people who have never played a game before or have any idea about the industry. Utter madness.
It's also ironic that Bungie's advice played a big part in the game being cancelled. It's not like their live service games are lighting up the charts.
Re: PS5 Hit Crimson Desert Might Have Divided Opinion, But It's Cracked 4 Million Sales in Two Weeks
Maybe review sites should have waited a month before giving it a score.
Re: After PS5 Price Hikes, Sony Suspends Memory Card Sales Over Supply Crisis
The end is nigh!
Re: '$1,000+ Consoles Could Become the Norm': PS6's Price Touted to Touch Four Figures
I wonder how the industry will cope. I can't see many people accepting prices like this, only a few fools prepared to part with their money.
The real question will be what happens to the industry as a whole if so few people have access to the latest hardware? Sites like this will lose readers, developers will be making games for no one. It wouldn't take long for people to abandon a platform nobody bought into. There's nothing worse than buying an expensive console that ends up with no games because it sold badly. Just look at the Dreamcast, Jaguar and PSVR2.
Re: Sony Announces Big PS5 Price Increases, Effective from April 2026
Bonkers, absolutely bonkers.
The pro bundle I bought November 24' looks like a bargain now. It's like they're giving up on the younger generation completely. There's no way kids or even most parents will be able to afford this. It's hard not to imagine the impending release of GTA6 didn't have anything to do with this. People will be desperate to play it and Sony know it.
Maybe I should sell my OG PS5. It's unreal that it's worth more now than when I bought it 6 years ago.
Re: 'This Is Unsustainable Madness': Modern Video Game Budgets Are Out of Control
They should be thinking about how to make fun or interesting games that don't break the bank, take 8 years to make and end up needing to be priced so high for the punters.
As someone who probably can afford to spend £70 on a game, I simply won't. It's the point where a game needs to be really special for me to spend that kind of money, and you only get two or three of those games a generation. Games like Elden Ring or GTA6.
Games like Intergalactic, Horizon, Spider-Man and Saros (and I loved Returnal) are just not that special. They're more like £30-50 (£20 end of gen secondhand even) games. I don't know what the answer is, but my spending on games this generation for PS5 and Switch 2 have fallen off a cliff. Most of my budget has moved over to buying quality retro stuff on eBay. Where it was probably much more event split with retro and new titles when they were still around £45 new.
I'm now more than happy to wait a year or so to pick up a game when it comes down to a more reasonable price. I still try to buy them new if I can, to help out the developers, but the truth is, buying games on launch is a mugs game now. You're much better off waiting for all the dlc and patches to be included at a lower price.
Re: 'I Have Done So Much for This Company': Axed Fortnite Dev Can't Believe He's Been Laid Off
So games like Fortnite are not only responsible for a decline in variety and creative output in the industry, to top it off they're also costing more to run than they make themselves. It reminds me of the situation with Starbucks where they'd just irresponsibly open up cafés at a loss to kill the competition.
Re: PS5 Players Seemingly Skip Marathon as Sales Estimates Look Very Weak
It looks like Marathon has already run its course.
Re: Crimson Desert Looks 'Rough' on Base PS5, Here's 25 Minutes of Direct Capture Footage
Glad I waited on this after the mandatory update for physical was revealed. I actually think I'll enjoy the game, but I can wait until it's fully patched with all the dlc.
Re: Crimson Desert's Mandatory PS5 Update Sparks Debate About Games Which Break Street Date
Just release the physical copies a few weeks later if it's that much if an issue.
Re: Opinion: Crimson Desert Could Be PS5 Game of the Year, or a Total Mess
Or as the first few reviews suggest, it's going to be a fairly good game with quite a few QoL issues that should be fixed if you're patient. It's sound like a high 7 to mid 8 that could raise to 9 after the kinks are ironed out and all dlc is included. It's definitely a 'wait for the inevitable complete edition' situation, especially after it's been revealed that the game isn't playable from the disc.
I was going to borrow it a month or so after release, but it might actually be better to wait six months to a year, to get the best experience and final build at a cheaper price. Hopefully, there will be a complete on disc version down the line too.
Re: 'Imagine Being Such a Loser': We've Hit Rock Bottom with Website Dedicated to 'Failing' Games
You could argue that by constantly stuffing s****y live service games with manipulative monetisation that diminishes the output of quality games in this is what you get coming out the other end. I'd rather a world where neither existed.
Re: Crimson Desert PS5 Concern as Physical Copies Won't Run without Download
They've made the decision for me then. Thanks for this info, I'll just wait and borrow it from a friend now.
If they want to hold onto the licence of the game then I'll just do the same thing with my money. I don't pay full price for a rental.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Resident Evil Requiem?
A 9 from me, it's only issue is there could have been more of each character, which is really a backhanded compliment I suppose.
It's been a much longer game on insanity difficulty. They're not kidding with the title for that difficulty. If you play it without too many cheats like infinite ammo or the rocket launcher, it's so intense. The change of item pick up locations, safe codes and enemies was also a neat touch.
If it also had PSVR2 support on launch it would be an easy 10, as that would justify a 4th playthrough. Maybe I'll wait until then to make my review score official, with a new precident being set for Marathon 😉
Re: Site News: Where's Our Marathon PS5 Review?
Blah blah... something about slippery slopes...blah blah... credibility...blah blah. Not a good look to be honest.
Would Push Square do the same for a game that released a bit of a mess and has an update promised a month later? If they're releasing a game and charging money for it, shouldn't you be reviewing that product so your readers can make an educated decision based on that? Isn't that pretty much one of the main reason a site that reviews games exists?
Seems like Push Square have a responsibility to at least review the game and offer an opinion on whether they recommend buying Marathon in its current state or not. Even if they want to hold back a score until Bungie decide it's time for everyone to rate it.
If that last sentence doesn't make a review site reconsider its standing and purpose in a situation like this, nothing will. What if Bungie suddenly add in loads of extra micro transactions or egregious loot boxes? Will Push Square then re-review the game to drop the score? The real issue here is this situation only serves to raise the score in the favour of Bungie and Sony. That's kind of awful practice really.
Re: Opinion: I Wonder if Xbox Helix Will Force Sony to Break Its PS6 Silence
I think it probably will force Sony into action earlier than they need to, but I also think both Sony and Microsoft might be in for a bit of a shock when they find out a lot of trust is gone and most people won't buy in to the next gen early for various reasons.
The consoles will be way too expensive and they kind of sh@t the bed with too many games crossing generations for too long. They've essentially trained a lot of us to realise that we can probably go the whole next generation without upgrading and still have access to the majority of games released.
It might just be me, but I'm definitely in a wait and see mode going forward. If I don't like what I see with the direction they take, especially with things like dynamic pricing, physical games dying out and rising prices to simply play online, then I'm leaving Playstation for good.
Re: Opinion: Sony's PC Pullback Is the Right Move for PS5
I think it's a wise decision, but it won't change my mind on getting a Steam machine or PC instead of a PS6, especially on launch.
It would take Sony doing something really special to get me to buy in early next gen. No more paying for online, cheaper digital games, a more secure digital library and a Linux functioning PC, I can't see Sony swaying me from that. I feel like they've lost me now after a pretty wretched 1st party generation and some unsavoury strategies.
It's possible I could get a PS6 eventually, but only if there are a load of killer exclusive games by the end of its cycle and prices have come back down to earth.
Re: Sony Returns to PlayStation Exclusivity and Stops Single Player PC Ports, New Report Says
I'm not sure it's enough for me. It really depends on whether there's still a physical option. The overriding factor for me personally is that if I'm being forced into digital for modern releases then I'm going Steam all the way.
This definitely shows that Sony have considered they might have underestimated how important good exclusive games are for a lot of people.
Re: Resident Evil Requiem's Physical UK Launch 'Much Bigger' Than Village, 4 Remake
Finished it over the weekend, amazing game. I haven't enjoyed a game like that in ages. Can't wait to start it again. All the talk of lack of balance seems a bit misleading to me. It's essentially two 8 hour games. The first half is mostly one location classic resi survival horror with puzzles and the second half is all out resi 4 style action. It's superb!
Re: 'It's the Real Deal': Tech Experts Praise PS5 Pro's Upgraded Upscaler
It's that really what it's looks like on standard PS5? I can't believe it's that bad.
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Resident Evil Requiem?
It's the most I've enjoyed a game since RE4 remake, it's amazing so far. I don't really understand the Push Square reviewer's sentiments at all. There's been so much more of Grace in the first half, it makes total sense to have more Leon in the second half. I can't wait, personal GOTY for me. I can't wait to start it again and go through with infinite ammo and mess around. The zombie A.I and set pieces have been top tier.
Re: Video: Silence as PSVR2 Turns Three Years Old - Is Sony's PS5 Headset Dead?
I've been playing through hitman and midnight walk recently, both excellent games in PSVR2. It's definitely niche, but I've enjoyed collecting the physical copies and now actually have a complete collection, with a few new ones coming here and there. I figured this will be an amazing curiosity in years to come, so I've picked up a spare headset. The quality of the kit and once you have some comfort elements added, it's a really special experience.
Re: Sony Goes Silent on Social Media as Fans Turn Feral Following Bluepoint Closure
Personally, I think it's the best possible thing that could have happened. It might actually make a difference. I hope it continues. People kept trying to justify these stupid GaaS nobody wanted, saying they can co-exist alongside the games we actually want and here we are with exactly what many of us tried to warn everyone of. Sony aren't interested in making good games anymore, because games like Demon's Souls eat into the potential profit and engagement they can get from live service trash. They simply want as much of your money for as little effort as possible, preferably though the psychological manipulation of children. Take em' down I say, until they realise they need us more than we need them.
The journalists on sites like this should also be going in hard on them unless they want to spend the rest of their careers writing about skins or season passes for three or four games.
Re: Opinion: Sony's Disgraceful Bluepoint Closure Should Concern Every PS Studios Fan
I think they underestimated this decision, it shows how out of touch they are. Maybe it's the straw that broke the camel's back, because it seems like the whole fan base has finally turned on them on social media. It will be really interesting to see if/how they react.
Re: Memory Crisis Threatening to Delay PS6 Could Last 'Another 10 Years'
looks over at spoils from 30 years of collecting...Holy s**t, I was right.
Re: Sony Makes Shocking Decision to Shut Down Bluepoint Games
Yeah, I'm done with Sony, they're gone. To profit off, buy, mismanage and then shut down a studio in this way shows exactly where their head is at. I won't be buying any more of their hardware going forward. It started with the closure of all the talented Japanese studios they had and it's just got worse. They clearly have no interest in providing games that are actually good value or fun anymore. Even Nintendo are on the slide. It makes me really sad to see what has happened to the leaders of the industry. Man, am I glad I kept all my games and consoles. Good riddance.
Re: Sony Will Offset Soaring RAM Prices by Further Monetising PS5 Players
I haven't played a ps+ game since Final Fantasy 7 Remake whenever that was. If they raise the price again just to pay online (in my case) I'm done. It really feels like Sony are trying to push my away at this point. Don't they make enough money already? I thought they just announced record profits. Next they'll be trying to paywall charging my controllers.
I really must be in a minority, with my spending on new games this generation down to a fraction of what it was on PS4. Most of my money goes on eBay retro and secondhand purchases now. Are people really spending £70 on games at the same rate they were before? Have people really been suckered into the expensive subs? How do they have time to play all those games? I'm so out of touch now 😂
Re: Opinion: The Euphoric Reaction to PS6's Rumoured Delay Really Confuses Me
I think from my view and quite a few others in the same situation as me, we see it as the last generation of physical media and thus the last one we will stick with Sony and PlayStation as a platform holder.
I have no digital library on my PS account, so don't feel trapped in their ecosystem. The longer this generation lasts and the longer games are optimised for the PS5, the better it is for me. It also gives me a nice long tail to collect from with PS5 games oddly being quite good for playing from the disc.
I'm tired of edging forward with specs and expensive upgrades, with constant re-releases of games over generations.
A big shift is coming and the owners/contributors of this site, Pure Xbox (and to a lesser extent) Nintendolife would do well to prepare for an industry more focused on individual releases instead of platforms. I like these sites and the communities and hope they can adjust and thrive.
Re: Sorry Haters, But Marathon Is Looking Real Good Right Now
Isn't this just a pay to win game with the dial notched up to 11? Selling fomo loot that can also be lost on a run seems like a pretty heinous manipulation of people susceptable to this kind of abuse to me. I can only imagine what's going on under the hood to capture and keep whales hooked in this kind of game. Am I missing something?
Re: Sony Considering PS6 Delay to 2028 or Even 2029, New Report Says
I think there's also a big decision about physical media to make too. The longer it takes the more likely it is the PS6 will be digital only.
At this point they might as well go for it, so I and many others can move over to Steam.
@get2sammyb "Speaking personally from the editor of a website’s perspective, this is kind of a nightmare haha."
At least you're honest about it, but with the price of everything and the fact that it's the quality of game design that needs to improve, not graphics, it makes perfect sense to hold off a new generation. The point of diminishing returns is real and needs to be acknowledged.
Re: Saros Succumbs to the Pay Extra to Play Early Trend
Gross, I would have probably supported them after enjoying Returnal, but now I'll just wait until I can get it for cheap second hand. I wonder if it's really worth it for them.
Re: The Internet Has Not Been Kind to Horizon Hunters Gathering
People can smell a cynical cash grab designed by committee, and this is that.
Re: Larian CEO Swen Vincke Sticks His Foot in It Again, Thinks Game Reviewers Should Also Be Reviewed
I understand the sentiment, but actually putting something so subjective into practice would be open to abuse on so many levels.
My main problem with reviews is that reviewers and journalists in the industry generally get their games for free. Not to mention publishers throwing in events and freebies (which I understand is not so common anymore). Not only has this made journos readily jump on the digital future train, it also means that they'll never really understand the monetary (and rising) cost of playing games, outside of buying the occasional game themselves.
I've often wondered what a system where reviewers have to pay for the games and then lose access to it if they want their money back would do to the reviewing landscape.
Still, I can't think of a better system and I like reading reviews and content from sites like this, so it's best to just let it lie and develop a gauge of different reviewers and sites tendencies and tastes.
Re: Sony Set to Delay PS6 Release Date, Claims Financial Report
With the PS6 probably going all in on digital distribution, why not wait longer?
I think the next gen will be the biggest shift the industry has seen since the crash. It makes a lot of sense to see where things are heading while allowing prices to stabilise and dev time to reduce.
It would also do them well to consider a customer base without my generation propping them up, as we tire out and decide where to go if there aren't physical copies to collect anymore. I know for sure I'm going to Steam if I have to go digital.
Re: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Now Has the Most Game of the Year Awards Ever
The scale of the accolades this game has received kind of makes me like it less haha. I enjoyed it, but the fact that you could never really beat a boss the first time because there's no way of knowing how to parry them without practice rubbed me up the wrong way. It's a fine game though, and I hope it leads to more experimentation in the industry.
I do think it's sad that Nintendo games outside of Zelda aren't really considered for GOTY. Thinking as objectively as you can, Donkey Kong Bananza is a far superior video game overall, especially regarding mechanics and gameplay.
Re: It's Not Just Fans Who Are Fed Up with Waiting for The Elder Scrolls 6
I would love for it to be great, but Bethesda have really lost their way. They haven't made a great game in 14 years, so it's amazing how much clout they do have considering how little quality they've put out in the past decade.
I've actually just picked up an OG Xbox with a copy of Morrowind, so I'm looking forward to seeing why it's so highly regarded.
Re: Your PS Plus Essential Sub Netted You $1,500+ in PS5, PS4 Games This Year
@8bitOG I do this with most friends, but the Playstation buddies are reluctant.
@EVIL-C Ha, I didn't realise that, maybe I should let the sub go then. I did need it to play Monster Hunter online, so I guess that game cost me £130 essentially.
It's actually quite manipulative that they call it essential, basically suggesting that you must pay them £70 a year by proxy.
Anyway, I actually think it is a good deal overall if you don't have much money to spend on games and aren't some kind of physical collecting freak like I am. I do wish there was a basic online option though, that cost £10-20 a year for online play.
Re: Your PS Plus Essential Sub Netted You $1,500+ in PS5, PS4 Games This Year
And yet I didn't play a single one of them. To be fair, I do usually play at least 2 or 3 games from PS+ a year to justify the sub, but I've not played my playstation much this year. All this makes me realise is there's too many games, not enough time, they're not even close to worth the prices they're charging and I'm paying the best part of £100 a year to occasionally talk to a few friends in chat while we play different games. If anything it's made me feel a bit stupid for buying Alan Wake 2 for full price and not getting round to playing it. Online play should be free, I'm more than happy to give up the library of unplayed PS+ games.
Re: 'Sony's Never Experienced This Phenomenon Before': PS5 Smash Hit Gran Turismo 7 Getting Stronger Over time
As others have pointed out, this game with a steering wheel, pedals, gear stick and PSVR2 is unbelievable. I'm not really a petrol head, but the thrill and immersion I've experienced in this game is unmatched.
Re: PSVR2's Highly Anticipated Aces of Thunder Locks in a 3rd February Release Date
This looks fun. I've just got the PSVR2 out, as I tend to do on holiday breaks and I'm playing The Midnight Walk and Hitman. I'm still blown away by how good the headset and controllers are. I hope we still get a few more games for it on PS5.
Re: Valve's Steam Machine May Not Be As Affordable As a PS5
The most important point for me is a whether Sony offer a physical option or not. If they force us to go digital only I'm far more likely to build a digital library on Steam than Playstation.
I think Sony are a bit concerned and they should be. I also think putting their exclusives on PC was a bit mistake. With no physical options or exclusive 1st party games they've willingly whittled down all selling points they had from my perspective.
Re: Poll: Does the Steam Machine Pose a Threat to PS5?
This is where I'm going once there's no physical option from Playstation. Games on PS5 have actually been quite good for running from the disc.
But if I have to buy digital only, Steam is where it's at. I'm lucky I haven't built up a massive playstation digital library outside of the subscription, which I'm happy to let go.
The prices on Playstation store are awful compared to Steam. Plus, no extra cost to play online games either. You'd have to be pretty devoted to Sony to stick with them going forward without a thriving/cheap second hand market.
Re: Talking Point: Is PS5 Really in Competition with TikTok?
This kind of thinking only shows how little respect companies like Microsoft have for video games. Video games, TV, music, short form video and cinema are all different forms of entertainment. News flash, not one of them can capture everyone's attention.
If Microsoft want eyeballs in the short form video space they got into the wrong platform.
Idiots.
All this does is show that they have no interest in making anything of worth, all they care about is market share and control.
Re: 'Our Biggest Competition Isn't Another Console': Xbox Doubles Down on Multiformat After Halo PS5 Shock
This is like someone in the music industry complaining that they're competing with art galleries. Just stick to what you're good at, treat your customers with respect and provide good quality products at the best possible value. Trying to start a fist fight with the wind, idiots.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
If Xbox made better games than Sony and Nintendo, didn't have ads on the os menu, didn't try to force konnect in my home and push things like locking games to a console to kill the secondhand market and physical games, I might have considered them over the competition.
It's embarrassing that they don't acknowledge why so few people want to invest in their ecosystem. They've only had a negative impact on the gaming industry, it's that simple.
It's baffling to me that anyone would stick up for a company that is so intent on controlling and destroying a hobby they love so much. I suppose there's probably some kind of Stockholm syndrome thing going on with people who still stand by Microsoft.