@scottXedgar And the Sony store is not close to being the only place to buy PS5 games (which can also be bought physically), but the comparison of Sony vs Steam prices is still a very worthwhile comparison.
@Dogbreath To make it worthwhile to me, my expectations would be 120fps - via HDMI2.1 TV, at around 1440p upscaled to 4K via DLSS or FSR4 as applicable (on all major engines including UE5), and pretty much future proofed for PS6 gen. So yes, pretty much top end.
That incurs an initial hardware cost which I am comfortable with.
But, I would not want to keep up 2 systems, hence why Sony games on PC is such a major thing for me - because of how much I enjoy them, and how much time I spend on them.
The other major for me is that PC needs to become more hassle free before I would consider a move, but I do think things are improving here.
My point is though, that I would want to go in with realistic expectations of what it would cost, both in terms of money and time/effort. Sadly, there are far too many comments here that are completely unrealistic in these regards.
PC is a very different ecosystem with its own positives and negatives, but looking at certain Pro-PC comments here and over the last few months you would not think that was the case.
@11001100110zero
"I've stated before, a person shouldn't ruin something for anyone else. If you aren't blown away/impressed/excited then so be it. I'd hope a person doesn't trash talk something they have never used or experienced before. Some people here may be excited, and allow the comments to ruin it for them"
For clarification- I am not interested in the Steam machine as its too underpowered for my requirements according to every expert opinion I have read.
I am however frequently interested in a far more powerful PC - but, there are plenty of major Pro's and major Con's to PC vs console, which at this point in time keep me firmly on console, whilst keeping a close eye on PC to see if the major Con's improve - One of the major Con's of PC for me, being that Sony do not release ALL of their games on PC.
Comments like @LogicStrikesAgain 's above comments are not the sort of thing that would do anything to 'ruin' / put me off ever trying PC in the long run.
(Sony store prices vs Sream is a good comparison - if you want to add various other PC selling sites, you also have to consider a lot of other retailers who sell PS games - physical and digital.)
The sort of comments that have really started to put me off in recent months are the various comments you can see throughout this thread (and similar, particularly in the last couple of months) saying how fantastic PC is over console.
There are upsides and downsides, particularly if someone is thinking of moving between the very different
ecosystems.
However a number of comments I have read here on Pushsquare - a Playstation site - appear to be fanboying for PC, and this articles comments section has appeared particularly bad.
Comments that try to convince about the 'incredible' savings on PC are some of the worst.
The first thing I would do before making a switch like this is budget everything properly, and start deciding exactly what I wanted - and the quickest thing that would stop me would be finding out that things were going to be more hassle or more expensive than they appeared to be.*
Edit: * and worse than this for some, would be to buy a PC or Steam machine, expecting much cheaper games on Steam, only to have buyers remorse once disappointed.
@LogicStrikesAgain Same as you on CDkeys - no idea. If it is legit, I doubt it would be as future proof as Steam / Sony.
Any comparison is a moment in time, and maybe today it is slightly on the side of Sony, but in a weeks time slightly on the side of steam - but I doubt the overall variation is very large, unless someone really cherry picks titles, and that they are about equivalent. Which as you say is completely against what we keep hearing.
I also agree with the use of games over the last year - I tend to buy about half my games near to launch, and about half on sale, but I very rarely buy games much more than a year old, and I doubt many here do either, apart from the odd occasion eg buying an early game from a series you have just got into, or buying a classic game just made available - or of course if you just bought a PS5 buying up the various exclusives from the last few years (but price comparison maybe tricky here lol).
@LogicStrikesAgain RE your post comparing game prices. This is really interesting to me, as all I keep hearing is about how cheap Steam is - when that clearly isn't the case. I'm sure you will get a number of replies that move the goalposts around significantly though.
I have, and still do consider moving to PC from time to time, mainly because I would see real benefits of a very powerful PC in very high framerates and the ability to customise graphics options to my own liking, favouring framerate and visual clarity. I am also not convinced Sony will deliver, hardware wise on PS6 (though I will be happy to be proved wrong on this nearer launch).
But, a lot of posts on this article from PC 'defenders' , along with recent similar articles, are REALLY putting me off PC.
This 'Games are always cheaper on PC' now just adds to the growing list of rubbish being almost peddled, incuding:
"I can build a PC just as powerful, but cheaper than a X" (usually Pro) - usually you find they have missed key components, peripherals, software, or commonly used 2nd hand or dubious sources for components. Plus. I would want it pre-built (like consoles are).
"PC is hassle free these days." (Nonsense, but admittedly improving)
Just this thread, I am adding "Games are cheaper on PC" to the list, after your post.
Also, the mental gymnastics on display here around not having to pay for PS Plus sub for online play is getting very old considering the fact that (in this specific case) this Steam machine can't apparently even play most major online games due to Linux not supporting anti cheat software (or probably more accurately the reverse of this); the terrible situation around online cheating mods in general on PC; and no consideration to the monthly 3 free games with PS plus.
In fact, the whole "cost saving over time on PC" just does not add up, misses things like larger outlay for PC hardware, and is starting to feel very desperate.
I've said similar before but when will people learn that this sort of Posting only goes to put off people from ever trying PC - I have had some far more pleasant conversations here in the past with more realistic, objective views on the Pro's and Con's of PC - but in recent comments sections, the Pro-PC posters just put me off. We even had 1 person extolling the virtues of upscalers in regards this Steam machine, mentioning DLSS - which isn't even compatible with the hardware.
@OldGamer999 Its still not being "mugged off". China and SK still make profit on the devices they make - you need to ask yourself why/how they (can) make products so cheaply (and it isn't that their companies are so benevolent that they want to keep the prices of your entertainment goods down so don't add profit). You also need to consider by your reasoning, what a world would look like where those 2 countries manufacture everything, and no other country produces everything.
@get2sammyb Sorry Sammy, there may be a minor typo error in your article.
Your 2nd paragraph reads "The reports suggests that its debut week is an eye-popping 63% below Battlefield 6, and at least 50% down compared to last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6."
The embedded twitter post states ("more than") "60%" for the second value (ie vs COD:BO6 last year).
@SodaPop6548 I agree that this world is on the wrong track at the moment, with AI being a prime example eg replacing people, consuming too much resource, and generally only being there to make a few people rich - there are good uses for it, but they aren't the focus, and too many people keep down the line of "can we" not "should we". But I think different times in human history have been much worse - 1939 to 1945 for example.
@OldGamer999 I don't think Sony (or Nintendo for that matter) are "mugging" us on console unit prices at all. (Xbox is maybe a different matter, considering the series X price comparison vs the far more capable PS5 Pro.)
The prices could easily be considered cheap when compared to other similar goods for what you get.
And, when inflation adjusted console hardware prices are not much more expensive than they used to be.
Its fair at this point to consider the huge jump in tech in the last 20 years - I mean early consoles don't look much more advanced than calculators these days.
But you also have new components, as opposed to just more computational power: Eg1 early consoles did not have hard drives at all, and this gen was the 1st time we moved to SSD technology. Eg2 even up to last gen, system cooling was minimal at best. Now your console includes a fan that takes up approx 1 third of its volume, not to mention a complex formation of various heatsinks connected by copper pipes. So if you want to do a like for like comparison you need to account for this sort of thing too.
@Arthur_Morgan So your saying that as Production ramps up, the demand of 40% will stay the same % of total, meaning production will need to raise to 167% of what it is now to have as much 'leftover' after the OpenAI deal.
The more I hear about this, the more it sounds like a science fiction film plot, and the more it sounds like this bubble needs to burst sooner rather than later (because it sounds like it WILL burst, but if later it will do a LOT more damage to the global economy).
@Oram77 @DennisReynolds I think they probably did see it coming, but either didn't think to stockpile or didn't want to - how many further consoles do you think they could feasibly guarantee to sell this gen? (ie if they did stockpile, they don't want it left over).
It may just be that they don't care about their series consoles - the fact that they are so expensive compared to PS5 (Pro) already, suggests this imo.
@get2sammyb Asking because I don't have a clue. Are these RAM shortages likely to subside, or is it a case of thats it, this is the situation going forwards? The fact that you mention "long term" deal for the 40% suggests the latter is at least highly probable.
I bought SF6 because of its World tour mode - I can't be bothered these days with competitive fighting, but the World Tour single player mode gave me a reason to buy.
I think its great that they add new World Tour content for new characters, so I even pick these up in sales - something else I wouldn't do if not for this mode.
@White_oyster I don't think its unusual that the region locked model is the digital version, as this way they get the price as low as possible, while everyone has the option of buying an additional drive.
I suspect going forwards, as per Pro, there will only be 1 SKU of PS console - that being digital. With an optional drive for those that want one. Thats the fairest way to do things as not everyone wants to pay for a drive these days.
Even more impressive given the relatively short period of time it's been out for compared to SOME of these games. I'm pretty sure it's a given that games like GoY continue to sell well, even months after launch. Its going to make them a LOT of money on a very modest budget.
@Briarback So would I - more impressive is how, according to the hours played, I managed 100 hours (it was a fair bit over but I can't remember by how much) in just 1 play session.
Either it was magic.. or Sony's counting system has... issues.
@TheArt I was going to reply to you saying that the majority are normal, non PCMR users out there, but given the state of this comments section, I just can't be bothered...
When will people learn that all these 'magic beans' (low powered PCs being so amazingly capable, and how cheap and completely hassle free it is play on PC), only serve to REALLY put off console gamers from trying out the PC ecosystem.
I will add though that I have spoken to some really nice PC users in the past, who have a more realistic view on the Pro's and Con's.
@Oram77 Not sure about the mainland - I'm not the biggest fan of larger settlements in games (weird, I know, but I HAVE to explore every bloody house! Lol).
They have the engine, and a lot of the systems - they just need 1 epic story, and a few changes to keep it fresh enough for 1 more game.
@Oram77 I agree with moving on after Horizon 3, but I think SP could (could) have 1 more good ghost story left to tell - I think it helps that they are using a different protagonist each game. Maybe next time they could expand a bit on having the protagonist hunted more.
@TheArt To play devils advocate here, I think you are confusing the vast majority of normal people who play really low powered PCs, and the smaller number who want higher fps/visuals and can afford high powered PC's; with the small minority who fanboy for PC. (Thosr who will try and tell you that they can build a Pro level PC for the same sort of price, or how there is no hassle whatsoever to PC gaming, etc).
@JohntheRaptor @Andee @4fold No idea if number of hours played is better now, but a while back I saw 100 hours added to my Hogwarts Legacy playtime over the course of 1 day. Its never corrected itself.
This new one is OK. In terms of usefulness I find the storage widget better - as someone who is always over half full on a 2Tb Pro with 1Tb WD Black SN850 expansion.
I may not play the NG+ until after Xmas now, but compared to some other games, this has been released pretty quickly. Hopefully they will add a transmog option - and to be honest, quite a few games miss this out, and by now it should just be a standard element and present on every game at launch.
@Oram77
I only play games in English, and was referring to the English speaking VA. I have added an edit to my original post as when I read your reply I realised this wasn't clear.
I have checked, and in both, the same VA played Atsu and younger Atsu (different VA for English and Japanese).
In regards the English speaking VA, I though they were very good as Atsu, but really grated as Young Atsu - though if voice modification was used it was likely that which put me off.
Edit: I do agree that most of the VA was good though, even though I don't think it's up there with some of Sony's best eg GOWR, SM1/2/MM.
I enjoyed it. It was a novel way to tell some of Atsu's backstory, and unlock a few secrets, and mechanically much better than just a few cutscenes would have been.
It was also technically very well done.
It probably would have been a bit odd to have found the mechanic used in the further regions from her home though.
One problem was the voice for 'Young' Atsu - this was not good, and if I remember rightly was the same voice actor, possibly with her voice modified.
The VA was great for Atsu, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have used a different VA for her younger self.
I won't be pre-ordering then as I will wait for technical analysis - which means it won't get the chance of "it has fps drops but I can tolerate them" that might result from a demo.
@ButterySmooth30FPS I probably have to agree with you that it's more PC these days - I might have to reorder my original comment. I don't have a clue why people do this though - I'm sure I could very easily go onto PC & Xbox sites and raise plenty of negative comments, but I'm not wasting my time.
I will say that it is MUCH less toxic here than a lot of other places.
@Stevemalkpus is kind of right - but it does vary based on individuals.
I've been involved in martial arts a long time, and it would surprise a lot of people exactly what some people are capable of at 51, and at ages far beyond 51.
Physical toughness is one such area that can be retained way beyond what most believe.
A person at 51 may not be quite as fast or agile as they once were, but that doesn't mean they couldn't make an 18 year old look slow and unwieldy.
Of course, it does take the body longer to heal up after injuries - that is almost certain, and stamina can be reduced (which is again relative), but there is no reason to think all 51 year-olds are old - in fact I have seen a number of people in their 50's who are better in almost every physical regard than others in their 20's and 30's (except body healing time), it just depends on the individuals involved.
@Questionable_Duck @ButterySmooth30FPS
I'm sorry, but I see far, far more PC/Xbox fanboys (maybe a few Nintendo too) here on Pushsquare, than Sony fanboys.
To be clear I'm talking about commenters here on Pushsquare, and I would say that the problem is getting significantly worse, particularly recently.
Maybe in some very occasional cases, I'm getting confused with over-the-top anti-Sony sentiment - and I'm certainly not saying everything should be positive (I have a good moan myself sometimes).
I have no real need to visit Pure Xbox, but a while back - maybe about 6 months, after reading a similar conversation here, I had a look for myself.
Maybe I just picked a couple of bad example articles, but what I read that day was that there was an incredible amount of Xbox fanboying in the comments section, to the detriment of others who had genuine points.
Edit: I will just add though, that it is MUCH less toxic here than a lot of places these days.
GoY not being included for game of the year is all I need to not bother tuning in. To be fair though, these awards have been completely overshadowed by their own 'choices' for a few years now, and this isn't the first time I have not bothered with them.
@Art_Vandelay [I hadn't read your post before I submitted my post, and didn't want you (or anyone) to think I was copying without reference - I at least try to be good mannered lol]
I think people who say that "exclusives don't matter" are missing a large, and maybe less immediately tangible part of the picture - and Xbox's dramatic and hastened decline is evidence of this.
I also agree with you on the where have/will the former Xbox gamers gone/go? Though, a certain proportion probably had both Xbox & PS systems, complicating matters.
I also know that whilst PC does offer things I would find of significant benefit (eg high framerates and more graphics tailoring options), I VERY much enjoy Sony's games, and PC at this moment in time is still too much hassle - but we could be close to a major change here, though the current hybrids offer nothing close to the power I would want for high framerates.
I wrote a long post earlier this thread about where PC will need to go to tempt Sony's userbase, but its not simple as I do think there is a fair quantity of people who do transition each gen between PC and Console (in both directions).
If I was Sony, I would be focusing on brand retention, not expansion. I would also be very reluctant to launch PS6 anytime soon, as that helps create a decision making moment for current customers - though as I have said many times before, 2027 does not sound realistic to me for a decent increase in power with the sort of prices we see rumoured (using PS5 Pro as my guide).
I played this at launch and thought that a lot of the bad feeling towards it was undeserved (playing on Pro so I can't speak for how the base PS5 version runs). I recently picked up NG4 and do not see NG4 as the better game.
@Art_Vandelay Apologies, I did not see your recent post while I was writing my post a couple of minutes ago, or I would have also referenced yourself as we are saying much the same thing.
@LogicStrikesAgain Exactly my thoughts - the landscape has changed dramatically: Xbox's current situation, Xbox/Steam (and likely others we haven't heard about yet) plans regarding PC hybrids; I suppose we could also add the popularity of Switch 2 (though I don't necessarily think this is unexpected). When this gets added to a 'more modest' upgrade from PS5 to PS6 (with big unknowns of how the new tech will be utilised) - the situation for Sony over the next few years bears no similarity to where they were 5 years ago.
@TrollOfWar "There is no evidence of a larger trend for the risk of PlayStation players switching to PC, as you are describing. PlayStation games are being released on PC for the past 5 years, yet PS5 sales numbers are in line with PS4 numbers. Even Sony in a shareholder meeting stated that they "cannot confirm any such trend, nor do they see it as a major risk". The fear is based on PlayStation fans not wanting to lose "their exclusives"."
As above, the landscape is not close to what it was 5 years ago. Xbox's dramatic fall coinciding with them going multiformat is a warning that cannot be ignored (yes, it was somewhat more complex). And as I have previously explained, you don't see a larger trend until it is too late - you may see a steady but small erosion of opinion or userbase, which can often be hidden. This then can become larger very quickly before entering free-fall. By the time they see a 'larger trend' the damage is done.
@TrollOfWar It is still nothing compared to the risk of having their userbase eroded. @Porco explained it very well in their recent post.
If Sony were smart to the challenges they are likely going to face, they wouldn't release a single game on any other format except their own consoles, be it PC, Phone, or anything. The last thing they want is to go the way of Xbox.
@TrollOfWar I only ever consider what is best for me, long term and short term. Unlike some, I actually look into alternatives, and don't just blindly buy the next numbered edition.
I'm certainly not looking for reasons to stick with Playstation - I'm probably one of the most open minded console players about the Pro's and Con's of both systems. Framerate being the one big Pro of PC for myself.
Sadly, PC (and to an extent it's fanbase) give me plenty of reasons to stick with Playstation, and need to evolve further if they have any hope of attracting myself and Sony's userbase in any numbers - or Sony will have to mess up in a so far unprecedented way.
Sony also give me a very big reason to stay - their top quality / tier exclusives. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they stop putting their games onto PC - the extra cash is miniscule compared to their real worth in giving people a reason to move to / stay with their closed ecosystem.
I would disagree with you on current price though - software and sub prices I think are cheaper now when you consider inflation and what you get. Hardware is up across the board, but this is seen the most in top spec PC parts, not console where increase above inflation is fairly minimal.
@TrollOfWar @Max_the_German I don't think PC is a threat to them up to this point - most console users don't want the hassle.
But, PC of the future certainly could be a threat at least to a part of their business, as the hassle is taken out, and we see more and more of these hybrid devices.
However it is a very complex situation.
I would only be interested in a PC considerably more powerful and more capable than a PS6. That incurs a cost. (I will add here that it really annoys console users when this cost is downplayed eg "look how cheap I can build a PC" missing out key components / software, or using bits already owned or 2nd hand).
I also don't think the new Steam machine is going to impress many, being lower powered than a PS5, but likely much more expensive - the 'it might be cheaper over time argument' holds very little weight as many people just do not think ahead to long term saving, only immediate outlay, and closed ecosystem consoles always have an advantage here.
To be successful in taking userbase away from console a PC / hybrid will have to: 1) Get to the point of being practically plug and play - we aren't there yet, but hybrids stand the best chance, and things seem to be improving. However, PC users that keep on defending how 'easy things are on PC" don't help matters at all. 2) AND EITHER need to be very powerful and therefore expensive, for those who want more than a console can deliver and have the money. OR, need to be cheaper outlay than a console and still deliver enough.
A gamer centered version of Windows might help too.
If everything comes into place, then we see an erosion of Sony's userbase, which will have the knock on effect of raising Sony's prices - subs/games/store/hardware, but this isn't going to happen overnight.
Only at this point does PC become a tangible threat - that's my opinion at least, coming from someone who regularly considers PC.
If Sony want to remain relevant in the future and maintain their console ecosystem business long term they should stop all ports to PC, immediately.
I still maintain that they are likely going to be attacked (in terms of others trying to pull users away from Playstation) from all sides in a way they are just not used to next gen.
The dent this makes could be tiny or substantial, and will depend purely on their Exclusives (that only PS consoles have access to), and how impressive the PS6 is in terms of hardware.
I doubt it will be a sharp downturn for them, and nothing like Xbox has seen, more a steady erosion over time.
As a consumer - putting all their games day 1 on PC would be fantastic as it would really help in any decision to move to PC if I'm not suitably impressed with PS6 - a lot of my game time is spent on Sony games (they are leagues ahead of other companies) and I wouldn't want to move to PC if I couldn't play their games.
What else could they do?
Eg could they start to make money of something which is still Sony's product?
Could they start making alterations?
Would Sony be in any way responsible for anything that happened in regards this game - eg if it bricked systems or toxic players?
If this is a fan only thing, maybe they could sign a contract with Sony, agreeing to certain fundamental principles (eg the aforementioned no money to be made), and absolving Sony of any responsibility. If that isn't in place, I don't think Sony is wrong to shut it down.
Given the amount of money they make each year from COD, I would have expected them to have spent a bit more time, effort, and money on actually making the game itself...
Its not like the series offers much each year - surely a half decent campaign and proper art is the least people should expect.
All those people saying things like: "oh but it will cost you less in the long run (No PS plus sub for MP / lower game cost), even if the upfront cost is a little higher" This is not how things work for a large number these days - people have been 'programmed' to seek out cheap upfront, even if the cost over time is MUCH higher.
The vast majority of the sort of person that would think along the lines of total lifetime cost, would be those who would be wanting something FAR more capable than this underpowered device.
This device is only appealing to a small niche of people who want a light PC to play back catalogue only - possibly as a second device in the home.
@SeaDaVie Thank you - it was that last bit. I knew I had read/heard that certain games don't run on Linux based systems very well, but I couldn't remember the details! (For some reason, I wrongly thought it might be older games).
Not even remotely interested - if it had been FAR more powerful, I might have at least of taken a proper look at it, but even the top line info shows this isn't close.
Releasing now, I would argue it needs to at least be on par with the rumoured capability of PS6, not less than PS5.
Also - did I hear right that its Linux based - does this limit what older games will work on it?
Edit: answered by @SeaDaVie in reply below - not older games, but certain MP games with Anti Cheat.
Comments 2,733
Re: Valve Won't Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5
@scottXedgar
And the Sony store is not close to being the only place to buy PS5 games (which can also be bought physically), but the comparison of Sony vs Steam prices is still a very worthwhile comparison.
Re: Valve Won't Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5
@Dogbreath
To make it worthwhile to me, my expectations would be 120fps - via HDMI2.1 TV, at around 1440p upscaled to 4K via DLSS or FSR4 as applicable (on all major engines including UE5), and pretty much future proofed for PS6 gen. So yes, pretty much top end.
That incurs an initial hardware cost which I am comfortable with.
But, I would not want to keep up 2 systems, hence why Sony games on PC is such a major thing for me - because of how much I enjoy them, and how much time I spend on them.
The other major for me is that PC needs to become more hassle free before I would consider a move, but I do think things are improving here.
My point is though, that I would want to go in with realistic expectations of what it would cost, both in terms of money and time/effort.
Sadly, there are far too many comments here that are completely unrealistic in these regards.
PC is a very different ecosystem with its own positives and negatives, but looking at certain Pro-PC comments here and over the last few months you would not think that was the case.
Re: Valve Won't Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5
@11001100110zero
"I've stated before, a person shouldn't ruin something for anyone else. If you aren't blown away/impressed/excited then so be it. I'd hope a person doesn't trash talk something they have never used or experienced before. Some people here may be excited, and allow the comments to ruin it for them"
For clarification- I am not interested in the Steam machine as its too underpowered for my requirements according to every expert opinion I have read.
I am however frequently interested in a far more powerful PC - but, there are plenty of major Pro's and major Con's to PC vs console, which at this point in time keep me firmly on console, whilst keeping a close eye on PC to see if the major Con's improve - One of the major Con's of PC for me, being that Sony do not release ALL of their games on PC.
Comments like @LogicStrikesAgain 's above comments are not the sort of thing that would do anything to 'ruin' / put me off ever trying PC in the long run.
(Sony store prices vs Sream is a good comparison - if you want to add various other PC selling sites, you also have to consider a lot of other retailers who sell PS games - physical and digital.)
The sort of comments that have really started to put me off in recent months are the various comments you can see throughout this thread (and similar, particularly in the last couple of months) saying how fantastic PC is over console.
There are upsides and downsides, particularly if someone is thinking of moving between the very different
ecosystems.
However a number of comments I have read here on Pushsquare - a Playstation site - appear to be fanboying for PC, and this articles comments section has appeared particularly bad.
Comments that try to convince about the 'incredible' savings on PC are some of the worst.
The first thing I would do before making a switch like this is budget everything properly, and start deciding exactly what I wanted - and the quickest thing that would stop me would be finding out that things were going to be more hassle or more expensive than they appeared to be.*
Edit: * and worse than this for some, would be to buy a PC or Steam machine, expecting much cheaper games on Steam, only to have buyers remorse once disappointed.
Re: Valve Won't Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5
@LogicStrikesAgain
Same as you on CDkeys - no idea. If it is legit, I doubt it would be as future proof as Steam / Sony.
Any comparison is a moment in time, and maybe today it is slightly on the side of Sony, but in a weeks time slightly on the side of steam - but I doubt the overall variation is very large, unless someone really cherry picks titles, and that they are about equivalent. Which as you say is completely against what we keep hearing.
I also agree with the use of games over the last year - I tend to buy about half my games near to launch, and about half on sale, but I very rarely buy games much more than a year old, and I doubt many here do either, apart from the odd occasion eg buying an early game from a series you have just got into, or buying a classic game just made available - or of course if you just bought a PS5 buying up the various exclusives from the last few years (but price comparison maybe tricky here lol).
Re: PS5 Testing Slideshow Wallpapers for Popular Welcome Hub Feature
I just use the standard Pro one - its pleasant enough.
Re: Valve Won't Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5
@LogicStrikesAgain
RE your post comparing game prices.
This is really interesting to me, as all I keep hearing is about how cheap Steam is - when that clearly isn't the case. I'm sure you will get a number of replies that move the goalposts around significantly though.
I have, and still do consider moving to PC from time to time, mainly because I would see real benefits of a very powerful PC in very high framerates and the ability to customise graphics options to my own liking, favouring framerate and visual clarity. I am also not convinced Sony will deliver, hardware wise on PS6 (though I will be happy to be proved wrong on this nearer launch).
But, a lot of posts on this article from PC 'defenders' , along with recent similar articles, are REALLY putting me off PC.
This 'Games are always cheaper on PC' now just adds to the growing list of rubbish being almost peddled, incuding:
Just this thread, I am adding "Games are cheaper on PC" to the list, after your post.
Also, the mental gymnastics on display here around not having to pay for PS Plus sub for online play is getting very old considering the fact that (in this specific case) this Steam machine can't apparently even play most major online games due to Linux not supporting anti cheat software (or probably more accurately the reverse of this); the terrible situation around online cheating mods in general on PC; and no consideration to the monthly 3 free games with PS plus.
In fact, the whole "cost saving over time on PC" just does not add up, misses things like larger outlay for PC hardware, and is starting to feel very desperate.
I've said similar before but when will people learn that this sort of Posting only goes to put off people from ever trying PC - I have had some far more pleasant conversations here in the past with more realistic, objective views on the Pro's and Con's of PC - but in recent comments sections, the Pro-PC posters just put me off.
We even had 1 person extolling the virtues of upscalers in regards this Steam machine, mentioning DLSS - which isn't even compatible with the hardware.
Anyway, thank you for the price comparison.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@OldGamer999
Its still not being "mugged off". China and SK still make profit on the devices they make - you need to ask yourself why/how they (can) make products so cheaply (and it isn't that their companies are so benevolent that they want to keep the prices of your entertainment goods down so don't add profit). You also need to consider by your reasoning, what a world would look like where those 2 countries manufacture everything, and no other country produces everything.
Re: 'Terrible' Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 European Sales Are a Devastating 63% Below Battlefield 6
@get2sammyb
Sorry Sammy, there may be a minor typo error in your article.
Your 2nd paragraph reads "The reports suggests that its debut week is an eye-popping 63% below Battlefield 6, and at least 50% down compared to last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6."
The embedded twitter post states ("more than") "60%" for the second value (ie vs COD:BO6 last year).
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@SodaPop6548
I agree that this world is on the wrong track at the moment, with AI being a prime example eg replacing people, consuming too much resource, and generally only being there to make a few people rich - there are good uses for it, but they aren't the focus, and too many people keep down the line of "can we" not "should we".
But I think different times in human history have been much worse - 1939 to 1945 for example.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@OldGamer999
I don't think Sony (or Nintendo for that matter) are "mugging" us on console unit prices at all.
(Xbox is maybe a different matter, considering the series X price comparison vs the far more capable PS5 Pro.)
The prices could easily be considered cheap when compared to other similar goods for what you get.
And, when inflation adjusted console hardware prices are not much more expensive than they used to be.
Its fair at this point to consider the huge jump in tech in the last 20 years - I mean early consoles don't look much more advanced than calculators these days.
But you also have new components, as opposed to just more computational power:
Eg1 early consoles did not have hard drives at all, and this gen was the 1st time we moved to SSD technology.
Eg2 even up to last gen, system cooling was minimal at best. Now your console includes a fan that takes up approx 1 third of its volume, not to mention a complex formation of various heatsinks connected by copper pipes.
So if you want to do a like for like comparison you need to account for this sort of thing too.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@Arthur_Morgan
So your saying that as Production ramps up, the demand of 40% will stay the same % of total, meaning production will need to raise to 167% of what it is now to have as much 'leftover' after the OpenAI deal.
The more I hear about this, the more it sounds like a science fiction film plot, and the more it sounds like this bubble needs to burst sooner rather than later (because it sounds like it WILL burst, but if later it will do a LOT more damage to the global economy).
I do appreciate the reply however.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@Oram77 @DennisReynolds
I think they probably did see it coming, but either didn't think to stockpile or didn't want to - how many further consoles do you think they could feasibly guarantee to sell this gen? (ie if they did stockpile, they don't want it left over).
It may just be that they don't care about their series consoles - the fact that they are so expensive compared to PS5 (Pro) already, suggests this imo.
Re: Quick Thinking from Sony Should Shield PS5 from RAM Shortages for Now
@get2sammyb
Asking because I don't have a clue. Are these RAM shortages likely to subside, or is it a case of thats it, this is the situation going forwards? The fact that you mention "long term" deal for the 40% suggests the latter is at least highly probable.
Re: A Game About Digging a Hole Is the Next Viral PC Hit Burrowing onto PS5 Soon
Some people don't need training to dig themselves into holes...
(Is there an Xbox edition? lol)
Re: New Report Finds Almost Half of US Kids Are After In-Game Currency for Christmas
Cheap and Xmas for parents etc:
I've credited each of your accounts with 1,500,500 LS-game-bucks!
Total spend = $/£5 each
(These things always seem to come in nonsensical large sounding amounts)
Re: Street Fighter 6's Sales Hit Another Noteworthy Milestone
I bought SF6 because of its World tour mode - I can't be bothered these days with competitive fighting, but the World Tour single player mode gave me a reason to buy.
I think its great that they add new World Tour content for new characters, so I even pick these up in sales - something else I wouldn't do if not for this mode.
Re: PS5 Sales Collapse in Japan as Sony Readies Overdue Rescue Plan
@White_oyster
I don't think its unusual that the region locked model is the digital version, as this way they get the price as low as possible, while everyone has the option of buying an additional drive.
I suspect going forwards, as per Pro, there will only be 1 SKU of PS console - that being digital. With an optional drive for those that want one.
Thats the fairest way to do things as not everyone wants to pay for a drive these days.
Re: PS5 Exclusive Ghost of Yotei Is One of the USA's Best-Selling Games of 2025
Even more impressive given the relatively short period of time it's been out for compared to SOME of these games. I'm pretty sure it's a given that games like GoY continue to sell well, even months after launch. Its going to make them a LOT of money on a very modest budget.
Re: Celebrate Bloodborne's 10th Birthday Properly with New Vinyl Sets
I would rather a full remake/remaster (particularly from Bluepoint) to celebrate the 10th anniversary.
To leave this game languishing in 30fps hell is a crime!
Re: PS5 Welcome Hub Update Adds New Stat Tracking, Backgrounds
@Briarback
So would I - more impressive is how, according to the hours played, I managed 100 hours (it was a fair bit over but I can't remember by how much) in just 1 play session.
Either it was magic.. or Sony's counting system has... issues.
Re: Valve's Steam Machine May Not Be As Affordable As a PS5
@TheArt
I was going to reply to you saying that the majority are normal, non PCMR users out there, but given the state of this comments section, I just can't be bothered...
When will people learn that all these 'magic beans' (low powered PCs being so amazingly capable, and how cheap and completely hassle free it is play on PC), only serve to REALLY put off console gamers from trying out the PC ecosystem.
I will add though that I have spoken to some really nice PC users in the past, who have a more realistic view on the Pro's and Con's.
Re: Horizon Sales Update Cements It As One of Sony's Strongest Franchises
@Oram77
Not sure about the mainland - I'm not the biggest fan of larger settlements in games (weird, I know, but I HAVE to explore every bloody house! Lol).
They have the engine, and a lot of the systems - they just need 1 epic story, and a few changes to keep it fresh enough for 1 more game.
Re: Horizon Sales Update Cements It As One of Sony's Strongest Franchises
@Oram77
I agree with moving on after Horizon 3, but I think SP could (could) have 1 more good ghost story left to tell - I think it helps that they are using a different protagonist each game. Maybe next time they could expand a bit on having the protagonist hunted more.
Re: Valve's Steam Machine May Not Be As Affordable As a PS5
@TheArt
To play devils advocate here, I think you are confusing the vast majority of normal people who play really low powered PCs, and the smaller number who want higher fps/visuals and can afford high powered PC's; with the small minority who fanboy for PC. (Thosr who will try and tell you that they can build a Pro level PC for the same sort of price, or how there is no hassle whatsoever to PC gaming, etc).
Re: Valve's Steam Machine May Not Be As Affordable As a PS5
My guess is £600-£700, and with it being weaker than a base PS5, thats not an interesting proposition at all.
Consoles and their closed ecosystems will always have the advantage at this sort of power level - seems like a wasted opportunity to me.
Re: PS5 Welcome Hub Update Adds New Stat Tracking, Backgrounds
@JohntheRaptor @Andee @4fold
No idea if number of hours played is better now, but a while back I saw 100 hours added to my Hogwarts Legacy playtime over the course of 1 day. Its never corrected itself.
Re: PS5 Welcome Hub Update Adds New Stat Tracking, Backgrounds
This new one is OK.
In terms of usefulness I find the storage widget better - as someone who is always over half full on a 2Tb Pro with 1Tb WD Black SN850 expansion.
Re: Huge Ghost of Yotei PS5 Patch Drops Next Week, Adds New Game+, Items, and More
I may not play the NG+ until after Xmas now, but compared to some other games, this has been released pretty quickly.
Hopefully they will add a transmog option - and to be honest, quite a few games miss this out, and by now it should just be a standard element and present on every game at launch.
Re: One of Ghost of Yotei's Most Unique Features Was Meant to Be Much Bigger
@Oram77
I only play games in English, and was referring to the English speaking VA. I have added an edit to my original post as when I read your reply I realised this wasn't clear.
I have checked, and in both, the same VA played Atsu and younger Atsu (different VA for English and Japanese).
In regards the English speaking VA, I though they were very good as Atsu, but really grated as Young Atsu - though if voice modification was used it was likely that which put me off.
Edit: I do agree that most of the VA was good though, even though I don't think it's up there with some of Sony's best eg GOWR, SM1/2/MM.
Re: One of Ghost of Yotei's Most Unique Features Was Meant to Be Much Bigger
I enjoyed it. It was a novel way to tell some of Atsu's backstory, and unlock a few secrets, and mechanically much better than just a few cutscenes would have been.
It was also technically very well done.
It probably would have been a bit odd to have found the mechanic used in the further regions from her home though.
One problem was the voice for 'Young' Atsu - this was not good, and if I remember rightly was the same voice actor, possibly with her voice modified.
The VA was great for Atsu, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have used a different VA for her younger self.
Edit: NB I am referring to English VA
Re: Try Battlefield 6 for Free in One Week Trial, from 25th November
Interesting - is this in response to the ongoing news of COD doing so badly, or was it always planned?
Re: Don't Expect a Resident Evil Requiem Demo, Capcom Has 'No Plans'
I won't be pre-ordering then as I will wait for technical analysis - which means it won't get the chance of "it has fps drops but I can tolerate them" that might result from a demo.
Re: Xbox Partner Preview Officially Confirmed for 20th November, Includes 'Brand New Reveals'
@ButterySmooth30FPS
I probably have to agree with you that it's more PC these days - I might have to reorder my original comment.
I don't have a clue why people do this though - I'm sure I could very easily go onto PC & Xbox sites and raise plenty of negative comments, but I'm not wasting my time.
I will say that it is MUCH less toxic here than a lot of other places.
Re: Resident Evil Requiem's Leon Kennedy 'Leaks' Are Fake News, Says Capcom
@PuppetMaster
@Stevemalkpus is kind of right - but it does vary based on individuals.
I've been involved in martial arts a long time, and it would surprise a lot of people exactly what some people are capable of at 51, and at ages far beyond 51.
Physical toughness is one such area that can be retained way beyond what most believe.
A person at 51 may not be quite as fast or agile as they once were, but that doesn't mean they couldn't make an 18 year old look slow and unwieldy.
Of course, it does take the body longer to heal up after injuries - that is almost certain, and stamina can be reduced (which is again relative), but there is no reason to think all 51 year-olds are old - in fact I have seen a number of people in their 50's who are better in almost every physical regard than others in their 20's and 30's (except body healing time), it just depends on the individuals involved.
Re: Xbox Partner Preview Officially Confirmed for 20th November, Includes 'Brand New Reveals'
@Questionable_Duck @ButterySmooth30FPS
I'm sorry, but I see far, far more PC/Xbox fanboys (maybe a few Nintendo too) here on Pushsquare, than Sony fanboys.
To be clear I'm talking about commenters here on Pushsquare, and I would say that the problem is getting significantly worse, particularly recently.
Maybe in some very occasional cases, I'm getting confused with over-the-top anti-Sony sentiment - and I'm certainly not saying everything should be positive (I have a good moan myself sometimes).
I have no real need to visit Pure Xbox, but a while back - maybe about 6 months, after reading a similar conversation here, I had a look for myself.
Maybe I just picked a couple of bad example articles, but what I read that day was that there was an incredible amount of Xbox fanboying in the comments section, to the detriment of others who had genuine points.
Edit: I will just add though, that it is MUCH less toxic here than a lot of places these days.
Re: PS5 Sony Games Bag 19 Nominations at The Game Awards 2025
GoY not being included for game of the year is all I need to not bother tuning in.
To be fair though, these awards have been completely overshadowed by their own 'choices' for a few years now, and this isn't the first time I have not bothered with them.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@Art_Vandelay
[I hadn't read your post before I submitted my post, and didn't want you (or anyone) to think I was copying without reference - I at least try to be good mannered lol]
I think people who say that "exclusives don't matter" are missing a large, and maybe less immediately tangible part of the picture - and Xbox's dramatic and hastened decline is evidence of this.
I also agree with you on the where have/will the former Xbox gamers gone/go? Though, a certain proportion probably had both Xbox & PS systems, complicating matters.
I also know that whilst PC does offer things I would find of significant benefit (eg high framerates and more graphics tailoring options), I VERY much enjoy Sony's games, and PC at this moment in time is still too much hassle - but we could be close to a major change here, though the current hybrids offer nothing close to the power I would want for high framerates.
I wrote a long post earlier this thread about where PC will need to go to tempt Sony's userbase, but its not simple as I do think there is a fair quantity of people who do transition each gen between PC and Console (in both directions).
If I was Sony, I would be focusing on brand retention, not expansion. I would also be very reluctant to launch PS6 anytime soon, as that helps create a decision making moment for current customers - though as I have said many times before, 2027 does not sound realistic to me for a decent increase in power with the sort of prices we see rumoured (using PS5 Pro as my guide).
Re: The Lost Soul Aside Redemption Arc Starts in Tomorrow's Feature-Packed PS5 Update
I played this at launch and thought that a lot of the bad feeling towards it was undeserved (playing on Pro so I can't speak for how the base PS5 version runs).
I recently picked up NG4 and do not see NG4 as the better game.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@Art_Vandelay
Apologies, I did not see your recent post while I was writing my post a couple of minutes ago, or I would have also referenced yourself as we are saying much the same thing.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@LogicStrikesAgain
Exactly my thoughts - the landscape has changed dramatically: Xbox's current situation, Xbox/Steam (and likely others we haven't heard about yet) plans regarding PC hybrids; I suppose we could also add the popularity of Switch 2 (though I don't necessarily think this is unexpected). When this gets added to a 'more modest' upgrade from PS5 to PS6 (with big unknowns of how the new tech will be utilised) - the situation for Sony over the next few years bears no similarity to where they were 5 years ago.
@TrollOfWar
"There is no evidence of a larger trend for the risk of PlayStation players switching to PC, as you are describing. PlayStation games are being released on PC for the past 5 years, yet PS5 sales numbers are in line with PS4 numbers. Even Sony in a shareholder meeting stated that they "cannot confirm any such trend, nor do they see it as a major risk". The fear is based on PlayStation fans not wanting to lose "their exclusives"."
As above, the landscape is not close to what it was 5 years ago. Xbox's dramatic fall coinciding with them going multiformat is a warning that cannot be ignored (yes, it was somewhat more complex).
And as I have previously explained, you don't see a larger trend until it is too late - you may see a steady but small erosion of opinion or userbase, which can often be hidden. This then can become larger very quickly before entering free-fall. By the time they see a 'larger trend' the damage is done.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@ButterySmooth30FPS
Forgive me, I may be being thick - what are you referencing?
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@TrollOfWar
It is still nothing compared to the risk of having their userbase eroded. @Porco explained it very well in their recent post.
If Sony were smart to the challenges they are likely going to face, they wouldn't release a single game on any other format except their own consoles, be it PC, Phone, or anything. The last thing they want is to go the way of Xbox.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@TrollOfWar
I only ever consider what is best for me, long term and short term. Unlike some, I actually look into alternatives, and don't just blindly buy the next numbered edition.
I'm certainly not looking for reasons to stick with Playstation - I'm probably one of the most open minded console players about the Pro's and Con's of both systems. Framerate being the one big Pro of PC for myself.
Sadly, PC (and to an extent it's fanbase) give me plenty of reasons to stick with Playstation, and need to evolve further if they have any hope of attracting myself and Sony's userbase in any numbers - or Sony will have to mess up in a so far unprecedented way.
Sony also give me a very big reason to stay - their top quality / tier exclusives. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they stop putting their games onto PC - the extra cash is miniscule compared to their real worth in giving people a reason to move to / stay with their closed ecosystem.
I would disagree with you on current price though - software and sub prices I think are cheaper now when you consider inflation and what you get.
Hardware is up across the board, but this is seen the most in top spec PC parts, not console where increase above inflation is fairly minimal.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
@TrollOfWar @Max_the_German
I don't think PC is a threat to them up to this point - most console users don't want the hassle.
But, PC of the future certainly could be a threat at least to a part of their business, as the hassle is taken out, and we see more and more of these hybrid devices.
However it is a very complex situation.
I would only be interested in a PC considerably more powerful and more capable than a PS6. That incurs a cost. (I will add here that it really annoys console users when this cost is downplayed eg "look how cheap I can build a PC" missing out key components / software, or using bits already owned or 2nd hand).
I also don't think the new Steam machine is going to impress many, being lower powered than a PS5, but likely much more expensive - the 'it might be cheaper over time argument' holds very little weight as many people just do not think ahead to long term saving, only immediate outlay, and closed ecosystem consoles always have an advantage here.
To be successful in taking userbase away from console a PC / hybrid will have to:
1) Get to the point of being practically plug and play - we aren't there yet, but hybrids stand the best chance, and things seem to be improving. However, PC users that keep on defending how 'easy things are on PC" don't help matters at all.
2) AND EITHER need to be very powerful and therefore expensive, for those who want more than a console can deliver and have the money. OR, need to be cheaper outlay than a console and still deliver enough.
A gamer centered version of Windows might help too.
If everything comes into place, then we see an erosion of Sony's userbase, which will have the knock on effect of raising Sony's prices - subs/games/store/hardware, but this isn't going to happen overnight.
Only at this point does PC become a tangible threat - that's my opinion at least, coming from someone who regularly considers PC.
Re: 'Very Vague' Rumour Claims Sony May Scale Back PC Ports of PS5 Games
If Sony want to remain relevant in the future and maintain their console ecosystem business long term they should stop all ports to PC, immediately.
I still maintain that they are likely going to be attacked (in terms of others trying to pull users away from Playstation) from all sides in a way they are just not used to next gen.
The dent this makes could be tiny or substantial, and will depend purely on their Exclusives (that only PS consoles have access to), and how impressive the PS6 is in terms of hardware.
I doubt it will be a sharp downturn for them, and nothing like Xbox has seen, more a steady erosion over time.
As a consumer - putting all their games day 1 on PC would be fantastic as it would really help in any decision to move to PC if I'm not suitably impressed with PS6 - a lot of my game time is spent on Sony games (they are leagues ahead of other companies) and I wouldn't want to move to PC if I couldn't play their games.
Re: Sony Trying to Silence Concord Revival Project After Fans Brought PS5, PC Disaster Back
What else could they do?
Eg could they start to make money of something which is still Sony's product?
Could they start making alterations?
Would Sony be in any way responsible for anything that happened in regards this game - eg if it bricked systems or toxic players?
If this is a fan only thing, maybe they could sign a contract with Sony, agreeing to certain fundamental principles (eg the aforementioned no money to be made), and absolving Sony of any responsibility. If that isn't in place, I don't think Sony is wrong to shut it down.
Re: Embarrassing AI Art Plagues Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Launch
Given the amount of money they make each year from COD, I would have expected them to have spent a bit more time, effort, and money on actually making the game itself...
Its not like the series offers much each year - surely a half decent campaign and proper art is the least people should expect.
Re: Poll: Does the Steam Machine Pose a Threat to PS5?
All those people saying things like:
"oh but it will cost you less in the long run (No PS plus sub for MP / lower game cost), even if the upfront cost is a little higher"
This is not how things work for a large number these days - people have been 'programmed' to seek out cheap upfront, even if the cost over time is MUCH higher.
The vast majority of the sort of person that would think along the lines of total lifetime cost, would be those who would be wanting something FAR more capable than this underpowered device.
This device is only appealing to a small niche of people who want a light PC to play back catalogue only - possibly as a second device in the home.
Re: Poll: Does the Steam Machine Pose a Threat to PS5?
@SeaDaVie
Thank you - it was that last bit. I knew I had read/heard that certain games don't run on Linux based systems very well, but I couldn't remember the details! (For some reason, I wrongly thought it might be older games).
Re: Poll: Does the Steam Machine Pose a Threat to PS5?
Not even remotely interested - if it had been FAR more powerful, I might have at least of taken a proper look at it, but even the top line info shows this isn't close.
Releasing now, I would argue it needs to at least be on par with the rumoured capability of PS6, not less than PS5.
Also - did I hear right that its Linux based - does this limit what older games will work on it?
Edit: answered by @SeaDaVie in reply below - not older games, but certain MP games with Anti Cheat.