Rudy_Manchego

I still think it mad they are releasing two anticipated FF title so close together. I'm down for both but it does cause a marketing headache!

@NotSoCryptic No worries dude - you aren’t being a d*** at all. A lot does depend on the device. I have become a handheld hobbyist of late! I have gamed on a mid-range Android and an iPhone 14 and tried the Kishi, GameSir, DS4, Xbox One controller and Steel Series controller. A decent model phone and good controller will do you fine - my personal opinion is lag on cloud gaming means you need a connected controller like the Kishi to avoid making it worse. My main gripe is the aspect ration. I also cloud game (or emulate) on the Logitech G cloud, Ayn Odin, Retroid Pocket 3. A phone screen can’t compete with a decent 7inch screen. It’s too compromised in my opinion. Plus by bloatware I mean that for cloud gaming your signal may be split by other applications and so on. So comparing one of my tablet or Switch sized devices with that of a phone, the gaming quality is so much better on a more dedicated device. Of course a good phone is with you at all times and so Sony have to compete with that and to me price is key. If you nudge towards $300 then you are on Switch Oled or Steam Deck territory and they will be far superior devices!

@NotSoCryptic I've done remote streaming on a phone and the aspect ratio on the screen sizes aren't the best and there is often other bloatware that can affect performance. Plus really good non bluetooth phone controllers are expensive in and of themselves. So a good screen experience and good controller would be attractive to me.

But as you say, it depends on the price and feature set. If it sported a decent chip and could run an OS like Android or something so you could load mobile games etc, that would be great. Another point is that a lot of handhelds also offer video out so you can dock to a TV with bluetooth for controllers.

So with lots of features and a cheap price it might make it a good alternative to other streaming handhelds. I can also see Sony expanding out their cloud gaming offering onto it. If it is expensive and locked down though... you are right, I can see another PSTV on the horizon.

@naruball The logitech G cloud does, and I think a couple of others has haptics. Obviously not on the level of the dual sense which is another reason why this will possibly be a good buy for a handheld streaming gamer.

I'm actually pretty interested. I use cloud streaming a lot for accessibility around the house etc. I use PS5 remote play on several devices. If this is cheap and comfortable and can be used beyond just PS5 game streaming (e.g. Android gaming, other streaming services) then I may pick one up. Yes, I'm lucky enough to have solid wifi and my family life means handheld gaming is just a reality of fitting games in.

That said, there are already a lot of options out there - the Logitech G Cloud is expensive but a great device. The Absxylute is about to launch that does the same thing. Plus you have various cheaper options like the Retroid Pocket 3+ out there. Not to mention your phone.

It was OK. As we've moved away from the exciting E3 announcement shows (which I honestly kinda miss - they felt more energised because of the competition etc), I've become less invested. Sony has some solid games on the way to justify my PS5 investment so I am not worried. They are clearly on working on other things. Unfortunately, the nature of these shows means that everyone has to be a banger to get good press and this was just OK. We'll have the same conversation when the Xbox showcase happens and the next Direct etc.

I just wish publishers would realise that Live Service games are not a genre. You need to look at all the misses before getting excited by the dollar signs of the hits.

Sigh I so wanted this to be good or even half decent. It felt like an intriguing premise. I was rooting for it but ouch. This sounds like a huge miss.

I came for the tag line. Nice.

I have a feeling Ubi will be bought out. The length of development cycles for large games combined with internal issues means that each of these needs to land well and I just can't see that happening outside of AC and FC titles.

This is good - a huge, well designed open world where everything feels meaningful, including side content. I hope others take note!

Please don't be true. I'll end up buying again for PS5 and PC and never ever play any other game again.

Lots of reasons for this and I'll maintain that Gamepass is a great deal for gamers overall. However there are problems with a subscription model - and that is that content is king and users are fickle. It needs a flow of great content and the second that wobbles you lose momentum. You need constant reasons why someone should continually give you money. For example, people keep Netflix because they like Stranger Things or Bridgerton or something but they need to keep finding new shows like that. Same with gamepass. If you aren't using it then it is worthless. The issue is that current AAA cycles are now very very long and you need an efficient supply chain. Their answer has been to buy that supply chain but it doesn't guarantee success.

I think it is having an impact - I think consumers are being more picky about what they pick up and it will make launching new titles and IP's all the more challenging. I have bought 3 £70 games (though I managed to find slightly less via third party retailers) - Gow: Ragnorok, Horizon: FW and Demon Souls. All of them known quantities to me. I wanted to try games like Returnal at launch but at that price point, not a chance. Same goes for other publisher titles. PS5 is probably the place to play the new Jedi game but I am not ponying up that cash when it is cheaper on PC and will drop in price within 3 months.

All depends on the details but there are now a good selection of android based devices that can do this as well as play retro titles, android games as well as Xbox Cloud, GEForce Now as well as other remote streaming like Steam LInk. So it would have to have a USP to be worth it.

I am playing on PC and Steam Deck without virtual reality. I played the demo at EGX and loved it. As a fan of narrative adventures, so far it is hitting all the right buttons but I do get the frustration with the insta fail sections.

Literally just got a Sony Bravia telly this weekend but got a good price. Sound is amazing and got it just in time to finish God of War: Ragnorok.

I've seen a few sources state that the initial load of shaders on Steam Deck can take upwards of an hour. Plus constant issues on recommended requirement level PC's. This is a shame since their PC ports have been very well received and well supported. I am sure it will be fixed but this has been pretty well marketed as a big release.

Superman you say? The I hope he is suitably 'tached up.

I came here for the comments and was not disappointed.

I'm not a fan of the AB acquistion because I believe it will restrict consumer choice. I'm also not a fan of Sony buying Bungie, timed exclusivity on games or the $70 price rise. None of these companies are your friend nor are we privy to their strategies until way after they happen. Just my two cents

tbh i think we are seeing the death throes of these live service mega budget gambles. The market can only sustain a few and since it has taken so long to develop it's coming out late to the gold rush.

I survived the console wars of the early to mid 90's and let me tell all ya kids that it was brutal. Let's not return to those dark days, I implore you all.

Thought I'd hop back on for a quick comment. Great review. A part of me wants this but as I have a Meta Quest 2 and a PC, it's not doing anything new for me for the price. Plus I have to admit that I don't have the workspace for the best movement related games. I'd agree that this is a great piece of kit launching at the wrong time. The PS5 has only now started being available, money is tight and VR has never really broken out beyond the (excellent) niche that it is.

As a day one adopter of PSVR (with no regrets), the sense of wonder has gone and I can't afford the price tag for something I'll not play loads.

Was always worried this couldn't build on the original release. Looks like I didn't need to worry though!

Day one PSVR1 owner and a fan of VR but to be honest, gonna hold fire. I get the tech on display is pretty beefy and the device looks great but with a Quest 2 and a VR capable PC, I'm personally finding it a struggle to justify the price. I feel that the price is going to be a bigger barrier to entry at this point, especially given the struggles in getting PS5's into homes. By this point in a console gen, the base console is normally dropping in price but that is staying high and this is as much again.

Interesting and quite topical with conversations on cultural appropriation. I think what examples like GoT and what this interview is stating is that context is everything. I am sure the game didn't get every feature right but the intent and purpose was clear for all to see. It wasn't a case of, ah Samurai's are cool, let's slap them in a game.

I mean, this is both quite good and terrible. I can't decide.

It's interesting - to be honest, I was fairly lukewarm on the game. Felt amazing for the first hour or so and then was the same thing over and over again. However, the Quest is a good place for games like this that do require some movement.

I mean that or he has dementia or something?

As a PS5 owner, I've loved Ratchet and Clank for example as something that felt next gen. At the same time, we are way out in terms of usual gen arrangements. Approaching the two year anniversary of the PS5 and normally by this point in the lifespan we'd be seeing price drops and new bundles etc. Right now, people still can't walk into a shop and buy one. At the same time, millions of people still game daily on PS4... so what are they going to do.

Same issue with MS to a certain extent.

Well if I have to take on my Valkyries for the platinum, might as well up that to 100 hours.

Can't lie - was a PSVR day one adopter but now I have the Quest 2 and a PC, I'm not really feeling the PSVR2. I think the killer point for me was the lack of backwards compatibility. I guess there may be some upgrades or ports but it feels like they are killing some great exclusives.

This is very bad news. I did think something was up at EGX when they were displaying a merchandise stand with jackets costing £350. Slightly against the spirit of the game.

@Flaming_Kaiser Yeah - it's a great little pallette cleanser and I was thoroughly engrossed but it was designed with mobile games in mind.

I played this on Apple Arcade at release and it is a great narrative story. As a platformer it is really basic, its really just a few timed jumps to be honest. Something more like Gris. But the story and narration are what makes it. It's a fun little ride.

I played this on Apple Arcade a year or so ago and enjoyed it. I thought that the plot did overlap really well but I would say that this game is very very bleak and quite emotionally draining.

What I really want from the service is the cloud gaming brought to mobile devices for Android and iOS. This to me is the next step to make me want to keep that line up.

Cash grab is an emotive word but I'd argue it isn't necessary.

TLOU Part 1 is a game that is avaialble and has been available on 3 generations of consoles. It plays well. TLOU2 can play on 2 generations of consoles. It also plays well.

To compare with Demon Souls, that game was only available on a previous generation, was expensive to buy second hand and also slightly janky in comparison to modern titles. It was also a niche title that remained unplayed by many genre fans. A ground up remake was a great idea.

In one respect, tinkering and making Part1 look and feel more like Part 2 sounds sort of ok but really, no one was really crying out for it. Add the price point and the fact that it will then have a PC launch to coincide with the TV adaptation and it makes it even more pointless.

I am not a blanket Souls fan. Struggled with Demon and Dark Souls but Bloodborne is possibly one of my favourite games ever. Elden Ring is up there with the best Open World games I have ever played. That comes with pros and cons. The difficulty and quest for gear and levelling up made exploration feel more meaningful. At the same time, it couldn't escape the lack of narrative drive and repeated enemies etc. that are a staple of open world games.

I think it is a very good (I scored it a 9) but I have played through Bloodborne multiple times and I'm not sure I want to plug another 90+ hours into Elden Ring.

Sounds good to me. I liked FF7 REmake's combat system. Felt it struck a good tone between the turn and action.

Late to the party here but having only played a bit of FF7 back on PS1 at a friends house where we worked through some of it, I am only vaguely aware of some of the story.

I struggle with JRPG's, especially the story but that said I thoroughly enjoyed FF7 Remake. It was mental, over the top and epicly lavish. The combat was just so well executed that the long boss battles felt dynamic rather than a slog.

So I just want more of the same really. Less filler side quests would be good though.

As someone who did nothing with the FF franchise apart from watching a friend play FF7 in the 90's, I really really enjoyed the Remake. No idea why to be honest. It has made me want to go out and check out other entries in the franchise. So I am interested in a part 2 or whatever its gonna be called.

Meh not really - at this point, I keep a PS Plus sub for online play and cloud saves. The offering is OK and I like the start of getting older games out there. However, i have a big PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 library already and I don't have enough time to play as it is.

@Bleachedsmiles Weirdly, not all of Xbox titles support cross save across Console, Cloud and PC. Some do but not all of them (or at least they didn't last year when I tried). As an example, I started Outer Worlds on Console, had played in the cloud but it didn't work with the PC version from the Gamepass store.

I personally think Cross save is a win win for everyone. Take Hades for example, i bought it on PC but bought the Switch copy so i could play on the go. A lot of gamers have more than one device - for example, I know some friends who are divorced and the mum has a PS4 and the Dad an xbox. I could see them buying to copies of a game if the cross save worked! It's a big thing in fortnight I think?

@Agramonte Yeah cross save with PS4/5 would be my dream. I have Day's Gone for PS4 but would prob buy again if it had cross save coz I can play on the go and then boot up the big screen.

Have tried Horizon ZD on Steam Deck which is great. The deck is a good way to play big games on the go. I do wish there was cross platform compatibility though. I loved the The Witcher 3 and Hades on Switch as I could swap over to my PC and play there.

Ah great- they are also offering lottery cards, a first pack of cigarettes and that all important first heroin injection just to let you get a taste of it.

You son of a b**** — I'm in.

I mean I am going to order it.

Q: Why did Square retain some IP's and not others?

A: Just Cause.

@Mega-Gazz It makes about £82 million a year. That is a lot less than 70 billion.