Comments 209

Re: The Last of Us Part 2's Chronological Update Out Now on PS5, PC, Lets You Play Through the Story in Linear Order

anubisvel

@Cerny A lot of events were experienced through flashbacks, and simultaneous events experienced by two different characters during the same timeline were played at different times (avoiding spoilers for those who haven’t played).

The entire narrative structure involved jumping around to different points in time, so chronological means all the events will unfold in the order they actually occurred in the timeline.

Re: Comments from Ubisoft's Legal Team Are Not Going to Improve the Embattled Publisher's Image

anubisvel

I don’t know that it’s reasonable to believe the download code expiration represented the true longevity of the title, but I do believe having a single-player mode rendered unplayable due to the server shutdown is unacceptable.

Games that require online server access for single-player experiences should not exist in ways that end the experience if the servers shut down.

Re: The Last of Us Showrunner Isn't Concerned About Bella Ramsey's Ellie Looking Too Young in Season 2

anubisvel

@Oz_Who_Dat_Dare I hear what you’re saying, and I agree that visual storytelling matters—aging, trauma, and character design all play a role. But my issue isn’t just with people pointing out differences between the game and the show. It’s with how those criticisms are often being delivered. A lot of the online discourse isn’t thoughtful critique—it’s people calling Bella “ugly” or claiming Bella doesn’t “look like Ellie” in ways rooted more in bias and narrow beauty standards than in actual narrative analysis.

People are absolutely allowed to disagree with creative choices. But when that disagreement leans on personal digs or gets framed as concern for “authenticity” while dismissing an actor’s performance outright, it stops being constructive. This show is a reinterpretation, not a direct copy. It’s telling the same emotional story through a different lens, and not everything will—or should—mirror the game one-to-one. That doesn’t make it a failure. It makes it an adaptation.

And to clarify: no one needs a studio or a production budget to have an opinion. What I said was that if someone feels so strongly about how something should have been done, it might be more fulfilling to channel that passion into something creative of their own. That’s not a dismissal—it’s an invitation to build, not just tear down.

Re: The Last of Us Showrunner Isn't Concerned About Bella Ramsey's Ellie Looking Too Young in Season 2

anubisvel

@Oz_Who_Dat_Dare I’m not sure what you mean by “aged up.” Ellie is 19 during the majority of TLOU2, and Bella was 19/20 during production. The discourse around how Bella looks hasn’t just been focused on age, and I’m sure you’re well aware of that.

My point is, I’d rather see well-formed opinions or productive initiative over superficial vitriol. At a certain point, people complaining about Bella’s casting need to realize what they have no control or influence over. There’s a point where passing criticism becomes little more than whining and attention-seeking.

I stand by what I said. I’m proposing one of many more productive options that doesn’t require anyone being critical to change their opinion.

Re: The Last of Us Showrunner Isn't Concerned About Bella Ramsey's Ellie Looking Too Young in Season 2

anubisvel

I think it's time for gamers to understand this show isn't being made solely for us to compare it to the source material. It's an adaptation for a much larger audience. If you don't like it because it doesn't look the way you feel it should on a surface level, that's your issue to navigate. The games haven't gone anywhere... Play them again.

It's fine to disagree, but so many of the points online ring hollow and prove exactly why Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are at the helm. They have a vision and they're executing it the way they see fit. Season 1 was a resounding success as a result, and anticipation for Season 2 is already immense.

They have the authority to create how they see fit, and it's fine if you don't connect with it. However, if you feel such strong ownership of how the vision should have been realized, maybe you should put that energy into your own creative endeavors instead. Show us what you've got.

Re: Genshin Impact Community in Flames as English Cast Turn on New Voice Actor

anubisvel

"It’s worth stressing at this point that, despite joining the English cast, Takanashi is based in Japan and therefore is not a member of any striking American unions."

Period. That distinction matters. Takanashi’s casting has nothing to do with the SAG-AFTRA strike—he’s based in Japan and isn’t part of any American union.

HoYoverse games aren’t union projects, and union actors who took roles in them did so at their own risk, knowing SAG-AFTRA typically forbids members from working on non-union jobs. While protecting VAs is important, expecting a global company to adhere to a US-centric framework—and blaming a non-union actor for taking a legal job—is misplaced outrage.

Re: You'd Better Believe The Last of Us 2 Demands a PSN Account on PC

anubisvel

@ATaco I understand why you might prefer a more neutral tone—and there are plenty of platforms out there for that—but I don’t see Push Square's comments as "political hot takes" so much as them taking issue with potentially counterproductive behaviors.

There are likely valid business reasons behind Sony’s decision to require PSN logins on PC, but the discourse often shifts toward vilification. Could they communicate those reasons better? Absolutely.

At the end of the day, the gaming space has become quite volatile. If players can use review bombing and harsh commentary to express dissatisfaction, it’s fair for Push Square to share their perspective as well. Feedback should go both ways, and I respect their choice to address these issues rather than pretend they don’t exist simply because they reflect the less glamorous side of the industry.

Re: You'd Better Believe The Last of Us 2 Demands a PSN Account on PC

anubisvel

@ATaco In this particular case, it’s because Push Square has their own editorial voice and has never promised to be “neutral.” This is a blog providing a mix of news, commentary, and more about the extended world of PlayStation. Asking Push Square to not have an identity, or trying to change it to suit a specific point of view that is not their own, begs the question.

If someone believes their vision is superior to the current offering here, why not do it themself? At the very least, seek out an alternative platform that is more neutral to suit one’s tastes.

Re: Do You Put Your PS5 in Rest Mode or Shut It Down?

anubisvel

Prior to owning a Portal, I would always shut my console down fully. However, that has shifted since getting one. The only time I shut down now is if inclement weather is likely to cause an outage. I'm tired of being scolded for not shutting down properly. 😂

Re: The Game Awards Under Heavy Criticism for Elden Ring DLC's Game of the Year Nomination

anubisvel

I understand them wanting to celebrate/honor DLC, which can help drive the quality of DLC up across the industry. However, highlighting DLC content in its own major category seems more appropriate. Then again, DLC can enhance the experience of a game and have an impact beyond just the new story content. I see what they were going for on a number of fronts, but I’d still rather there be a new category introduced (Best DLC or Expansion).

Re: Rumour: PS5 Pro Design Seemingly Leaked

anubisvel

@Jrs1 Not in the least, and that wasn’t my intended implication. I’m all digital myself. I just don’t foresee Sony overlooking the population of early adopters who fall in the physical preferred category for an upgraded/pro model.

To that end, the several comments so far that almost presume or threaten the consequences of their dollar or support if no physical edition is released seem premature, particularly in light of this being a supposed leak and not an official announcement.

Premature and invalid are not the same, but the comments fall solely under the umbrella of speculation at this point.

This is why companies like to control their own narratives. Many people are too quick to get worked up over an absence of confirmation, often running with rumors and spreading misinformation or misdirection without any factual basis.

Re: Rumour: PS5 Pro Design Seemingly Leaked

anubisvel

The premature fears of there being no disc drive are a bit silly. We’re reading about a leaked sneak peek of potential packaging for ONE version… What would Sony gain from forcing a sizable audience of early adopters who prefer physical media to digital only in the middle of a console generation? I’m fairly confident all this negative speculation is unnecessary, and I’m happy to be called an idiot if the fears turn out to be legitimate later on. Patience.

Re: Site News: Where's Our Star Wars Outlaws PS5 Review?

anubisvel

@LiamCroft Understandable, though perhaps a less traditional approach (e.g. thoughts after 1-2 hours of play with the more substantial review still to follow OR arranging for a guest contributor) might have saved us from yet another “Where’s our review for _____” article? 🙃

It’s not the end of the world, but I know the team is as capable of creative solutions as we are of being patient. It’s a give and take.