sanderson72

Suppose it depends on the definition of AA? Did that include Everybody's Golf or was that AAA? Was something like Control AA or AAA?

One of the best games I've played in years is the hilarious pixelated madness that is Broforce which was probably an A. Gameplay is key - nice visuals are welcome but they don't necessarily make or break a game.

Death of Japan Studio effectively killed off Everybody's Golf - causing Clap Hanz to look elsewhere and guess what, it ended up (via Apple Arcade) on the Switch, the definitive home of indies these days.

I don't think Shu is quite right - the AA market disappeared because PS didn't support it, certainly post-PS5 release and after that it was too late.

From the "WOW!" experiences of Tomb Raider on the PS1 to Uncharted on the PS3, the upgrades in graphics have definitely been slowing down over the past decade.
To be honest, telling the difference between PS4 to PS5 is difficult - just that the PS5 can chuck a few more pixels around a bit quicker but the design of games haven't really improved.

"PS5 Has Narrowed the Gap on Switch's Indie Game Sales"
I don't see any mention of the PS5 in that article - PS4 yes, but not the 5.

Stopped caring ever since they canned the sequel to Fenyx.

Another remaster which looks worse than the original with 'plastic' character models.
New accessibility features are always welcome but surely that's just a patch not an upgrade?

@AK4tywill DS4 > DS5. Sony really peaked with the DS4. Shame Sony won't allow us to use them on every PS5 game.

@Oram77 https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/01/ps-plus-subscriptions-on-sale-up-to-35percent-off

Can't say I'm missing PS+ (the games have been very poor recently) and the only aspect I'd like is PS5 save backups. I might resub to Essential when the next ESO expansion is available but until then, not fussed.

@Oram77 We had one, at least in the UK. There was no discount on Essential (still £60) whereas Extra and Premium were about £75 with a couple of quid difference in a years subscription.

Probably the only game I'm looking forwards to, with a possible exception of the new Sonic racer.
Strange that both these games are being released on the PS4 too? Still, if the old stager can run it then why not? That seems to be Sega's standpoint on it anyway.

PS4 = 4 the players
PS5 = for the payers

Had PS+ since the PS3 days and after Extra expired last December, I couldn't be bothered to renew, even on Essential.

My PS4 Pro has a small USB stick in the front for backing up game saves but the PS5 is just going to have to take its chances as New Sony are too tight to enable this feature for the PS5 save data. Might renew to Essential when the next ESO expansion comes out but, in the meantime, it's just not needed.

So, in summary, "meh". The PS5 lumbers on with no points of interest...

Most game adaptations are terrible but this is brilliant. Looking forward to season 2.

Technically Team Sonic Racing was OK-ish but nowhere near as much fun as Sonic and Sega All-Stars, both the original and Transformed. Great track designs, fun weapons (not forgetting some memorable All-Star specials) and it looked like an arcade game, even on the PS3.

Nice to see Sega are keeping to their promise of keeping the old stager going on appropriate games too

"Operational issue" = someone unplugged a critical server to plug the vacuum cleaner in...

Unfortunately, this does appear to be New Sony's stance on everything - don't tell the users anything. Perhaps a server caught fire, perhaps someone tripped over a LAN cable, perhaps they were hacked by Muskrats, who knows?
Just a simple statement would go a l-o-n-g way. I miss the days of Layden et al - at least they'd give a quick statement about what had happened..

I just went to playing games from disc so no biggie. The only one I wanted a few hours on was Fallout 4 that I've got into recently which I picked up with Skyrim on some bargain bin PSN deal years ago which was totally mullered by the network being down.
Definitely staying with physical discs for as long as possible.

@DennisReynolds No, the original PS5 upstairs is the primary and the cheapo 2nd hand one downstairs is the one I've been using. Some examples:
Fallout 4 - PS Store purchase - doesn't work
Dragon Age Veilguard - disc - works fine (apart from an EA server connection warning, probably because the PSN is dead)
Just Die Already - PS Store - doesn't work
Just Die Already - disc - works fine.
Bubble Shooter FX - PS Store purchase - seems fine??

I suspect it's anything digital that requires a network connection is currently toast. Oddly, Fallout 4 DID work earlier on (probably about midday-1pm GMT) but now it's not working again.

@XxGlitchxX Looks to be unless you have a disc in which case, you're fine.

Still down in the UK. Can't play anything bought from the PS Store apart from Bubble Shooter FX which works fine???

Anything with a disc works fine but the online 'did you buy this?' authentication looks completely stuffed. And they say we should all embrace digital only...

It's fine, just use your physical media to verify your game....what, you bought digital for an OTT price? Oh....
Those shiny silver platters win again!

Control only 18? What madness is this?

Still rate PS3's Tools of Destruction as being the best one.

@Max_the_German Same thing was said about "Immortals: Fenyx Rising" and that was an absolute corker.

Big question though - can you create your own character?

Been playing Elder Scrolls Online since about 2016 and some days I just wander about, looking at the scenery, completing daily quests and following treasure maps. Thing with ESO is it keeps getting bigger so you never really finish it.

I've started Baldur's Gate 3 but I've got so far in and drifted off from it - dunno why, as I loved Divinity. Weirdly, I've actually been enjoying Dragon Age Veilguard and I've even reinstalled Fallout 4 on the PS5 and am getting much more into it this time.

@Gamer83 The PS5 Pro seems quite plentiful in all the major retailers here in the UK so very much not sold out and often discounted as if they're trying to shift stock (e.g. Argos = £659.99, GameCollection = £674.95)

Apart from the "must have it" early adopters, most of us don't really care or can't justify paying £700 (£800 with disc drive) for a marginal upgrade. PS4 Pro was a much bigger step up over the base console.

I suspect Sony will go for a digital PS6 with a blu-ray drive attachment, similar to the PS5 Pro/slim for those of us who want it.
I have a substantial PS4 disc collection and it would make me very hesitant to buy a digital only console with a requirement to re-buy all the disc games I have, and that's assuming that they exist on the store (Driveclub).

PS+ sub finished in December last year.
Only thing I'm (sort of) missing is the PS5 game save backup utility. PS4 is fine and can back up to USB of course.
The games seem to have taken a downturns in quality.

Main difference I see here is that by the end of March 2019, the PS4 had almost cleared 100 million units sold (about 10 million clear of final PS3 units sold) and there are still some 50 million PS4 users out there who will suddenly get no more games or benefits apart from online play.

Seems a bit off, given the PS5 backwards compatibility, but then again Sony do need to try and flog a few more PS5s if it's going to catch it's forebear.

@HonestHick I wish Sony would remove the restriction to play PS5 games with a DualShock 4 (Sony's finest design to date)
However, they won't do that as then people won't have to buy replacement controllers when the inevitable stick drift rears its ugly head.

PS3 and PS4 UI superiority over the dreary PS5 UI just keeps getting bigger and bigger...

Dropped PS+ at the end of last year after being a member all the way back to the PS3 days. Looks like I'm not missing anything.

I still find it baffling that a game that's capable of running on the Switch doesn't get a (fairly easy to port) PS4 version.
That said, I don't get the fascination with virtual rounders either.

PS4 did have competition - not much admittedly - but at least it had some.
PS5 is the only choice for a next gen console now that Microsoft keep shooting themselves in the foot unless Switch 2 sells even faster than its predecessor.

If PS want to sell more in Europe, maybe they should reverse their £30 price hike that they loaded on everywhere apart from their home country of the USA?

@PushDiagonal I think 99% is somewhat over the top. I suspect anyone who's grown up with a PS3 or PS4 would welcome themes back (just see the response to the Welcome screen) along with folders and various other PS4 concepts.

I think all it proves is that the PS3 and PS4 UIs still kick the PS5's miserable dashboard into touch but New Sony aren't listening.

Veilguard has been one of the more enjoyable & polished experiences on the PS5 (says more about the PS5's release line-up from my perspective) but it pales in comparison to Dragon Age: Origins on the good old PS3 or Inquisition on the PS4. Just doesn't feel as epic.

Dropped off from Extra at the end of last year and was going to renew at Essential level but, in the end, I couldn't be bothered and can't say I'm missing it.

My PS4 Pro has a tiny USB stick in one of it's front ports for backup purposes. Can't do that with the Tub o' Lard due to Fony not introducing the ability to backup saves to USB.
Was interested to see this until I realised that Essential wasn't included...

"Suggest more than folders and themes in the comments below." - brilliant, @LiamCroft!

Probably removing themes. I keep hoping for folders and themes but Fony are really disappointing me this gen. Sigh, I'll just go and boot my PS4 Pro and enjoy the PS2 retro theme...

To be honest, I've been finding myself disconnected with Sony since the PS5 era lurched into existence and their latest AAA output, games such as Horizon, just left me cold.

I think that someone with a soul should be put in charge of PS Studios (bin Herman) and reach out to all those PS4 indies and AA studios to bolster the PS library with games people want to play and part with money for.
They keep remastering/rehashing games (PS4 games? I mean, why?) but the PS3 ones we want are still stuck on the trusty, old PS3 - Motorstorm, LBP, Modnation Racers to mention just three.

Do you have to waggle your stick (ooh, matron)?

I'm just hoping they've added a 'step backwards' button to the modern controls. How can that still be missing?

Always preferred the original fantasy RPG setting of Warhammer, probably because I played the paper & dice version for many years.
Apart from Vermintide (1 & 2) and Chaosbane (rough but quite playable), I can't think of any others apart from the Warhammer MMO on PC? Shame if this has bit the dust as the PS ecosystem could do with some decent fantasy RPGs with a solid back setting.

@Oram77 The even numbered PlayStation models seem to be the best so I'm hoping for a decent PS6 - though if Herman is still in charge, we'll just end up with Horizon remasters.

What Sony have to realise is, no-one in their right mind pays £500-800 for a home console just to play live service games. Smartphone? Fine. Switch? OK (though hopefully less on S2) PS4? Just about acceptable PS5/6? No.

We need someone to go through the dusty PS2/PS3 archives and work out what to bring back. Motorstorm, ModNation, LBP are just 3 titles that come to mind - though Sony would need to work out how servers work again so content can be swapped. Oh, and rehire the companies they disbanded (Studio Liverpool, Evolution)

Have to say, I agree with everything Shuhei says. Vita failed because:
1) The proprietary memory cards were too expensive and not big enough, storage wise
2) The back touch panel was a stupid gimmick
3) The pulling of first party support sealed its fate

@KawakiisaFraud Sony's own sales forecasts which had to be adjusted down.

@KawakiisaFraud @Pat_trick A lot of it depends on the price and what exclusives are going to be Switch 2 only. I suspect Mario Kart 9 will be Switch 2 only and will be a system seller.

Given that the PS5 is expected to fall short of the PS4 numbers, I can see Switch 2 selling better overall but again it's down to exclusive games, something that the PS5 is only just starting to be supported by, and the price of the system.

No need for the Switch 2 to try and compete with the PS5.

Given what devs are still pushing out of the PS4, that level of power in a handheld will likely be a resounding success. Looking forward to see what it can do.

@AgentGuapo VAT over here is 20%.

There are some weird conversions going on, probably 'cos PlayStation is about as Japanese as Mom's Apple Pie now. Remember that the US was the only place to not get a £30 increase bunged on the cost of a PS5. Still not seen that equalise yet...

@enrickUranium Is it just me or is it the same things in the sale as last time where everything is slightly more expensive?

Last element of fun leaves Playstation. Thanks for all the good times, Shuhei .

Simpsons: Hit and Run would sell like hot cakes. I assume it's licensing getting in the way?