Games Inbox: Is the PS5 boycott still happening?

The Monday letters page joins in on the PS5 physical media console boycott, as one considers the irony of the Xbox 25th anniversary.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Join the movement
Well, I’m currently on the weeklong PlayStation 5 boycott. I’m still very annoyed about Sony stopping making discs and want to make my voice heard.

I’m lucky enough to have an Xbox Series X and Switch, as well as the PlayStation 5, so I’m sure I’ll find something to play.

I only bought the PlayStation 5 about a year ago. I rather think if Sony had announced the ending of discs before I’d purchased the console I don’t think I would have bought it.

I hope there’s other readers of GC who are doing the same boycott, as well as a good number around the globe.
DB

First impressions
I played The Duskbloods network test over the weekend and I was pretty impressed. Before I get into it, I will say that in terms of graphics it’s very good. It basically looks at least as good as Elden Ring and I don’t think anyone would guess it was a Switch 2 game if they just watched a video. I’m sure if you analysed it and whatever you’d know but I was impressed.

At first the game seemed to be a bit of generic From game, with the monster that beats you in the first few minutes, and the basic controls and everything. But I started getting into it and I really like the jumping, which is very extreme.

It’s quite complicated in terms of the rules but then so was Elden Ring Nightreign, so I’m sure it’ll find its fans. I don’t know if I’ll buy it, but I’m interested.
Munson

Worse case scenario
I don’t know what new to say about these GTA 6 leaks except: wow! I have never seen this happen with any game ever. I’m sure there’s been a few things, like the Marvel’s Wolverine hack, but this is on another level completely.

On the one hand you’d expect ‘fans’ to make the most effort for the biggest game, but on the other hand you’d expect Rockstar’s security to be absolutely watertight. And apart from the hacks a few years ago, which didn’t really say much, it has been.

Now though… I mean who knows what will have been announced by the time you read this?! I would love to be a fly on the wall at Rockstar right now because they will be absolutely furious, they will be through the roof. And I can’t blame them to a degree, because this really isn’t the way we would should be learning about this stuff.
Johnson
PS: If this happens to the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake, I think Nintendo will just cancel it then and there, they won’t be able to cope with a leak like that.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Regional variations
Came across an interesting article where they discuss a breakdown of physical and digital in various countries.

What was most surprisingly is you have more than 50% of some games being bought physically rather than digitally in the likes of France and Australia, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Resident Evil Requiem, while others are significantly less.

So either these regions sales/revenue are too little for Sony to care about or they’ve not looked at the data objectively and could be in for a rude awakening.

Makes Sony’s decision to completely cut off physical discs all the more baffling when they could’ve let publishers decide on a game by game, region by region basis.
Anon

GC: The link you sent us didn’t work but we think it’s probably this article.

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Time-consuming decisions
I would be perfectly happy with a playable Zelda section in Ocarina Of Time but I don’t see how it could be particularly long without ruining the feel of the game. Maybe for a new dungeons-like area that Link can’t go into, but at the end of the day I can’t see it being anything other than a gimmick.

For me, the biggest question is what to do about Hyrule Field. As you said in your article, if you keep it the same it’s going to be tiny but if you make it big like Breath Of The Wild it’s going to really change the look and feel.

I think that is the way to go though, and Nintendo will probably figure out a compromise that works. To be honest, this is why I don’t like remakes though. All this time and effort on something that already exists, I’d rather just have something new.
Rigird

Third party discs
I am a big collector of physical games and films/TV series, so I will be taking part in the PlayStation Blackout this week, I have even uninstalled the PlayStation app and un-subscribed from the PlayStation YouTube channel for the week! I buy a lot of indie games physically and re-releases of old games on PlayStation 4 and 5 physically, such as the Rocket Knight games and Zombies Ate My Neighbours. As well as newer releases on physical and PlayStation VR2 games on physical.

As we know, Sony prints all the physical PlayStation discs and companies like Limited Run Games, Super Rare, Lost in Cult, and iam8bit – as well as many other companies. What happens with film releases? Who prints the discs for the various companies like Criterion, Arrow, 88 Films, etc.? Do these companies print them themselves or is there a company printing them for them, like Sony does for all the PlayStation discs?

Couldn’t Sony let a third party print the physical discs so these companies that rely on selling physical copies of games, like Strictly Limited Games, Limited Run Games, Red Art Games, etc. still operate? and Sony still take a cut of the profits. I backed a Kickstarter game a few years ago called Goodboy Galaxy, which has been released on Switch and PC, and they have also made a Game Boy Advance physical game which I will receive soon, for a handheld console that came out in 2001.

If people can still make physical games for the Game Boy Advance and N64, can’t Sony let people make physical games for the PlayStation 5 still with them taking a cut of the profits? I wouldn’t mind paying more money for physical games if it meant they were still made and Sony having a big cut of the profits too, which I would be happy with.
Andrew J.
PS: I am buying Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 SteelBook for PlayStation 5 and Ender Magnolia for PlayStation 5 this week, physically.

GC: We’ve got an interview with Limited Run Games coming up, where we touch on many of these issues. It may take us as a week or two to write up though, given how busy this week is going to be.

Bad timing
It’s so darkly ironic that this year is the 25th anniversary of Xbox. They tried so hard too. Forza, Halo, and Gears Of War all out in the same year, and they would’ve had Fable too, if it hadn’t been delayed. The only problem is nobody cares and instead of celebrating the anniversary they’ve just underlined how irrelevant Xbox is.

I’m not a hater, I’ve just never owned one, and there absolutely has been no reason to do so in the last 15 years or so. I would feel sorry for those involved but seeing as anyone creative was probably laid off years ago all I can do is have sympathy for the execs that will only be able to buy one new Ferrari this year.
Tetroevil
PS: That anniversary console is super ugly.

Giving in to temptation
RE: Nintendo Switch 2. I finally picked one up. I’ve been tempted for a while and I just thought my credit card can take the hit (been waiting for an announcement on an enhanced version but that’s probably ages away).

Spent the weekend on it and I’m not disappointed at all. I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying Mario Kart World, after all the criticisms I’ve read. I do think the Grand Prix are a bit rubbish, having to drive to the next course (seems a waste of good tracks), but it works for Knockout Tour.

I’ve double-dipped on Resident Evil Requiem and it’s just blown me away how good it looks and plays. I’ll only play it on handheld mode when I’m not at my place, but another plus.

The Yoshi game is just odd. I don’t know how else to describe it, but I see exactly what you meant when you said it looks like it is aimed at five-year-olds… I feel like I’m in a primary school class playing it.

Still got to play Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokémon Pokopia but the crown jewel is the Star Fox remake. It’s always been one of my favourite games since it came out in ‘97 and I still play it on the 3DS. It feels like a new game with the enhanced graphics and soundtrack. I’d honestly be happy if they just did this for the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake, a graphics and music update. I think they are going to do exactly that and annoy everyone but I’ll be happy.
Simon

Inbox also-rans
Just heard that 2XKO has been cancelled. Oh well. I mean the obvious problem with that one is the terrible name that gives no clue that it has anything to do with League Of Legends. Did Microsoft help them with the naming for that one?
Antlan

Will you be reviewing Elden Ring on Switch 2? Be interested in hearing why it’s so late.
Lofty

GC: We’ll try, but between Gamescom and GTA 6 it’s going to be a very busy week, so we can’t promise.

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