Angered at the current state of Xbox and PlayStation, a reader details all their failings and explains why he thinks more and more people will see Nintendo as the superior alternative.
My opinion on current and next generation is that Nintendo will finally become the champion of the console wars despite never wanting to compete. Xbox and PlayStation 5 have been so focused on more power that they have truly reached the ceiling now, with RAM prices hitting them hard, but they’ve ruined the game industry in so many other ways.
Graphics and power have raised expectations of gamers so much that they expect too much and go on about frame rates, etc. too much. I prefer gameplay. Games now take years to make, six to seven in some cases, leading developers to release a buggy game just to get a hit of cash or risk going bankrupt.
They are also so expensive, so Sony and Xbox make less creative new games and just do sequels until they don’t reach crazy targets, then they close the studios. Buying up studios that have amazing games, then getting them to make games that they aren’t experienced in, then closing the studios when sales aren’t at target.
Game Pass. Poop. Day one Xbox offering a buyout to developers that could have made more if their games were released the conventional way. I knew this wouldn’t work and I’m glad they lost money on Call Of Duty when they game-passed it. Releasing PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, then PS5 Pro, just to milk the fans.
They could have released the powerful consoles first or just released the powerful ones six years later, avoiding the problem they have now. Making so much hardware no one asks for?! Wi-fi screen controller? PlayStation ear buds? Small 120fps monitor? Proprietary expensive memory? ROG Xbox Ally? All junk.
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Eventually fans will get fed up of being a wallet to these companies. This generation has less games on PS5 Pro and Xbox because of supporting too many past gen consoles for too long, so there’s not many games specifically for the current gen. Also, PlayStation VR… developers prefer to make a game for one console and optimise it across the rest, reducing production time and costs. Adding stupid optional features and gadgets gives developers an option, develop for a headset or develop across multiple consoles.
Going disc-less is also a bad choice for everyone and it’s funny how Xbox are considering a solution of you downloading a key to a disc, so it’s physical. I would hate to own 10 blank discs with scribbled titles on them! I have no idea what PlayStation 6 and Project Helix will be like, but I can guarantee that PlayStation 6 will be £900 to £1,400, the PlayStation 6 handheld with be £600 to £800, and Project Helix will be £900 to £1,200. On price alone, mummy isn’t buying her child one of those, neither are some teens, casual gamers, and much more.
On the disc-less issue, the probable prices above, the lack of games, and the general state of Xbox and PlayStation brands, I’m sure they would lose half their fans and gamers easily. Nintendo though? Game-key cards are a pain but it’s now a better alternative to owning nothing. They offer cheaper online services and their customer base is loyal and huge, making it impossible for developers to ignore them anymore. Their games are easier to make and they allow time and creativity for developers. Their games console is the cheapest option, the IP and franchises are literally the best, and they always try new and creative things with their IP.
They are making Switch 2 versions of games (some are pointless) but it means most months they have two first party game releases. They let third party developers make games in their franchises; they innovate and try new things. They are remaking older games like Star Fox and Zelda, you can play anywhere and multiplayer in same room.
Nintendo will be the dominant winner for sure, especially with developers flocking to the system. I’d love developers to realise how low Sony and Xbox’s install base will be. I cannot wait until GTA 6 is released so all the gamers and developers sitting on the fence will take the leap!
By reader Pete
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