Rise Of The Rōnin – a PS5 exclusive but not one made by Sony (Picture: Koei Tecmo)

The Friday letters page thinks Sony should stop paying for so many PS5 console exclusives, as one reader imagines next gen Switch 2 franchises.

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Pick of the bunch
Interesting trailer from Sony, for the new year line-up, but I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice that the only proper first party game is the Concord live service game, which isn’t too encouraging for them having some kind of big comeback year for homemade games.

From the trailer, I’d say the games I’m most interested in are Dragon’s Dogma 2, Rise Of The Rōnin, and Tekken 8. I’m not a big fan of the series but I’d imagine that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be very big with some people too. I’m potentially also interested in Silent Hill 2, although I don’t have much faith in Bloober Team, so we’ll have to see about that.

I’d say it’s a good line-up overall though, with something for everyone. I agree with the reader that said 2024 doesn’t yet have any standout games to look forward to. There’s nothing on the scale of a new Zelda or Spider-Man yet, but who could’ve predicted Baldur’s Gate 3 at this time last year?

Here’s hoping we get another surprise (or two) like that and that all these games and more turn out to be worth the wait.
Cranston

Mercenary business
So that PlayStation trailer was a bit of a surprise. Sony were obviously holding onto it until straight after Christmas and as usual the lack of first party games is very telling. Considering all that Sony did in the last generation it’s crazy to me that Microsoft currently has a dozen or so first party games announced and Sony has… one. Oh, and this live service game Concord, which I have no faith will ever come out.

It’s a nice trailer, and I’m personally interested in seeing how Rise Of The Rōnin and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth turn out, which are PlayStation 5 exclusives but not made by Sony. The problem there is next time round, what’s to stop Microsoft just paying Square Enix and Koei Tecmo more to have them exclusive on Xbox?

These sort of deals must cost Sony a fortune and it seems to me it’d be a lot better to invest that money in its own studios and IP than just bringing in these paid mercenaries to prop up their empty schedules. I hope for a change in direction when the new boss comes in but I don’t expect it.
Focus

The sleeping Zelda
During and after watching Moana on New Year’s Day, I had an overwhelming desire to play The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, so booted up the Switch (tip: after not playing since the end of Tears Of The Kingdom, the Switch wouldn’t power on, even after an overnight charge; turns out that holding the power button on top, for 20 seconds, then tapping it once more sorts you right out – you’re welcome).

Why is The Wind Waker not available on the Switch, in any capacity?! Retro library? Nyet. Compilation of Zeldas? Nein. Standalone remaster? Denied! Oh the salty spray, how I longed for you, an adventure on the open seas snatched from my thoughts and trampled on by a stampede of Japanese businessmen.

Sea Of Thieves? Mmm… Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag? Naah. I wanted all the traditional Zelda magic but upon the sea, bosses and dungeons, boomerangs, and hook shots. Maybe one day, or maybe on the Switch 2, or maybe I’ll just have to go retro! I’m off to Facebook marketplace.
big boy bent

GC: There’s a reasonable chance a port of the Wii U remaster will be released before the Switch hangs up its boots.

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Third Destiny
So what happens to Bungie if Destiny 2 continues to underperform and Sony takes over? It’s becoming pretty hard to imagine Sony ever paying up for a Destiny 3 and I think that’s the only thing that’s really going to turn things around.

Before I just checked I actually thought Destiny 2 started as a PlayStation 3 game, but it didn’t. Even so, it feels like one and as someone that used to play it I feel the whole thing has lost its mojo and is just dragging its feet at the moment. I’ve tried to go back a few times and it seems old-fashioned and just repeating old tricks.

But that’s Bungie’s bread and butter, so they must be in danger now of Sony gutting the studio and moving people over to work on their other live service games at other developers. An unhappy end for such a famous company but I just don’t see this year going well for them.
Casper

No Sense
Am I the only one who turns off the haptics options with a DualSense? It all seemed very cool at first but, predictably, Astro’s Playroom is the only game that used it in an interesting way and now it just seems to be shoe-horned in when a developer remembers it.

I’m all for it increasing the immersion but all it seems to do in most games is increase the amount of effort you have to put into pressing the triggers and so I just turn it off once I realise it’s not going to do anything interesting. Is there any recent game that uses it to good effect?
Dwayne

So many games, so little time
Happy new year gamers.

I used some gratefully received gift cards to top up my Nintendo account. I got Amnesia: Collection, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus at a steal in the sale and Return Of The Obra Dinn. It worked out well savvy and cost a lot less than £30 (the latter was full price but I’m really itching to play it).

I seem to be seeing so much impatience and negativity regarding upcoming games and delays. It shouldn’t be like this. I’ve yet to play Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Moss: Book 2, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Spider-Man, Battlefield 1, and many more for Gordon’s sake; even though I own them. I think it’s nice to diversify tastes and explore rather than get focussed on one game and genre and demand a sequel straight after the end credits are over.

Cheesy Christmas TV movies, mince pies, and brandy on the sofa with the other half may have steeled my goodwill on top of this happy vibe but I stand by my sentiment.

Have a great 2024 each and all.
D Dubya

Intellectual property
Happy new year to everyone! Now that the Switch seems to be done and dusted I wonder what Nintendo’s first new IP will be for the Switch 2? We got very few this gen, just things like ARMS and Ring Fit Adventure, and less than the Wii U, which I think is disappointing.

But what new genre could Nintendo be thinking of taking on with a new Switch 2 game? Will we ever get something with a more serious storyline from them? A Soulslike, maybe? Or perhaps an attempt at a MOBA? I’m always surprised they didn’t do one of those. Hoping we’ll find out this year!
Jacko

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Long short list
Wouldn’t it be typical of Nintendo to add an extra stripe to the toothpaste with Switch 2?

I’m thinking a new 3D or Wiimote-like widget. Maybe ultra-lightweight wireless augmented reality specs or monocle, virtually weightless, which offers a subtle HUD and full peripheral vision to counter sickness? Third time lucky after Virtual Boy and the cardboard ones?

2023 was certainly the year of the Switch (and Switch Lite) for me, with first party smashes and indie gems galore. Don’t really see how a new machine can improve on Pikmin 4’s visuals or the huge vibrant screen of the OLED, but hey ho.

Thanks GC, for your efforts through ’23. It’s amazing to still have independent video game journalism not too beholden to advertising or publisher pressure. We’d all rather a late review than paid for advertorial.

Here’s a small list of unusual indie gems, possibly mostly for older gamers, on Switch (old and new – most £2-£10) I am enjoying:

Yoku’s Island Express

Air Twister

Kaze And The Wild Masks

Spinch

Hell Well

Hue

Gearshifters

Monkey Barrels

Fashion Police Squad

Lumines Remastered

Zero Strain

Fluffy Horde

Lunistice

Bleak Sword DX

RetroMania Wrestling

Wavetale

Strikey Sisters

Arkanoid – Eternal Battle

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus

Deflector

Toadee And Topdee

Tempest 4000

Akka Arrh

Tetris Effect: Connected

Neo Cab

Orbital Cargo Division

Panzer Dragoon: Remake

Momonga Pinball Adventures

Jet Kave Adventure

Slaycation Paradise

ProtoCorgi

Cloudpunk

Dead Z Meat

Mantis Burn Racing

Cats And The Other Lives

Thimbleweed Park

Will Sargent

Inbox also-rans
Looking forward to Mario and Sonic to go public domain in 60 years and then we can finally have that Mushroom Kingdom horror movie we’ve all wanted.
Heathcliffe

I’m willing to bet Baldur’s Gate 3 hasn’t sold that well on console at all. I know literally nobody that has played it barely any that have heard of it. It’s totally a PC thing.
Trespils

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The Friday letters page thinks Sony should stop paying for so many PS5 console exclusives, as one reader imagines next gen Switch 2 franchises.