The first rumour
I am genuinely shocked that there really was a Christmas Day leak about the Switch 2, but as usual it doesn’t really tell us anything other than it looks like the current one. We’ve known that for months now and ever since it seems like we’ve just been going round in circles.
We still don’t know what any of the new buttons do or what any of the games are so I’m not sure that Nintendo is really feeling any urgency to make an annoucement early. Even so, I’m sure there’s going to be tons of rumours this week about the Switch 2 being announced. And then when it doesn’t, it’ll be next week, and then next week, and so on.
Someone will get it right just by accident but even a date is just a guess at this point. I’ve heard Wednesday 8th being talked about, but I’m sure that’ll only end up being the first rumour of the year. If I was going to guess I would say sometime in January, let’s say Thursday 30th. Will I be any more or less accurate than the so-called insiders?
Bircher
Only good
Good Top 20 of the year, as usual, GC. I can’t say I’ve played many of the games, outside a few of the indie titles, but it seems a good line-up to me. Although I have to agree that while there are lots of good games, for me, there’s no standout and nothing that has tempted me into giving up on my backlog in order to play them.
I’ll get round to Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and maybe Dragon Age: The Veilguard eventually, but I’m in no rush. Especially as they’re only going to get cheaper, with more DLC, over time. Is this my fault or the game’s? I couldn’t really say but to me, none of them are exceptional enough for me to pay out anything close to £70 for.
Publishers may have managed to push for £70 as standard and won but that has made the chances of an impulse purchase far lower. More like a wait a year and get it half price or more, as far as I’m concerned.
Cranston
The third way
Interesting list of upcoming titles for 2025, but we’ll see what ones actually make it out, and which do a handbrake turn to get out of the way of GTA 6. And probably Switch 2 as well. It’s going to be interesting to see how publishers react to that coming out and whether they consider it a rival to their normal releases.
I do think we’ll see a lot of third party support but I really don’t think we’ll see many PlayStation 5 releases. Nintendo will be much more keen to show off that the Switch 2 runs PlayStation 4 games well, rather than having to admit it doesn’t do current gen ones as good.
I feel that would be the best approach, as having games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3 working perfectly on Switch 2 would still be great and more than enough to impress most people. I think it would also shut down a lot of interest in Steam Deck too, since these versions of the games would actually be made with the Switch 2 in mind, rather than having to be squeezed uncomfortably onto it.
Castor
I see
Hope Game Central and all its readers had a good Christmas and New Year and got all the games they wanted. For any Shenmue fans like me, Limited Run Games has got official Shenmue merchandise at this link for pre-order until Sunday, 12th January 2025.
As a big fan of Shenmue I am going to get the Shenmue cap and T-shirt. I might also stretch my wallet to the Shenmue cat with a can of Sega Tuna!
Andrew J.
Social media
I would like to echo the sentiment in Geohero’s Reader’s Feature on Sociable Soccer. I purchased it for PlayStation 5 a couple of weeks back and have very much enjoyed what I have played so far. Just good, simple fun without any predatory microtransactions.
Thankfully, a few glitched trophies aside, any bugs it had on release seem fixed, as I have had no issues in that regard. I completely recommend it to any fans of football games.
The more the merrier
Currently playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard and absolutely loving it, possibly my game of 2024. The characters are great, combat is fantastic, side quests are interesting, the world is a joy to explore, the hair is lovely… what more could you want?
Well, according to a certain subsect of gamers, it being a little bit inclusive negates all this, as the review bombing showed. I think it’s safe to say most of these people haven’t even played the game. It’s just a sad situation that people would not play a game, and actively campaign against it, because it is supposedly inclusive; even though it’s a fantasy game and there are elves and skeletons, but having a transgender character is apparently not believable. It is no detriment whatsoever to the actual game, which is excellent. If anything, having a diverse set of characters makes it more interesting.
So, if you’re on the fence, don’t believe the naysayers, it’s a great game, especially if you’ve enjoyed any of BioWare’s other games.
Mud
Big fish
I struggle to see the point of a handheld Xbox. If the console market only has room for one traditional TV console, why would there be room for multiple handhelds? Since Microsoft can’t compete with Nintendo at making games, the handheld Xbox could only compete with the Steam Deck for its niche little corner of the market.
Even if they outsell the Steam Deck, we’re talking about a handful of a million consoles. Hardly seems worthwhile. Is it just a case of throwing the proverbial at the wall to see if anything sticks?
Phil
You are the product
I’ve enjoyed playing video games for a very long time, ever since my parents bought me a Sega Master System when I was young.
Fast forward to 2024, I now have a son who has inherited my hobby. He’s almost 11 now.
He loves his Nintendo Switch and during the summer I took him to a local arcade club, to experience all the classic arcade coin-ops of yesteryear. He even had a session playing Beat Saber on a Meta Quest 2.
He’s naturally excited and really enjoyed virtual reality, so I decided to buy him a Meta Quest 3 to share along with me, as I have owned a PlayStation VR and I understand, as a parent, how virtual reality works. I moderate his use, and I want him to enjoy himself!
I take great care to ensure he doesn’t play any games or media that isn’t appropriate for him.
Recently, I received an email from Meta explaining that if I do not create an account for my child all my apps will be suspended!
So I had to respond, even knowing as a parent who can think for myself. If I didn’t, I would be left with a heap of junk that isn’t cheap.
I do not like this digital age, where as a parent, I feel like I’m being moderated myself and told what to do.
I can only see things becoming worse as we approach a digital age.
What happened to having fun and playing your favourite video games?
I didn’t buy hardware to be spied upon.
If this is the future, I am done with gaming.
Carl
Inbox also-rans
Anyone heard about the theory that the new Switch 2 Joy-Cons can be used like a mouse if you stand them up? Sounds unlikely but those new leaked pictures do seem to have an optical sensor in them…
Tony T.
Not strictly gaming related, but I came across a few old friends who wanted to wish all at GC a merry Christmas. They’ve gone back to fighting over the chocolates and sweets now, as they always used to.
Julian
GC: That’s a nice collection.
Games Inbox: Will the Nintendo Switch 2 be unveiled this week?
