Starfield – what a peculiar problem Bethesda has created for themselves (pic: Microsoft)

The Wednesday letters page tries to understand what Bethesda has against the UK, as one reader becomes stuck in Armored Core 6.

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Spoiling the mood
I was just starting to look forward to the Starfield reviews this week and now I find that most UK websites haven’t been sent copies yet. Not only websites but even the likes of Edge and The Guardian. What madness is this? Why would Bethesda do this and what do they hope to gain from it?

Now, the last couple of days before release is going to be spent arguing over that (I realise I’m, unintentionally, adding to it by writing this email) and the edge will be taken off of Microsoft’s biggest launch in a decade.

Isn’t the UK Microsoft’s second biggest market? Why on earth would they want to pick on us for all this trouble? I know you said it was all down to Bethesda but surely someone at Microsoft HQ in America would’ve got wind of this and told them to stop being so stupid?
Prio

GC: That’s exactly what we thought.

Not possible
Interesting reading about why you won’t have a Starfield review done this week and particularly why the UK is the one that isn’t receiving it. I’d still like to hear your thoughts on your first impressions though. I’ve pre-ordered it and will be playing it early access on Friday and am really excited.

I don’t think the reason they’re holding back the review copies will necessarily mean it’s going to be a bad game. Bethesda don’t mess up their single-player role-playing games. OK, there’s bugs but I’ve never had anything game-breaking.

It’s possible it’s to keep story spoilers of the game going wild all over the internet. I had heard that some screenshots had leaked and that story you published about someone getting into trouble for selling copies early won’t have helped matters.

I want to go in knowing next to nothing. I’ve only seen what Bethesda themselves have shown and what I’ve seen I’m really happy about.
Nick The Greek

GC: Story spoilers leaked weeks ago and the rest of the world has review copies, so it’s not that.

Lonely island
I just read that Eurogamer hasn’t yet received a review copy for Starfield and it’s due for release in two days’ time in early access. Its review embargo is also up on the same day, meaning Eurogamer won’t be able to publish a review in time for Starfield’s review embargo on Thursday.

This continues a worrying trend of publishers or developers selectively providing review copies to (usually US) publications, where I guess they maybe receive more favourable reviews, although this is pure speculation on my part.

I was wondering if GC are able to confirm whether they’ve received a review copy of Starfield and will be able to publish their review in time for its review embargo on Thursday?
Hubert

GC: We’re sure you’ve seen our comments on the matter now. The most peculiar aspect of it all is that it’s not just US outlets that have got review copies but, as far as we can tell, most of the rest of the world. It’s specifically the UK that has been left out.

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Universal agoraphobia
The Inbox is going to be all about Starfield for the foreseeable future and I think it’s more likely to get love than dislike.

There is something I’m curious about though, is anyone put off by the claim of ‘over 100 systems; with ‘over 1,000 planets’?

I might have bought an Xbox Series X to play it but the scale makes it sound exhausting. On top of that Bethesda are plenty capable of releasing a title with quest-breaking bugs and I think a game this big will be a play tester’s nightmare.
Mitchell

Something new, something old
I can totally see Nintendo going back to AR with better technology. The whole idea of melding the video game and real world together definitely sounds right up their alley (it would’ve been great for Pikmin) and I’m sure they could find lots of interesting and unexpected things to do with it.

In fact it might be a useful lighting rod for them, where Miyamoto can obsess over AR and everyone just gets on with the Switch 2 being a more powerful Switch 1. I know Nintendo don’t like it that simple but hopefully the AR functionality is enough and we can have the best of both worlds.
BossRush

The wall
Quite honestly, Armored Core 6 is fantastic overall and I was having great fun with the challenge of it all. I’ve never played an Armored Core game before but love Elden Ring and mechs so this was right up my street.

However, whereas in Elden Ring you can leave missions, level up, get better gear, try new things, summon AI/players to help etc., in Armored Core 6 I have reached the mission where you fight Sulla/Balteus and I am just stuck. After multiple efforts on Sulla and getting him down to 5% multiple times, but then knowing I have to fight Balteus right after, I do think From have gone a bit too far on the difficulty with this one and challenge has transitioned to frustration for me.

It gets depressing after a while and you just think ‘Maybe I’m not good enough’, whereas in Elden Ring I always knew I’d be able to work a way forward out, no matter how tough the challenge.

Anyone else having this? Anyone else stuck on the same bit? Any tips out there, as YouTube and Reddit have surprisingly little on Sulla. Loadout/strategy tips very welcome. Very open to a cheese strategy at this stage too should one exist!
Tom

GC: We felt exactly the same way when we came out of the preview but the more you play the more you get a feel for how everything works, and it starts to click into place. Also, you can do the optional missions for extra cash and better equipment, which definitely helps.

Virtual memory
I still can’t get over the PlayStation VR 2 situation. Six months and Sony has basically never mentioned it again. Are they embarrassed about it? Did they genuinely forget that they released it? And, most importantly, why wasn’t a new Astro Bot the number one priority from the start?

Like you said, the first game is basically the best VR game ever but what do we get instead? Turning Horizon Zero Dawn into a climbing simulator. Someone, somewhere is not doing their job right.
Penfold

More: Trending

Lara checklist
That Lara Croft skin is the first time I’ve been interested in Call Of Duty in years and I was genuinely looking into taking it for a spin on Warzone. But £20 for an extra character? Warzone might be free but no wonder it’s profitable with ridiculous prices like that. I wouldn’t dream of spending that sort of money on it but I assume plenty of other people would, if that’s the usual amount.

I’m curious to know what kind of people pay that for such a minor extra (you could get a top quality indie game for that and probably have money left over). Is it kids raiding their parents credit card, or parents with enough disposable cash to burn?

It seems so odd to me I almost forget to comment on the actual skin itself. I like the retro look but with modern graphics and I do hope this is the direction they’re going for the new game. I don’t care about the story but the must haves for me are:

Cheerful, sassy Lara like that old days

Actual platforming and not just Uncharted style rubbish

Minimal combat

Proper puzzles, including box pushing

Get that right and you’ve got a top quality Tomb Raider cooking. And actually, I changed my mind and I do care about the story. Or at least I care enough to say don’t let whoever wrote the last one anywhere near the new games.
Oppie

Inbox also-rans
Can I recommend McPixel 3 to anybody on Game Pass? It’s not the best game in the world but it will certainly get your Xbox Game Pass Achievement rewards over the line with very little effort.
freeway 77

Thanks for doing the Rayman DLC review for Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope. I’d forgotten that game, and the Rayman DLC, existed. Now I will likely take up your advice and look for the Gold Edition cheap. At the very least I bet it’ll be everywhere on Black Friday.
Dennis

This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Frpgman, who asks what is your favourite side character in a video game?

Assuming a side character is anyone that’s not playable or the primary antagonist, which is your favourite character who’s not the main focus of the game? It doesn’t matter how long they’re in the game for but tell us why you enjoyed them and how well you feel they were used.

Is the character popular and did they ever turn up in any sequels? If not, why do you think nobody else took to them like you did?

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The small print
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MORE : Games Inbox: The PS5 being too expensive, Metal Gear Solid remakes, and Saints Row recommendation

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MORE : Weekend Hot Topic: The best level in a video game

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The Wednesday letters page tries to understand what Bethesda has against the UK, as one reader becomes stuck in Armored Core 6.