Coming soon to Nintendo Switch 2? (Picture: Activision)
The Friday letters page thinks everything is going Microsoft’s way in terms of Activision Blizzard, as one reader looks forward to Clock Tower.
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Day one release
So it seems like the Activision Blizzard acquisition is a done deal now. By the end of next week it could all be done and dusted, although I admit I have no idea how long it will take the small print to go through. So, what do we think is going to happen after that?
I imagine Microsoft is going to make a big show of carrying through on all their promises (for things nobody ever wanted) which is going to be pretty nauseating to put up with. So, lots more streaming deals with companies you’ve never heard of and lots of Activision Blizzard games on Switch, which is going to be interesting.
I really can’t think of anything they could put on the current model that would work properly, apart from Hearthstone or something (is Hearthstone even still going?). But I’m willing to bet that as soon as the Switch 2 is announced it is going to be absolutely flooded with Activision Blizzard games, just to make the point.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m against the acquisition, but that would actually work out well for Switch (2) owners. So maybe something good will come of all this mess after all.
Pr0metheus
We live inside a dream
Reality is beginning to seem like an Xbox fanboy fantasy at the moment. Microsoft wining their court case was always a coin toss but all this stuff about Sony’s live service games is so weird it’s surreal. Its’s like what you’d imagine if some Xbox exec dreaming about if they thought: ‘The only way we’ll become number one is if we buy Activision Blizzard and Sony starts doing something really, really stupid.’
And lo and behold their dream has come true. Not only has Sony been acting like a grumpy old hermit for the last year or more but they’re putting all their money into a style of game most core gamers hate and VR – without ever releasing any games for it.
They’ve gone from focusing on a style of game that they’ve had something like an 80% success rate with to one that’s more like 1% for most other companies. And their first attempt, with The Last Of Us, has fallen at the first! This is all so weird and kind of worrying.
Campbell
Final answer
Very interesting revelation about the Final Fantasy name, I wonder why they never revealed that before. I’d almost say Square Enix didn’t like the original theory, because it made them look weak, and tried to retcon it, but Sakaguchi doesn’t work for them anymore and it was only Square back then.
It’s funny how much influence Fighting Fantasy has had on Japanese developers, between this and Hidetaka Miyazaki from Dark Souls being a big fan. I wonder how many others must’ve been. But then I think it’s easy to forget that the whole JRPG genre was originally just a riff on Western games like Wizadry and Ultima, before they put their own spin on things. Heck, Wizadry is only still going now because of interest in Japan.
I have to admit I don’t love Final Fantasy 16 either but I still love the series overall, so may there never be a true final Final Fantasy!
Benson
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Second time round
I never really paid much attention to Limited Run Games before, as I’m not someone that really cares about physical copies or not, but a lot of those projects they announced sound really cool. Especially the lost Shantae game, Tomba!, and Clock Tower.
I’m not sure any of those Jurassic Park games really stand up today but I’m curious to see them again anyway. I’m not sure why anyone is excited about Gex though. Maybe it was bigger in the US but I don’t know anyone that cares about it and I was the perfect age to be a fan at the time. I remember it the first time around, but I don’t remember anyone liking it.
Still, from the sake of game preservation, if nothing else, it can’t be a bad thing.
Scrapdog
Fair game
I’m kind of surprised that Call Of Duty hasn’t done the Gulf War before. I think it’s popped up in a few games, or at least there’s been scenes that are reminiscent of it, but as the last big ground war for the US military it seems an obvious route to go.
Some people might have a problem with it, and call it tasteless, but I’m not sure I really agree. For me, if TV and movies can cover it then it’s fair game for, well… games. Plus, I feel Call Of Duty games are better at their stories than a lot of people give them credit for. I think it could be good.
Pascal9
Halfway house
I’m very curious to know whether Microsoft knows for a fact about Nintendo’s future plans or if they’re just guessing. With a lot of the stuff they came out with during the court case I got the distinct impression they were just relying on rumours, like the rest of us. They certainly used games websites as sources in their documents, so I don’t think there’s necessarily anything more to them talking about Nintendo then just some random leaker.
I do find the idea of Nintendo releasing a Switch Pro instead of a full Switch 2 interesting though. I hadn’t considered it before but that is something I could imagine happening. The Switch is still selling okay and as GC pointed out there is a limit with how powerful a new console could be, if you want to still keep it cheap.
I could imagine a scenario where Nintendo want to ensure new hardware is still affordable and so release a stop-gap machine before a fully-fledged Switch 2. Not something as cynical and pointless as the PS4 Pro but something that does have more powerful but is basically still a beefed up Switch rather than a completely new system.
I’m not saying it’s the most likely outcome but it does seem like a possibility to me. Nintendo is very conservative about new technology and new hardware. Plus, they absolutely never do what you expect…
Kja836
Super Mario Kart Bros.
Donkey Kong Jr. is on my wish list for the final two racer slots in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, too. It’d be great to have the original roster available.
My kids are rooting for Diddy Kong and Funky Kong. Maybe Paper Mario? A kart did turn up in The Origami King. Fully expecting two Fire Emblem characters, though.
David
GC: Now, you’ve jinxed it. It’ll be Byleth and Alear.
More: Trending
Expected outcome
So it sounds like Call Of Duty is going to be a first party Microsoft game by the end of next week, eh? I mean, either Activision Blizzard has the worst financial people ever, taking them off Nasdaq, or they’re convinced enough that it’s going through that they’re not worried about making the move.
It’s been going on so long I find it hard to get angry about anymore but there’s no doubt it’s a bad thing, completely unbalancing the games industry, granting Microsoft influence it bought rather than earned, and sending Sony into some weird tailspin with live service games and whatever else they think they’re doing at the moment (certainly not announcing or releasing new games).
I doubt we’ll see any major changes for a few years but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to put up with Microsoft if they carry on their pretence of doing all this for the customers. Just be happy you won and don’t mention it again. If all we see for the next few years is Phil Spencer and his minions gurning away on podcasts, pretending they’ve just done a great thing for the industry, that may push me over the edge.
The richest person won. That’s not much of a surprise but it sure is a disappointment.
Username2485
Inbox also-rans
Really glad to see that Clock Tower remaster rumour was true and WayForward are making it? As a survival horror fan that’s an instant purchase.
Johnson
Is this actors’ strike going to affect video games at all?
Lentil
GC: If they’re union members then yes, we believe so. But non-union actors are more common in games than movies and TV (just ask Nintendo).
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The Friday letters page thinks everything is going Microsoft’s way in terms of Activision Blizzard, as one reader looks forward to Clock Tower.
