Is anyone going to come out of this looking good? (pic: Activision)
The Wednesday letters page is amused that Microsoft would want to buy Sega, as one reader wants the Perfect Dark reboot to go third person.
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The point of return
So there it is, Microsoft’s policy is spelt out for all to see: ‘spend Sony out of business.’ The way they try to pretend this is just something they were thinking of doing four years ago but didn’t, when for the last four years it’s been obvious that’s exactly what they’re up to is almost hilarious, if weren’t talking about seismic changes to how the games industry works.
There’s no question in my mind that both Microsoft and Sony are being shown up because of this court case and that neither of them is going to come out of it looking good. Sony’s apparent hatred of exclusives on Xbox, despite the fact that it’s their bread and butter, is so hypocritical it almost hurts.
I guess the big question is whether Microsoft are going to win the case or not but despite the number of times they’ve been caught out I think they will, simply because Sony’s arguments are fairly weak. Maybe Microsoft will become too powerful as a result, but I don’t see it being enough of a certainty that you could call it a monopoly.
I’d prefer the deal not to go through but then I’d prefer if Bethesda and Bungie were still independent, so we’re already well past that point.
Focus
Just business
That email from Bethesda, wondering why they’re being treated differently to Activision Blizzard is pretty telling about who’s calling the shots in all this and how some of these companies feel when they’re taken over and suddenly told their audience has decreased by two-thirds.
This and all the other revelations are making it clear that what Microsoft and Sony say in public bares no relation to what they’re doing and saying in public. Especially that little bit where the Bethesda guys accidently lets on that The Elder Scrolls 6 is an exclusive and that it seems basically everything else will be, because Microsoft says so (that ‘told’ comment in brackets says it all).
I’m not taking any position here really, as I’m not sure I’ve ever played an Activision or Blizzard game in years but if this whole circus is doing anything useful it’s proving that this is all just a business to these companies. Nobody’s in it to make art.
Wdoe
Different rules
Well done to the console makers. By pushing for digital only, always online games, I don’t need to worry about the future. I won’t buy another console and just stick to my PC as I got used to it being my digital platform.
I suppose it will hardly matter, seeing as Sony and Xbox games will appear on the PC at some stage, broken messes maybe but they will appear.
Save me cash in the long run I suppose so there’s some positive in all of it.
Bobwallett
GC: Why are you okay with digital games on PC but not consoles? To the point where you’re willing to put up with broken games as the alternative.
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Import box
In response to Andrew J’s letter regarding Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective.
I was in the same position. After enjoying the demo on both PlayStation and Switch I decided to pre-order. I prefer physical but after searching cannot find it for either format in the UK. If you really want physical, then it looks like the only option is to buy the Japanese import version.
I have decided not to go down this route and have reluctantly gone for the digital Switch version instead.
Unfortunately, it looks like this is starting to happen more and more now. I will have the same problem when Alan Wake 2 is released.
Tony- -1975 (PSN ID)
Cowboys in space
Just wanted to say that I agree with the Reader’s Feature that said Star Wars Outlaws is looking better than Starfield. I’m sure there’ll be some clever stuff with Starfield, in term of the customisation and thousands of planets but the whole thing looks so sterile and boring, as opposed to the Star Wars game where everything was about the characters and action.
I don’t want to harp on it but I also find the facial animation to be hilariously bad in Starfield. Not only that but the action design of the characters. Like, their space cowboy character is… an actual cowboy in space. Subtle, clever.
Take a look at his pictures from the trailer too; his beard looks terrible, like something literally out of an Xbox 360 game. And this is one of the big, named characters! I don’t have an Xbox, so maybe you could accuse me of being biased, but Starfield definitely doesn’t make me want to buy one.
Lentop
Sam Coe is a cowboy from space (Picture: Bethesda)
Unbalanced portfolio
Phil Spencer sounds like such a fanboy when he talks about Sega and its ‘well-balanced portfolio of games’. That’s the exact opposite of how you’d describe Sega, who have been skilfully avoiding doing anything but Sonic and strategy games for decades now – and only one of those two things ever turns out any good (apparently, not that I own a gaming PC).
Microsoft’s obsession with Sega is strange though. When they were pally around the launch of the OG Xbox I don’t think any of the games sold well. In fact, they seemed to very quickly put an end to the idea that Sega was going to be a major publisher, after giving up hardware.
As ever, the best outcome for Sega would be if Nintendo bought them, as I’m certain they understand Sega’s retro franchises better than they do. Interestingly, the Microsoft documents seem to imply that buying Sega without also buying Sammy is an option, and I’d love to see that.
Or maybe Phil was getting carried away and making that up as well. Although this does raise the question: how have we gone this far and never had a Sonic the Hedgehog strategy game?
Gordon
Dream Saga
Io Interactive working on a sequel to Panzer Dragoon Saga is the dream project I never knew I wanted. I mean, I have no idea if they can make a role-player but if they’re the only ones stepping up to the challenge then I’ll take it.
I realise it probably isn’t that, and it’ll be some kind of more generic role-player (to be honest, that concept artwork doesn’t look that great) but good luck to them anyway. Hitman 4 is probably a bit redundant at this point, so I’m glad to see them trying out new things.
Rosti
Open book
If the Switch 2 does launch with full backwards compatibility then I will be very impressed. It’s not what you expect from Nintendo and I have relatively little confidence in it happening but it would turn my purchase from an inevitability into a day one certainty.
I fear the most likely outcome though will be Nintendo horribly overcomplicating the issue and forcing you pay a fee to get each games on the new console, or something like that. They may be everyone’s favourite developer but they can’t stop themselves being anti-consumer when it comes to penny pinching about stuff like this.
Still, it’s not as if any of these complaints are new. We all know what Nintendo are and how they operate, so it’s not as if it’s like these Microsoft legal battles where we see all the scheming behind closed doors. Ironically for such a secretive company, Nintendo are much more of an open book, for better and worse.
I expect we’ll get an announcement for the Switch 2 sometime early next year and I think one of the other benefits of Nintendo is that I have no idea what it’ll be. It could be just the same thing but more powerful but it could also easily be some kind of experimental monstrosity that makes toast and you control games with a spoon.
I wouldn’t have things any other way but I would like free backwards compatibility to be one of the few constants we get.
Agora
Inbox also-rans
Yes, reboot Perfect Dark, just not as a first person shooter. I want Perfect Dark meets Metal Gear Solid.
Philly B
I thought of myself as a big Dreamcast fan and yet I have never heard of Cosmic Smash. What a weird thing to drag up and remake for VR.
Lonny
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The Wednesday letters page is amused that Microsoft would want to buy Sega, as one reader wants the Perfect Dark reboot to go third person.
