It’s happened again (Sony)
The Monday letters page is frustrated at Rocksteady’s wasted decade after Batman: Arkham Knight, as one reader is confused by Xbox’s next gen plans.
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It happened again
So PSN was down for most people over the weekend and… what a disaster that was. Not only did multiplayer not work – which I’m sure most people can live without for a while – but lots of single-player games didn’t work and I hear even disc drives didn’t work, because for some reason they have to check online too. And you wonder why people say that an all-digital future is bad?
Just imagine if there was only streaming and this happened, 100% of every game would instantly stop working. I know why companies want it like this, because it gives them control but this goes way beyond trying to stop piracy. They don’t want you to use the game you’ve paid for in any way but the way they want, and they’ll stop you from playing it for any reason they make up.
This isn’t the first time PSN has gone down and it surely won’t be the last. Maybe it needs to go down when GTA 6 comes out, which seems like a possibility considering how many people will be using it at once then, but even if it did I doubt the outrage will force Sony to reconsider.
Skeeve
Wasted time
So with the news that Rocksteady is going back to work on a single-player Batman game we find that basically they’ve wasted a whole decade, since Arkham Knight, on absolutely nothing. It’s great to hear they’re coming back to the series but I’m sure half the people that used to work at the company have left by now, I seem to remember the founders went years ago.
If they’re starting now what is the new Batman game going to be on? It’ll be lucky to make the PlayStation 6 at this rate, same for the Wonder Woman game. A lot of execs in the games industry don’t seem to be worth their pay check but whoever’s in charge of Warner Bros. games must be the absolute worst. Constant stories about cancelled games and almost nothing released despite having some really talented studios.
It’s been eight years since Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War too, and they’re not going to have anything out for at least five years either. Crazy.
Danson
Logical conflict
Funny to see the sales of Xbox Series X/S finally revealed, thanks to Take-Two. Maybe Microsoft will be so angry with them they’ll buy them too? Selling less than half the PlayStation 5 really does show you why Xbox has had to go multiformat, but I’m still confused about why they have a next gen machine coming out.
Surely only an even smaller number people of people are going to buy that, unless it does something really amazing. They’ve said it will be the biggest leap ever but if it is, and it’s something the PlayStation 6 can’t match, does that mean they’ll go back to having exclusives?
But if they’re staying multiformat how are they going to be releasing the same games on both consoles if the Xbox next gen machine is so much better? Nothing they say ever makes sense.
Focus
Physical excitement
I see Legacy Of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered standard edition isn’t exclusive to Limited Run Games and you can pre-order it for £29.99 from Amazon UK, delivered for June 13th 2025.
It’s available to pre-order on PlayStation 5 and Switch physically, currently. So just ordered a copy, which works out a lot cheaper than getting it from Limited Run Games in the USA, with taxes and postage. Pleased about getting it, as I thought I had missed the boat!
I’ve never played it before and I am a fan of Amy Hennig, who was involved in making it and also making Uncharted 1 to 3, which I am a fan of. Shout out to YouTuber Physical Paradise for making me aware of the release of the game.
Andrew J.
Wild Heroes
I enjoyed Steel Assault and Retroware are following that up with Neon Inferno, which looks a little like Gunstar Heroes with a splash of Wild Guns. A demo should be available now on Steam, I don’t have a PC so can someone play it and let me know how excited I should be please?
The publisher is looking at doing a physical release, Limited Run did a physical edition of Steel Assault for Switch, so fingers crossed Neon Inferno lives up to this trailer. Then I and the Andrew Js of this world might have another retro banger to clog up our shelves.
Beastiebat (PSN ID)
Currently playing Doom Eternal and thoroughly enjoying it.
GC: We don’t know how it plays, but it looks gorgeous.
No alternative
RE: Jeffos comments. As you say, ‘Back in the day you had to wait years between the games’. That was true. For large scale games like these you have to wait even longer between games now. It has only gotten longer, not shorter. It’s only when the developers have been actually rushed to finish developing it early, Like Mass Effect 3, which wasn’t as good as it could have been.
Most fans acknowledge they’re not perfect. I think the reason they are so beloved, despite their faults, is because there aren’t many other games made like them, so for those that love them they keep going back for a dose of sci-fi epic storylines.
Tim
Emotional ending
Response to comment from reader on Mass Effect:
The Mass Effect trilogy was and still is the best video game series of all time. The story is engaging, the characters have dimension, your decisions have impact on each game you play as you move the story along, and the game can be enjoyed by a wide range of players – whether you’re just in it for the role-playing or enjoy the challenge of a shooter game.
One thing people always seem to forget is that the freedom of choice doesn’t end once you are completing the trilogy. Just like real life, your choices you make will have impact on those around you, but at the end of the day you can still change your mind and go a different direction when you want. The fact you even have so many choices throughout the game is what makes it so incredible.
And the Citadel DLC is an emotional rollercoaster that is the best part of the entire series. If you don’t at least feel a little emotional while completing it you must have a heart of stone.
J, Marlow
Minor feature
RE: the mouse functionality on the Switch 2, my gut feeling is that it’ll be a feature talked about a lot but in reality not fully utilised, a bit like HD Rumble.
I know they have data on how much people use their Switches (docked, handheld or tabletop) and if many, like me, primarily use it mostly in handheld then it’s not gonna get a load of use. Plus, if Nintendo intend to release a Switch 2 Lite mid-generation then obviously that’ll further restrict the use case for it.
TheTruthSoul (PSN ID)
Quiet time
I love the immersive moments in modern games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, in regards to normal life and not just for only combat. Having everyday conversations with characters about life and personal situations are always a nice rest between missions and intense combat situations. This will continue no doubt with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and GTA 6.
The hours playing these games are definitely ever increasing and 100 hours to 200 hours will possibly be just an average for new games. This can be good if done well like The Witcher 3, and especially Cyberpunk 2077, as combat and action are never far away but balance the calm reflective moments with your character’s interactions.
What I would not want these newer games to be is like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which just went on and on and on! The game just would not end and despite it being a good game, it was just rather bloated and I’m hoping Assassin’s Creed’s next game is structured in a way that an ending can be attained before a feeling of fatigue sets in.
With GTA 6 on the horizon and so many years in the making, I can only imagine a script the size of 10 Hollywood movies or more, as the size and scope of the game is revealed. The main story will no doubt be epic and hopefully will give the freedom for gamers to just do this and ignore the other stuff.
Cyberpunk’s different, as experience points for the role-playing part of it are required to advance your character. Doing the fun side missions and tasks are definitely required to build excitement in your character’s adventure.
I am sure the balance will be good in GTA 6 and I feel my mind will be blown by the map size and all the detail contained in this most anticipated game of all time! So, if I feel the same immersion as I do in Cyberpunk 2077 then GTA 6 and, hopefully, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, will be legendary in the gaming world and long remembered in its history.
Alucard
Inbox also-rans
Every fan knew Football Manager 25 was never coming out, there was just no way it was going to work. I wouldn’t bet on any game at all this year, either, unless it’s just a small update of Football Manager 2024.
Keliner
I couldn’t care less about Metal Gear Solid but if this new remake leads to a new Ape Escape game being made I will be all for it.
Nitebeast
Games Inbox: What does the PSN outage say about modern gaming?
