A reader is unimpressed by the news that Microsoft is to complete its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and worries at its future plans.
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The Thursday letters page suggests that episodic gaming should make a return, as one reader asks for help running a PS2 on a modern TV.
Turn your Xbox Series X into a Starfield tribute (Picture: Microsoft)
There might not be a limited edition Starfield Xbox but the next best thing is the official console wrap – or it would be if there were any left.
Microsoft has a lot riding on the release of Starfield, when it launches next month. If it’s a success then it will not only change the narrative on their first party offerings but it will also mean a lot of merch sales.
They were very quick to announce a special Starfield controller and headset, as well as the predictably expensive collector’s edition, but now there’s a new option: official console wraps.
As the name implies, they’re not plastic covers, like on the PlayStation 5, but ‘solid panels and an engineered fabric’, which seems a slightly odd idea, but the design does match very well with the Starfield controller.
The wraps are tied on using Velcro and there’s little feet at the bottom to make sure the vents are kept free, depending on whether you keep your Xbox Series X/S vertical or horizontal.
According to Microsoft the wraps are ‘more affordable and more sustainable than purchasing a special edition or limited edition console’, which is certainly true but at £45 each they’re still not exactly cheap.
As well as the Starfield version there’s also non-game specific designs called Artic Camo and Mineral Camo.
Only the latter seems to be available on the UK Microsoft Store at the moment and it’s ambiguous as to when exactly it’s being released, as while it implies October 18 it says it won’t be delivered until November 13.
In any case, the Starfield one is already sold out, which suggests that many fans are perfectly happy to buy wraps rather than a limited edition console.
It’s unclear if more stock will come in later but since the concept appears popular it likely won’t be long until other designs are announced.
It’s a sort of flak jacket for your console (Picture: Microsoft)
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MORE : The Starfield start menu is the biggest argument in gaming right now
MORE : Starfield story spoilers are already online according to rival sci-fi game
MORE : Starfield achievements and spoilers leak just weeks before launch
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