EfYI

Don't mind if I do?

Cool! I might try it out.

Geez, a lot of love for Stray in here...

I thought it was boring🫣

@Striker21

Your first paragraph is simply your opinion as you boil millions of users different to one definition that fits .... M$' reasoning for bowing out.

I have an Epic, PlayStation and Good Old Games library - how is this possible if "[n]o one wants to risk losing their library when switching to another platform or deal with the hassle of managing multiple libraries across different stores and services?"

It takes just one example to break down your entire argument.

Your second paragraph is another opinion disguised as 'fact' - that great games cannot move consoles. Wait and see when GTA 6 is only available on PS5. Wait and see - you'll realise that great software does move hardware and that Phil is merely excusing his way out of robbing people of their livelihoods in the name of greed.

M$ can just kick Steam off Windows and Steam will lose their entire business. Not that it wouldn't hurt or be subject to litigation, but Apple did something similar to Epic. Nothing is set in stone, and M$ is just too greedy these days to make great business decisions for the benefit of many.

@Striker21

Interesting perspectives, Striker!

I have one comment:

... tying us forever to a platform?

Dude, I built myself libraries all life that I lost access to whether they be digital or physical medias. Now a days, most people accept that they have several libraries across accounts and devices. It is strength of tomorrow that moves units and ties people to platforms. Right now, M$ seems unable to project a promising future.

Phil chose 1 of the many factors that go into the strength of Sony's brand when he said Xbox lost. He could have said commercials in Champions League or the quality of Sony's first and second party output or many other reasons.

It is a bad excuse to pull out and leave Xbox employees, studios and their employees, journalists and influencers winning their bread talking team green floundering, wondering who they are and what they should do.

Xbox mainly lost profit because they trained their audience into renting their libraries for pennies. They were bankrolling the gaming habits of Xbots for this entire generation. This new strategy of getting paid isn't that rough considering how generously they've served people stacking their subs via alternative means.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

M$ will be a nice feather in Sony's hat. But will it benefit Sony having M$ as a vassal, or will the lack of competition actually mean less of an influx of new user, new hardware adopters and people who buy (Sony) games day one?

I think that PlayStation should wage war on Nintendo next. They're now the main competitors, and they offer children's games and worse console experiences. If Playstation can deliver a handheld then they can begin to poach (potential) Nintendo customers.

The console war has ended, long live the new console war!

I tried progressing in Baldur's Gate 3, but I have thousands of quests and no clear direction. The city hides its secrets well...

Instead I jumped into Divinity 2 and I am actively choosing my Portal as it is so cozy.

I might play Alan Wake 2 a little more, but I think I had enough of Silent Hill 2 after just two hours.

What else... I could push further into the Burning Shores of The Forbidden West. Such a gorgeous game.

I played Halo: Combat Evolved and the graphics and gameplay was truly great.

I didn't think any form of marketing would get me nostalgic, but this roundtable 'deep dive' does a nice job of whetting the appetite.

However, just to punish the incessant exbots, I won't buy it😈

People are finding crazy excuses to dump on PS. Crazy ex-bots and their copium is always funny. Mr. Stark calling the PS5 bad because his PS4 made noises is exactly the sort of mental gymnastics they have to do now to say anything.

I remember the days of debating the ABK-acquisition and how they didn't understand that the critical were right about the detrimental effects - like all of them.

I like my PS5 Pro even if my TV might be missing some tech to make it truly shine. Early on I decided, it probably wasn't worth it. But then I found a PS5 Pro on sale with warranty.

I might have bought the cheapest PS5 Pro through retail ever. For some reason, a supplier sold a 'demo' model for the same price as a normal PS5 and since my launch console didn't lose value I could sell it and almost break even.

Another important question is if more or less people will be able to work/express their creativity with AI improving, I cannot be naive.

The boom of AI NEEDS to be regulated by governments protecting their citizen and their job markets. We need to shackle AI to be merely tools of the many. The only alternative is collective actions as consumers and these are very hard to orchestrate and maintain.

Especially kids are vulnerable to AI slop. Kids and Americans (jk).

@djlard

hahaha! Best response I've ever read on Push square and I read my own comments🎉🎊👍

@Dogbreath

Thanks! I think you raise some good points. The only disadvantage is that you don't own hard- and software. We might look into a world where your technological devices retain their value making your investments more like actual assets.

I know what you mean by a mini-PC. I see them on sale now a days. You don't need much more and the last PC I bought were a very cheap but great laptop for my wife. It is hardly stronger than those new minis.

At the end of the day, I am too lazy to look into GeForce as a real option. The meagre selections of streamable titles on PS Premium will have to be enough to satiate my streaming needs. But still a great tip people might want to look into. Have a great weekend!

@darylb24

This is the truth. They'll be folded up into this site quite soon. The humiliation of the most bullish fan boys of Exbox will soon be complete.

They funny thing is that PS players only really took notice of M$ when they tried to swallow up ABK, and most of the criticism was legitimate worry that it was a terrible decision (not terrible if you wanted M$ to only be a publisher/software company).

I imagine the thousands of accounts and online personas have been or are being canned as they move on to other online communities.It is like Age of Empires 2 where the 'wololo-priest' quickly makes team green blue or red.

Then there's all the game 'journalists' and influencers that has to pivot or lose their jobs.

This is... of course.. unless Xbox gamers proudly and loyally swallow up the price rises and chip in where they owe M$. They had been bankrolling this entire generation for a very large part of their player base.

@Dogbreath

That's pretty cool - for 20 dollars a month you can stream from a High-End PC?

Why are people always talking about buying their own if it is that easy?

The phrase "Stupid is what stupid does" beautifully adorns the headquarters of M$, etched in gold letters across the marble walls.

I have played Halo: Combat Evolved, but many centuries ago!

I paid full price for Outer Worlds back in the day. I thought it was mostly undercooked, empty and hastily made.

I would play this as part of a subscription but I am holding off on new games these days.

@LazyDaisy

That is Nintendo nonsense.

It has completely changed Sony's take on PS6 (that and the general rise of handhelds). It has sold decently - an attach rate of 5 per cent is good, not great for the value. I wonder how many thousands are just rocking the Portal, though. It is low key brilliant.

I jumped into Silent Hill 2 and after some time I could feel how dated the game is compared to Alan Wake 2 .

I remember not really vibing with SH (1 or 2) back in the day too, so maybe that's just it for me. Still awesome to try it after all the marketing and hype.

As Dusk Falls immediately felt wrong - is this a powerpoint-slideshow!? But you get used to it, and the story is entertaining and its take on adult relationship stuff feels very different from the usual gaming tropes featured.

I have a fledgling run going in Yakuza but the backlog is only growing and at this point I'm afraid to count.

@Cvantez

Gamers are a special breed. I boycotted poor, poor M$ because of their involvement in the Gaza conflict. I don't know if I'll ever rescind on this or if I don't if it'll be for moral reasons or simply just the saturation of the market (too many games).

But most gamers boycotting M$ will now be because of a lack of data on a disk.

I am part of the problem: I have a discless PlayStation and don't own most of the games I've played recently due to a subscription model. That being said: pretty low of them!

The classic games on Premium isn't why I am at Premium, so I absolutely do not care if I get access to 1 or 20 a month.

Streaming in great quality without waking my PS5 up is the best feature of Premium. After that, the trial of new games is the second best feature.

I have and am playing quite a lot this week(end).

I finished HFW and started Burning Shores. The graphics in this game has surpassed anything else I've seen. I need a 700-word essay to fully convey my appreciation of this game. To think I kept it in the vaults of my backlog for 3 years!

On the portal, I am playing The Invincible which so far has been awesome. Written by the great Sci-Fi master Stanislaw Lem, the story is full of intrigue and mystery. Regis III is such an exciting setting, and the graphics are great. Furthermore, it is easy to play, so the game functions as a visual novel. A PERFECT game to stream of you have premium. In fact, it is more than possible to just sell the console and stream from a portal. I wonder how many simply have the portal and a Premium subscription - it is ingenious.

Also, I started up KCD 2 and since I made it to Kuttenberg, I initiated the dlc, but I couldn't smith to the masters' satisfaction, so I have to watch a video on how to smith again.

@darylb24

You can sort of compare the Portal (streaming only) with any other device. I just fired up The Invincible (novel by S. Lem made into a game) and the results are so good apart from occasional stutters.

It is only the most hardcore gamers that a) have several libraries and b) feels an urge to have all at the ready on one device. Unfortunately, that's where M$ has felt a need to go, the absolute niche markets.

Sad, but it sounds like the score is justified.

Off-topic:

Apropos scores ... When you do your polls you should set some parameters down for each game (what are the credible absolut highest and lowest scores for a game). Anyone down or upvoting beyond this hidden parameter could be disregarded.

We could then get more credible community scores and if we use one decimal then each decimal really matters.

This is particularly useful in making lists of the best games available.

He should have bought all those anime companies if he doesn't like it.

Or he could sign with Sony if he thinks it might give him an advantage. Right now, he might be speaking on the behalf of other important players in the market, so his credibility is low.

@KundaliniRising333

Since when did stark ravin' mad rants become the truth©?

Naughty Dog should honestly just focus on remastering the remaster. And change their name to Remaster Dog.

But Tencent is funny. I am starting to see the humour in trolling Sony employees. Totally worth the litigation. The Light of Motiram-roll for business meetings are what the rick-roll is for the internet!

Next up, they should play corporate-hide and seek with Sony. Tell them they are From Software and want to pitch Bloodborne 2. Sony will come, everyone in Sony + the janitors. They'll sit there and be presented checks notes Asian Aloy in milquetoast version of Horizon. Absolute Cinema.

@Cerny

Come on, Mock Cerny. Not even you could believe that!

I finished the main story of Forbidden West and they are right to protect it. An amazing experience!

Ever since the PS4 Pro, I have made the conscious decision to sell my consoles and basically bring down the cost of admission to a bare minimum. If PS6 is MUUUUCH more powerful than my PS5 Pro, I might make the trade.

However, if a handheld is released, I might just build on my PS5 Pro setup. My TV is just a discounted 2023 model of TLC which isn't exactly industry leading.

@Jammer

My mistake then... It is some form of narrative choices-movie/game right?

And Alan Wake 2 is Essential Tier, but still three of the greatest on offer leading up to Halloween. That's great value.

I have been pretending the sequel didn't exist, for various reasons, but I don't know how long I can keep up with it.

Wow. They gave us four great spooky games!

I'll definitely play the Until Dawn in the best quality at some point if not right now.

Also, Silent Hill 2 will be tried out. I want to try it from the many recommendations given here.

As Dusk Falls is a game that caught my eye. That's four of the greatest horror titles, in their best quality, which is being offered. Amazing value and something to look forward to for me.

A PS6 significantly stronger than PS5 Pro?

How much did they spend on developing it + plus cost of running it versus how much are they making in sales and micro transactions?

Also, why bring this game further in its development if it was lukewarm. Don't devs have internal quality assurance?

I have yet to try this so I cannot judge.

@StitchJones

Far more powerful? Can you name one game that looks better than on PS5?

I am willing to learn.

@LazyDaisy

I hate how PS is so popular that even the naysayers and haters are flocking to the scene spreading their non sense dribble every where they comment.

My two cents.

They should wait as long as possible and make sure the upgrade is a better gaming experience, a more efficient experience and more affordable. 2027 is too soon. I want the date to be more like 2028.

I am not sure, I'll be moving away from a PS5 Pro since the graphical experience is amazing, and the upscaling tech is on track to become better. I might want another handhold, but the portal is really great as is. But a handheld that play games natively is just better because it enables me to go out and play.

Alan Wake 2 has entered the rotation. I made it to the subway. I like it so far, but as a visual novel.

Horizon Forbidden West is still very great. I really like the story and the world. I am nearing the end.

In both cases, I have bought the available DLC, so that I get the full experience from both.

Forever games are what is wrong with the industry.

But, I am looking forward to Genshin releasing just as much as I look forward to a cancerous ulcer.

I didn't need this news this morning. 🤢

We should blame the forever-games. They clog up the industry and fry the brains of young, vulnerable kids.

We should aggressively push back against them.

Most of the games feels too expensive for my taste. A lot of the entries in this sale at even their discounted price is about the same as a year's subscription (discounted) of PS Plus Premium in my region.

I am getting the Abby T-shirt for that special someone I REALLY loathe!

That's insane if true.

Two of the best horror games in recent memory!?

Requiescat in pace, game pass... PS Plus is amazing!

I am really excited for this addition!

As a whole, my decision to sub again in May has paid off big time. The service has been on a roll ever since.

As has my upgrade into PS5 Pro - it is the best graphics I have ever seen and has elevated my enjoyment of all games where the upgrade is noticeable. Especially Horizon Forbidden West has been the graphical highlight of the year for me.

I have my second playthrough ready for the upgrade. If anything I would definitely take a newer version for a spin to see if I can tell it has been upgraded.

Nice - if ever I should want a replay of this great title it will be slightly better.