Comments 5,693

Re: Xbox Bigwig Confirms Many More Microsoft Games Are Coming to PS5

Rob_230

I think its an inevitability. When you watched the showcase yesterday, I think everything other than MGS was labelled as coming day 1 to gamepass. I don't see a future where that can be sustainable, unless Microsoft supplement development costs through sales on Playstation. Gamepass simply doesn't have enough subscribers, and growth seems to have plateued. It's Microsoft's only option, short of shuttering studios because at the end of the day, they are a business, not a charity and need to be profiting off these releases

Re: PS5 Fans Beg Sony for a More Fulfilling Livestream in the Aftermath of Xbox Show

Rob_230

Give Microsoft their flowers. It was a very well put together show. It was well paced, had a good variety of games (something for everyone - although did slightly lean too far into their image of old in terms of the genre of game they are known for), and - crucially- gave xbox owners an idea of what else is coming this generation. That was exactly what Microsoft needed. Another flub and that was it for them, but I am genuinely seeing enthusiasm online and rightly so.

Personally I find these kind of shows build hype and excitement - and I would love Sony to put out something similar

Re: PS5 Hardware Architect Says It May Take Less Time to Build a Console Than a Game Now

Rob_230

Shawn Layden warned about this years ago. It would have been fascinating to see a Sony under his control and how it would have developed. Developer scope has blown out of control and gamer expectations with it.

Sony should have diversified to release more titles like uncharted lost legacy and Spiderman miles morales, and Ratchet and Clank that could be put out more regularly. Back in the PS2 days, Astrobot would never have been described as a 'smaller' title - but it has been tagged with that brush despite looking like a fully fledged ps studios banger.

These big games are getting just way too big imo. It's almost impossible to get through stuff

Re: Even as a LEGO Game, Horizon Adventures' PS5 Visuals Are Off the Charts

Rob_230

@get2sammyb Yes I totally agree. I've already ordered Astro and will be ordering this as soon as pre orders go live. Sony needs to see that a variety of different experiences will sell - beyond their usual output (ironically I bet this will sell huge numbers on switch - genuinely curious about what impact that will have on Sony's thinking for other titles with crossover appeal)

The last week has shown the fun, colourful side of Sony that has been missing for a while (since Japan studio shuttered)

Re: Poll: Was Summer Game Fest 2024 Great or a Letdown?

Rob_230

Geoff set expectations, but even then I felt like it underwhelmed. The gaming industry just feels like its in a bit of a rut right now.

Lego Horizon looks fun and fresh, phantom blade looks decent, physical alan wake 2, sonic generations, and power rangers all look good - and quidditch was a decent announcement (happy to try for free on ps plus) - but as ever what is with all the random skits and ads throughout. Truly bizarre. Takes away massively from the show.

Does look like a number of third parties have committed to Microsoft and Nintendo's shows this month - final fantasy 9 and dragon quest 3 hd being very heavily rumoured

Re: It's 'A Truly Exciting Time' for PlayStation as New Sony CEOs Take Control

Rob_230

Hope they look at the success of helldivers and excitement for Astrobot and realise they can broaden their slate by releasing more smaller titles (like shawn layden advocated for) per year, rather than always going for the huge AAA titles - and obviously moving away from the live service push (10+ games i believe they threatened). No issue with them working on 1 or 2 but they don't need any more than that - they've struck gold with Helldivers, but it will be extremely difficult to replicate that success

Re: State of Play Officially Confirmed for 30th May, Updates on PS5, PSVR2 Games

Rob_230

  • Astrobot
  • Lego Horizon
  • Concorde
  • Fairgames (eurgh)
  • Assassins Creed Shadow (Sony appear to have marketing so doubt we will hear a peep out of Ghost 2 until post launch)
  • Metal Gear Solid 3 (Silent Hill wil be in Konami's SH transmission coming up in a few days)

Resident Evil Code Veronica Remake

At a push FF 9 remake, but not optimistic

Metro VR

Plus a few indie games

Possibly Helldivers 2 DLC?

Expect PS5 pro to be revealed closer to launch in a blog post

Re: Feature: Revisiting PlayStation Showcase 2023, an Event Sony Must Improve Upon

Rob_230

Sony has soured me on buying into a new generation at launch - I will say that much. I was expecting to have seen more specifically built for PS5 at this point, so the talk of PS5 pro has always felt abit obserd to me. I don't see how Sony have demonstrated that they deserve customers to invest in more hardware given PS5 hasn't yet hit its stride, and PSVR2 was thrown underneath a bus.

I completely understand the market forces, and increased development time for games, but a company like Sony should really have better plans to manage that - even if the 3rd party exclusivity plan has yielded some respite for them.

Despite this I am hugely optimistic for a showcase this year. I reckon there will be enough first party stuff to show off at this point. Only question will be is if they decide to market ghost of tsushima 2 yet, or if they will wait for Assassins Creed Shadows to release first

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 529

Rob_230

Just hit cosmo canyon in FF7 rebirth (they butchered the music for that remastered theme in that area imo) so mainly playing that. Really enjoying the game, but as I've said in other articles, too much padding.

Will be helping my daughter on Dreamlight Valley at some point too no doubt.

Away with work next week so have picked up red dead redemption and sea of stars for the switch

Re: A Lot of PS4 Owners Have Yet to Upgrade to PS5

Rob_230

Let's not forget that COVID had a massive impact on sales numbers, so a big proportion of those active users will be players that don't play as regularly and thus have no reason to upgrade to a PS5. We are only talking 2 years ago.

Isn't the sales data showing that PS5 is only slightly trending behind PS4 numbers at the same stage of its life. Rather than a negative, you could just as easily put a positive spin on things that DESPITE recessions and less disposable cash, PS5 is still hanging in there or there abouts. Sure, it won't please the Shareholders given the rising costs of development, so squeezed margins, but in raw numbers of active users I don't think this is anything to be concerned about

As it is, as a day 1 adopter of PS5, I dont regret my decision (paticularly as final fantasy is traditionally my favourite series), but I do have to say that whilst I have LOVED previous consoles, I only 'like' my PS5 currently. Perhaps that's my age, or perhaps it's because games increasingly feel like they have been designed by commitee to pad out play time as much as poss.

As an example, even though I'm really enjoying FF7 Rebirth, my goodness the open world padding is way over the top and ends up detracting from the main game.

Don't get me wrong though, I do love the QOL features PS5 brings to the table - particularly the dualsense. And I'm not overly concerned about number of games releasing - I don't have enough time to play what I already have - the games will come in time (hopefully when they are ready). I do want to see an increase out of Sony first party though as we enter the midpoint of PS5' life. I am more than ready for Ghost of Tsushima 2.

As others have said, GTA6 will be the tipping point that makes more people transition to PS5. With COD a shadow of what it once was, nothing else will come close to being that game that drives change amongst more 'casual' game fans

Re: Rumour: Kingdom Hearts 4 Slated for 2025 Release

Rob_230

Don't see it personally. Feels too soon.

As for the game, i really need to be convinced this time around. I absolutely loved Kingdom hearts to the point I bought consoles such as the PSP specifically to play the spin off games, but KH3 was, for me at least, a big disapointment sadly. Needs a big overhaul.

Will follow the project with interest however and keep everything crossed it turns out positively

Re: Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide (PS5) - A Fantastic Sendoff for Square's Action RPG

Rob_230

@RicebinBernacky Exactly my issue with DLC. I was pretty good at FF16, but picking this up now so long after I finished the main game sounds a daunting challenge. I had to knock the difficulty on ghost of tsushima and horizon forbidden west down to easy when I went back to them for the dlc because I'd forgotten the nuances of combat, and no doubt this will be the same when I pick it up

Re: PS Portal Is Proving Everyone's Predictions Wrong

Rob_230

Im very tempted by a portal. I've always loved online gaming, but with kids and family life often competing for tv time, my gaming tends to be restricted to late at night. I was yearning for a portal whilst playing the dodonko island section of Like a Dragon infinite wealth, and there are many other games that i could definitely see benefitting from owning one.

Dont get me wrong, as a huge advocate for PS Vita (low key one of Sony's greatest bits if hardware), i'd love a playstation handheld with an option for native play, but as a half way house, this seems to tick a lot of boxes