gollumb82

@MikeOrator
Maybe, but it certainly was never as evident as it is now.

Stuff like this is why I play PS3 and X360 games mostly these days. Modern gaming is just a moneymaker for corps. Games like TLoU2, BG3 or CP2077 are the only games I’ve enjoyed since the onset of Covid. Yes, I’m old (42) but my point stands.

I’m very happy Sony decided to go this route. I can basically play most Sony exclusives and Xbox exclusives on my ROG Ally, either docked or handheld. I left consoles behind a year ago and I’m not going back so it’s a win for me to be able to play all those games. Keep them coming Sony.

But I thought they believe in generations? Double talk everywhere I look (ditto for Phil and Xbox). I’d like to echo the comments here: just focus on making fun games. The graphics are already amazing in most titles. Glad I have a Switch and ROG Ally as these are giving me way more fun than the big consoles/PCs.

Not really shocking. Game Pass is stagnating, console sales are mediocre and their blockbuster hits (Redfall, Halo Infinite, Starfield) have all been letdowns. MS is all about money and they will be earning even more just publishing games while fanboys will be flaming or crying online. Glad I game on a Steam Deck exclusively and all this console drama is of little concern to me. I’m waiting for a Netflix docudrama on this, though. Hope Jamie Foxx gets to play Phil Spencer lol.

@SV22
Appreciate the feedback friend, but I’ve moved on from PS5. I sold it and bought a Steam Deck OLED and I’ll be keeping it as my main gaming platform from here on out. I have FFVIII, FFIX, FFX, X-2 and XII lined up to play on a PS2 emulator so I suppose I won’t bother with XV. Handheld gaming makes the most sense to me in my sitiation in life (working 2 jobs, a wife and a daughter to support) so I prolly won’t be frequenting this site anymore. Best of luck to you and Merry Christmas!

Maybe next time don’t announce an announcement trailer and just drop it out of the blue? Leaks are a part of modern day internet. I thought everyone knew about that. I get their disappointment but they must have expected this right?

Oh come on! I’ve only just finished ny 6th playthrough with Phantom Liberty to boot and started Final Fantasy XV. Now I will have to go back to CP2077 again… Fine!

@SV22
I started FFXV two days ago and I’m really liking it so far.

@SV22
Kudos to you for not giving up on the game. It’s really something special and you’ll see what I mean by the end. Enjoy!

@Danbottomburp
Don’t rush. Enjoy the ride (pun intended) as it’s one of the most memorable ones in gaming history. I actually envy you. I wish I could erase it from my mind to experience it again.

@Tr3mm0r
Nice to see a fellow Pole in these parts 🙂 Milej niedzieli!

I’ve just started Final Fantasy XV and I’m really liking it so far. Beautiful graphics and the more realistic setting surely help as I couldn’t get into FFX-X2.
Also, waiting for my Steam Deck OLED to arrive in two days.

I honestly feel RE2 Remake could use a reboot instead of this. Lol, nah. Whatever Capcom releases people will buy it instantly and they know it. I have yet to play RE5 at all so I’ll just play that and if I like it I’m going to get the remake eventually.

I’m currently playing Vice City Remastered so I’m going to check it out, but I’m going with the peeps above me: this game is surely made with snowflakes in mind. If so, I’m out.

@Areus
Haha. Good call. I’m just a single player guy and cloud saves aren’t that important to me. I’ll wait and see.

Weak lineup. I have a few more months of PS Plus Essential left and I’m really starting to question why I should bother anymore.

At this point I practically live in Night City. Finishing my 6th playthrough and the excellent Phantom Liberty. Up next: Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Happy gaming everyone!

I’m just glad that Team Bondi got to finish LA Noire and release it. As for Agent, I’m pretty sure that Saboteur plays pretty much the same and isn’t that far off when it comes to the setting/main character.

@OldGamer999
My thoughts exactly. MS did many things right this gen- a whisper quiet console, great features (smart delivery, quick resume, auto HDR, Dolby Atmos at launch, great backward compatibility to name a few) but they forgot that games sell consoles. Not the other way around. That’s why I bought the godawful PS4 PRO which I can still hear in my nightmares. I don’t root for any platform holder but I really hope when next gen starts MS will go in guns blazing. All those studios have to amount to something, right?

Xbox Series X/S are great consoles but again the software is simply lacking. I liked my Series X when I got it at launch but 3 years into this gen and having played their „blockbusters” like Halo Infinite, Starfield and Redfall I just sold it and I won’t bother with MS consoles again. Maybe if Hellblade 2 turns out ok I’ll play it on xCloud on Game Pass. Maybe. It’s unfortunate, especially as Sony really isn’t very consumer-friendly and they can do no wrong when it comes to console/game sales.I love the games but I don’t love Sony.

Yeah, well, it’s all fine and dandy but some of these PC ports are still barely playable. The Last of Us is still a mess, for example. I switched back to PS5 as console gaming is still way more convenient in many ways. Also, the PC ports are still horrible whenever Unreal Engine is involved. Shader caching and stuttering are a constant issue (WRC 23 being a recent example). Maybe once UE5 becomes the golden standard things will improve.

I’ve just finished Modern Warfare 2 Remastered campaign and it was one of the best single player fps campaigns I’ve ever played. This weekend I’ll be mostly continuing my 6th playthrough of CP 2077 and I’m deep into Phantom Liberty. Great stuff so far.

Oh great. I subbed to Apple Music a week ago 🙄 The service itself is great so I guess I will survive. Love telling Siri exactly the song I want to listen to while driving at any given moment.

The game is fantastic and the first patch helped with the screen tearing a lot. I’m having a great time with it personally.

I admire those who have it in them to play a game this long. In the Yakuza universe, no less. These games are too samey and far too long for me (and I like Persona). I got bored of Yakuza by the end of Kiwami 2. Kudos to the fans of the series for being so persistent.

On my 6th playthrough and I think CP2077 has quietly become my all time fave. Thanks for not abandoning the game CDPR and I’m hyped for the sequel.

I wonder what Bungie has to say about this. Because we should totally ask them, right? Best of luck to him.

I’ll be cutting corners I’m not supposed to in WRC 23. Loving the hell out of this game. Happy gaming everyone!

@Member_the_game
My thoughts exactly. I’m waiting for PS6. It wouldn’t hurt if PS5 got some more gen-defining games as this gen has so far been a letdown IMO.

Do people still get excited about news which plastic box sold more units in a given week?

Let them take their time. This is their last shot at making Mass Effect great again. If they fail this franchise is as good as dead.

Great review Stephen. I agree with the score and the points you made in the write up. I’m really loving the game, though screen tearing and framerate issues can sometimes spoil the fun a bit. Having said that, I also like WRC Generations and it’s just such a joy as a rally fan to have these two games to enjoy. Give it a few patches and WRC 23 will be a perfect rally game. Also, graphics are not the key factor in a rally game. Just go ask the PC rally fans who still play Richard Burns Rally (a PS2 game).

@LordOfTurnips
Agreed. The hate for this game is unreal. I loved every second of it.

Just please ignore what Bungie has to say about it ok? I’m still hoping it gets released as I loved Factions and I generally hate GaaS games.

@rusty82
Good to hear I’m not the only one who enjoyed TCP immensely. I heard a lot of negative things about this game which led to me avoiding it and what a mistake that was. Luckily, thanks to PS Plus I got to play it risk-free. Graphics and audio design are some of the best in gaming.

Having finished the excellent Callisto Protocol I’ll be mostly driving this weekend. GT7 and WRC 23 for me!

Now all Sony needs is its own car manufacturer and MS will be trembling in their shoes.

@MrMagic
I already did haha. GT7 blows Forza out of the water. However, I doubt I will have the time for this as I’m having a blast playing WRC 23 at the moment.

Mafia 2 is a great game but I couldn’t finish it due to a critical bug in one of the final missions (I own all 3 Mafia games). Tried Aliens on Game Pass back in the day, not my cup of tea. Oh well, I still have to finish Callisto Protocol and play Weird West from October so I’m good.

Oh no! A GaaS running out of gas? Yes, very sad/s.

I am a simple man. I see a Vampire: The Masquerade game, I buy it. Yes, that includes the visual novel games on PS Store.

I really liked Teyon’s take on the Terminator so I will definitely get this at some point.

@Flaming_Kaiser
Yeah, I have a laptop for work as well. I had a gaming PC for a year but it was loud, generated enough heat under load to heat my entire flat and the hassle with all storefronts was just too much. Add horrible PC ports and the pricetag of $1300 (what I paid for it last October) and it’s just ridiculous to spend so much if all you need is a gaming machine (contrary to what BAMozzy is saying). Oh and no, Xbox games are not worth it either. That’s coming from someone who put 70 hours into Starfield.

Pre-ordered, pre-loaded and counting down the hours. Love Codies’ rally games so this was a no-brainer.

@Flaming_Kaiser
This. I’ve just ditched my PC and went back to Playstation for all the reasons you mentioned. Well that and horrible PC ports that seem to be a plague of late.

@RobynAlecksys
I couldn’t disagree more but you are entitled to your own opinion.

@ApostateMage
Agree on DS2 being too action oriented already. DS3 put me off so much I never finished it. It’s too bad The Callisto Protocol got so much flak. I’m currently playing it thanks to PS Plus and loving everything about it. I’d rather play TCP2 than a remake of Dead Space 3 but thanks to the hate the game got it won’t happen most likely.

Nothing surprising about this list and people are free to play what they want to. It is, however, representative of the taste of the masses. Hardcore gamers are a minority.

Having bounced around a bit (PS5->XSX->PC) I’m back to Playstation exclusively. It took a string of terrible PC ports but it made me realise I prefer console gaming. As for WAYP: Cyberpunk 2077 with Phantom Liberty expansion and waiting for WRC 23 to unlock on Tuesday. Congrats Push Square on 500 WAYPs!