The Wednesday letters page wonders if sales have dropped since the £70 price increase, as one reader questions PS5 fans will enjoy Sea Of Thieves.
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Restricted world gaming
Fascinating to see the rumor about the new Ghost Recon returning to a more straightforward game, instead of the open world of the last one. It made me wonder if big open world games have reached their peak and are going to become less common, similar to the first person shooter, only used in a few specific and popular games.
I think there may be a few reasons for this, aside from publishers just thinking people are getting a bit tired of them. One obvious reason is that they must be much more costly to create than a linear game, even a semi-open world game like God Of War. They also encourage unnecessary content, which must take a long time to develop, so if games are becoming too expensive I assume open world games must be the most expensive type of single-player game.
But there’s also the fact that they tend to make a lot of games seem very similar, more so than they would otherwise, and that Zelda and Elden Ring have executed them so well I think it’s quite clear that other games are struggling to live up to those examples.
I’m not saying they’re disappearing quickly but I sense they’re in decline and we'll see fewer than expected in the next generation.
Cranston
Three’s a crowd
I find the concept of Rise Of The Rōnin quite intriguing but it seems too similar to Ghost Of Tsushima to grab most people's attention, especially as the graphics are not as impressive – even though Rise Of The Rōnin is the one designed for the next generation.
It’s unfortunate but these are the kind of fundamental details people are considering when contemplating spending £70 on a video game. I’m not even sure the Assassin’s Creed game is going to perform as well as usual, especially since Ghost Of Tsushima is so reminiscent of an older Assassin’s Creed game. Although I admit the appeal of the series has eluded me for a while now, so perhaps I’m mistaken about that.
I’d be more interested in something more narrative-focused, perhaps a new adaptation of Shōgun based on the new Disney+ series, which is excellent. It’s the type of game Telltale Games would've produced back in the day, but unfortunately those days are over.
Royston
Old masters
I can’t express how much I would love to see a Sega Vs. Capcom game, with all of their various properties facing off against each other. I know it’s probably not going to be that – it’ll just be some uninteresting DLC or something – but a person can dream. I particularly adored Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 for all the eccentric and diverse Capcom characters, many of which I’d never heard of, prompting me to learn more about them.
I’d love to see a Sega Vs. Capcom fighter delve equally into the obscure for both companies and genuinely exhibit how old they are, how many games they’ve produced, and how… Japanese they are.
As Western publishers wreck the entire industry, and Japanese companies simply remain and continue as usual, I’d love to see a game that celebrates what two of the most exemplary publishers have contributed to the industry over the past several decades.
Onibee
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Sea of Bones
PlayStation players typically prefer single-player games. Therefore, I'm uncertain about how successful Sea Of Thieves will be on PlayStation 5 in the long run. This game is best enjoyed when played with friends. It can be quite enjoyable as a cooperative experience, but it didn't meet my expectations. If Sea Of Thieves had more complex combat and a more significant progression system, it could have been something truly remarkable. Instead, it's a fun way to pass time with friends.
If I were to imagine a game with a pirate theme, it would focus more on sea monsters. Perhaps it would have a more mythological theme and move away from the stylized graphics. Picture a game like God Of War at sea, in an adventure similar to Jason and the Argonauts, which would be equally compelling as a single-player experience.
Initially, I hoped that Skull And Bones would satisfy my desire for a more serious pirate-themed game, only to find that Ubisoft inexplicably omitted the best parts of Black Flag. Sea Of Thieves is undoubtedly the superior pirate-themed game, and despite its simplicity, it can actually be quite immersive when played with a full crew. I believe the game needs a sequel to truly evolve. Perhaps achieving success on PlayStation 5 (and Switch 2) will help finance a sequel?
Therefore, a sequel must be available on multiple platforms from the beginning. I understand that there's a belief that all Xbox games are becoming multi-platform. I don't think that's entirely the case, but Sea Of Thieves is a great example of a game that should be available on multiple platforms, just like Helldivers 2 would benefit from being accessible everywhere.
Anon
GC: The most popular games on PlayStation 5 are Fortnite, GTA Online, EA Sports FC, Call Of Duty, and, most recently, Helldivers 2. PlayStation users don't have a particular preference for single-player games over other players.
Top secret
So Naughty Dog stopped working on their live service game (The Last Of Us Online), as did Insomniac with this Spider-Man: The Great Web game. How many other developers have given up? Was Bluepoint developing one? Housemarque? Bend? Is that why we haven’t heard from them in so long?
As mentioned yesterday, if Nintendo can announce Lego sets a year before they're released, then surely we can get some indication from Sony regarding what they're doing? They haven't even revealed who their new boss is yet. They must be aware, so why is it being kept a secret? Why is anything being kept a secret? These aren't classified military plans; they're details about the upcoming video games!
Cushy
Infinite schism
The Halo franchise, once considered the standout feature for the Xbox by fans and critics alike, has one of the most dedicated followings in gaming. Numerous fan projects have emerged due to its influence, such as the original PC and Mac game Installation 01 by indie developer Soon Studios, or Cursed Halo by modder InfernoPlus.
Even those with only basic knowledge of gaming have probably at least heard of Halo. Since Bungie, Halo's original developer, parted ways in 2010, the fanbase has become split between those who prefer the older Bungie era and those who prefer the newer 343 Industries era. Early disagreements often focused on changes to the gameplay and the direction of the narrative.
But with the release of the most recent Halo game, Halo Infinite, in 2021, this division has become very uncivil, causing many comment sections to be filled with personal attacks and, in extreme situations, threats of violence. The PC version of Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes great modding tools, and Halo Infinite has powerful map and game mode editors, as well as a very creative community, so there is a lot of potential for Halo to grow.
However, a very toxic online environment not only drives away current fans, but also discourages new fans from exploring their interest further. The Halo community really needs to be re-evaluated, or it will slowly damage not only itself, but also the entire Halo franchise.
Alexander
Successful hike
I guess you can't answer this, but have the number of games sold increased or decreased since the price increase to £70?
Digital has made it unclear, and some companies don't report sales unless they are high, but I wonder what impact it has had.
Bobwallett
GC: It's hard to say, because there isn't consistent data to compare, since not all publishers share their results. However, Sony, EA, Activision, and Take-Two were among the first to adopt the price point, and their recent financial results have all been positive.
New old releases
I know that GameCentral and its readers have mentioned that the release schedules are a bit empty this year, but for me, that's not true. I am looking forward to re-releases, remasters, remakes, and games being released in physical format for the first time.
I have recently received an email from Night Dive Studios, a Kickstarter backer, announcing that they will be releasing the System Shock remake for consoles in May, including PlayStation 5 (which I am planning to buy). I have also emailed Night Dive to ask if there will be a physical release of Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster for PlayStation 5 (another one to add to the list of games to buy).
The Grandia 1 and 2 Collection will be available for pre-order in physical format for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at Limited Run Games on Friday, March 15th. I played one of the games on Dreamcast or PlayStation 2 a long time ago, so it's another game to add to the list!
In May, Sea of Stars will be released by Iam8Bit (another one to check off), and it's only £32.95 on Amazon for pre-order, which is not much more than the digital price on PSN when it's not on sale. I have also pre-ordered Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD on the Nintendo Store, which comes with a very cool diorama, a Luigi statue with a vacuum cleaner, a themed mug, and a HD smartphone ring of a ghost dog from the game, so I have pre-ordered that for June.
The Broken Sword Reforged is currently doing well on Kickstarter, so I won’t be surprised if it reaches £400,000 in funding, another one to add to the list, and finally Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which I never got to play on GameCube but heard so many good things about over the years, so I have pre-ordered that too (ShopTo). It's much cheaper than the original GameCube version, which goes for £50 to £100 on eBay. So there's a lot to look forward to, for me personally.
Andrew J.
Currently showing: Moss 2 (PSVR2)
GC: We understand your point, but none of those games are actually new, which does support the point you're trying to argue against.
Inbox also-rans
I just saw a preview for Madison VR on the PlayStation VR2 and was wondering if GC might review it? It’s not a cheap and boring tech demo and genuinely looks pretty scary (judging by the man staining his clothes as he played it). Thinks it’s due before the end of the month.
Wonk
GC: It doesn’t seem to have a date yet, but we’ll keep an eye out for it.
I’m not really sure how much sympathy I’ve got for Payday 3 when the only new idea was putting a different number at the end of its name.
Sterling
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