I think the first party thing…I don’t know how many of you have been playing games on PlayStation since the 90s but as someone who has…
They don’t always emphasise first party historically. That’s not a constant. PS4 era, they really went for that but before…it’s very much about third party releases. Their aim is to be the platform for everything in gaming so that is why first party is not always the emphasis in SoP. If you are expecting Sony to match Microsoft or Nintendo in that way, it’s not going to work like that. First party is there to sell the consoles and ecosystem, as much as games.
And guess what, it has totally worked, hence PS5 sales increasing the way they have.
@Nowings I’ve not played DD2 so I can’t really say. But as always - like if user scores are consistently not mentioning an issue with a game, and rewarding high scores in terms of their overall experience, I’d like to think gaming journalists would have some indication on the reception of a given game? But subjectivity is always a thing sadly. It’s getting harder to find journalism that does it like it used to in the magazine days.
It’s going to be at least top five if you asked the site generally (if not top 3). A bit saddened by how this game has been treated/written up about in recent months. A lot of the small justifiable criticisms have been built up to be much larger than they are, if I’m honest.
It may have too much going on at times and there are some minor issues in performance (that is quite honestly fine - metacritic user scores hardly mention it and it currently sits on 8.9). I don’t think any other game this year comes close variety and quality in terms of gameplay, combat, art direction and music. It’s a miraculous release in many ways. Shame, it hasn’t been celebrated the way it perhaps should have.
I think - and I'm sure others will disagree here - I do wonder if Rebirth may have done better if it had been released on the PS4 in particular. I'm not sure if Rebirth could even work on that format - I imagine it would require a lot of re-working and compromise. However, as Remake was already on PS4, I suspect they missed out on many, many sales from people who would have enjoyed continuing the story on a platform that remains very popular to this day. Other platforms would have helped too, of course, but that was the one I think they really missed out on.
I think a multiplatform strategy is a good call for Square Enix in future - it will help (and FF7 is a classic, should be enjoyed by all). Yet, I also think the real problem is the episodic nature of the FF7 remake series - it is an odd approach, if I'm honest. Like who is going to jump into the second game if they had not picked up the first? In a game exclusively on the PS5? You can just see the potential market getting smaller and smaller. Two games across PS4 and PS5 would have been fine.
Rebirth remains a delight - truly something special and still GOTY in my view (although I have not played Astro yet). It is amazing and games this size and technical excellence don't come along all that often (and may not in the future the way costs are rising). Yet, even as good as it is - it is a classic example of development 'creep' too - there are things that could probably be cut that would have saved money (and helped pacing in the game itself).
Rebirth is some game, and I can’t see much topping it. Astro, perhaps? Still can’t believe Push gave it an 8 - it seemed GOTY material from the first 5 hours of playing it…
“I want to give you the choice on how you play your games, and who you play with, and not try to do slimy platform things to force you to do what I want you to do,”
…how does that remotely square up with spending the best part of a £100 billion, and making a lot of those games exclusive to Xbox platforms? Things are changing now but mainly because Xbox have done so poorly - forcing multiplatform releases.
Not excusing nonsense from Sony in the past - but when whole publishers have been bought, I’m not sure Phil should be making such comments.
I don’t think Showcases matter as much people assume, if I’m honest. Casual audiences, for starters, (who are like the ones everyone wants) aren’t really paying attention to this stuff. And also, I’d say Xbox have had better lshowcases than Sony for the past 3 or 4 years (mainly because they show games as far as two years away and Sony have a clear year out at least policy - even 3 or 6 months for some games). And what difference has it made? The net result is that expectations and delivery is managed better on PlayStation - whereas for all the decent Xbox showcase showings - their games get delayed or are years away too often. Redfall and Forza motorsport all once looked great.
Execution is where Xbox fall down, and that is where Sony excel.
@UnlimitedSevens yeah man. Great points, and agree to some extent. Completely see why you may think like that.
I think for me: financial stuff does matter a bit (like the profit from both the PS1 and PS2 was wiped out by the PS3 losses). It’s quite odd, but Sony didn’t really start make decent profit until the PS4 - so, as much as I would love a return to an older industry (I’m a PS1 player mainly today as well - currently playing GT2 😊), I can see why Sony have shifted a bit. My frustration is about lay offs (considering Sony have made 2.5b in profit each year since 2020). But, the ultimate point is: the financials dictate what is possible for Sony to do (whether we like it or not).
I think that lists is interesting - because Factions should be there too. You are absolute right: it is weaker than maybe we would expect but we also have to concede that the early years were also far stronger than normal - just think about the early years this gen: we had Demon Souls, Returnal, Ratchet, HFW, GT7, SM2, God of War: R FF16 and FF7 Rebirth - like for the first 3 years, that is ridiculous. So practically, there is going to be a lull as those big games, just take years now (and people should not crunch, we know better now). Maybe they could have remastered Killzone or something? Farm an IP to a second party dev - I like the idea but I suspect it won’t make too much money. And the simple issue is exactly what you describe, the market is already providing so much (there are so many great games), this means that Sony does not need to push it - they can just be the platform it all gets put on, where people buy it (see Valve too).
And it’s weird, but that’s how Sony did play it PS1 and PS2, they did publish great games but so much of their success is about building a platform for third party etc. live service communities in the modern context as well.
I’m optimistic too about all of it - and the communication issues of Sony is probably a result of febrile media environment that creates mountains out of molehills and silliness. Sadly, era we are in.
To be honest, best of luck to them. Some of the negativity Sony are getting is a little over the top on here if I’m honest. And my advice, would be ignore the noise a little. We have 8 first party exclusives* in 2024 (or partner exclusives and others released on Steam):
Helldivers 2
FF7 Rebirth
Rise of the Ronin
Stellar Blade
Concorde
Until Dawn (remaster)
Astro Bot
Silent Hill 2 (remake)
For a ‘quiet’ year, that’s super impressive and I am excited about many of these. Both Rebirth and Astrobot could be GOTY contenders (and a lot of these feel very spiritually at home on PlayStation as well - SH and FF7 have super strong association with the brand; Astro Bot is a celebration of PlayStation and feels like a modern day Ape Escape; Steller Blade has mad PS2 energy and Rise of the Ronin feels very at home too - big open world, third person action game. Helldivers 2 honestly feels inspired by SOCOM in a strange way to me).
A lot of these are also from smaller, double AA teams as well. PlayStation are making some healthy profit (which has not historically always been the case) and the larger games are coming - dev cycles can be 5-10 years now (Helldivers 2 - double AA dev etc. 8 years to make). Hardware is excellent as well - Portal and the consoles are selling well. It’s all fine really - they are doing what they always do.
*Edit: not to mention Pacific Drive (not an exclusive, also on Steam or Epic) but actually one of the most original games I have ever played on my PS5 this gen.
lol built the brand - those here in 1994 and the early 2000s say hi
But actually: that was a decent state of play - I liked Astro, Behemoth, Where Winds Meet, Dynasty Warriors and SH 2 are genuinely old school PlayStation games in spirit and looked decent. Concords gameplay looked good - and there are audiences out there who love that stuff.
Yes, I want more but it was decent all things considered.
@DaniPooo think the point is this article is cynically going for the console war types though? Engagement and clicks, in it? If PureXbox reviewed (fake) reviewed PlayStation stuff and lamented it wasn’t available - you would get the same reaction. A better piece might have asked: what are the chances this comes to PS5, or explored how Sony can learn from it? Or added context: 81 on metacritic, only 3k players on steam at the moment (it’s like 200 in the steam charts). Or how it is also evidently inspired by PlayStation exclusives and their technical impact, but kinda misses what makes those games solid: gameplay.
But there is a sad truth here like many Xbox games, HB2 would find a stronger audience if released on PlayStation and it would maybe give the devs a chance to survive.
I am sure the game is decent but 81 on metacritic doesn’t scream people are missing out too much - I think angle for an article like this should be about the sadness in that Microsoft haven’t allowed games like HB2 go multi-platform - considering the original game out on PS4 - that would make sense editorially. But to do a kinda review of a game this audience cannot play (and to say it’s great) is kinda odd? lol do xbox or Nintendo sites review Last of Us? Of course not, it is just not relevant to that audience.
Weird - and I think I’ll be looking elsewhere for gaming news if this the direction pushsquare is going.
@idiotthechef defo - that's quite amazing if you got 65+ hours of brilliant gameplay before you feel it is time to give it a break. I I'm looking forward to those parts of the game actually!
You know, I think that this is an issue with modern games in many ways. The original FF7 is brilliantly paced but most modern games aren't? They are filled and filled - so I'm just used to it now. In practice, it means I play games slowly and take breaks with them otherwise, it burns me out. Even Witcher 3 (as ace as it is) just had so much content that it took me months. I still have not got through BOTW (lol it has been 4 years). I'll complete Rebirth over the year.
@Nepp67 I think if Ubisoft side content was an issue with Rebirth, it would be reflected in user scores (which as I say, are as high as they can be on 9/10 on metacritic). lol I’m not complaining, like who cares? Point I’m making is that 8/10 seems miles away the commentary is at.
Also, glad you are enjoying DD2, different strokes etc.
Still a little surprised it got an 8/10 from Push Square. 25 hours in and I think it is the best game I've played on the PS5. I wonder, as the game is so large, reviewers just had to rinse it to get write-ups out - and burnt themselves out on it? There is a lot here (but I think pacing is always an issue with massive open world games. The overall high quality of gameplay is ridiculous in Rebirth). Metacritic user scores are solidly 9 (should always be cynical about user-scores but that is actually higher/on par with Balders Gate 3 - on 8.9).
The Gondola region is perhaps the most incredible setting I've seen in an open world game.
In any user review site at the moment: DD2 is getting hammered. 51% metacritic, 48% like it on google and it is 5.8 on metacritic - all slowly moving upwards but still a long way from where things should be for a game as good as this is. However, the metacritic scores 86 (PS5 and Xbox) and 89 (PC) don’t scream game of the year and or up there with Balders Gate 3 or anything like that anyway.
When you read the user scores though; people are also saying the game is quite archaic. People are not just talking about mtx or performance alone, it is that it feels clunky to play (and pawns can be frustrating, movement is not great, people losing massive saves etc). I think DD2 is probably an amazing game for enthusiasts who like the idea of an uncompromising, old school fantasy experience (and who loved the original), but maybe not a game that everyone will like? I wish there was a demo so I could see myself what I think of it.
@ShogunRok I can imagine how challenging it can be - because we all love games We want to celebrate them. I'm loving FF7 Rebirth, think it is incredible - and like: if it was 1.99 to fast travel...There would be uproar, I think.
@DennisReynolds you can re-create character as much as you want in AC or fast travel without paying any cash - you spend 1.99 to do so in DD2 every time (I mean, you can find items to do so but its besides the point).
Also, frankly, who cares about the specifics (as it becomes a case of re-contextualising/comparing what different people see as worse MTX in different games) - I'm making the point that we've never seen this type of MTX in an open world game - like this. It should be called out - unless you are happy to see all these things continue?
People are not overreacting - they are pointing out $70 is enough to spend without optional extras the game (and many reviewers) have not told people about.
@ShogunRok Thing is: I agree: it looks a really good game and I think you make a good case for why it is so good. But the problem here is that Capcom have got away with it a little - because if review scores stay around 9 or 10, it kinda lets them. This game has egregious MTX - even Farcry/AC don't go as far as this - and they have got away with it.
Don't get me wrong - evidently, there is a difficulty for reviewers here because you want to celebrate something great (so I can see why 9/10 or 10/10 are given out). But I just wish (and this is more of a general point, not aimed at your review, which is great) - reviewers were prepared to mark harsher over it. Simply, I don't think this practice changes unless reviewers and buyers make it clearer they won't support it.
@ShogunRok respect for adding in the microtransactions so people can go in fully informed.
Not sure it deserves 9 though - you have four negatives there that all seem quite significant? I don’t know, maybe these things don’t matter but I think I am holding off for now now.
@Darylb88 more like 21 million units, and console sales have been very flat this year in particular in key markets such as Europe. It will improve for Xbox though, just need the games and a more coherent hardware strategy.
@XboxTheBestBox I hope they are great games. I’m sure they will do well but obviously Sony have great games coming too (and a track record, and don’t really have delays etc). Microsoft need to deliver, whereas Sony have been delivering for the two gens.
For Microsoft to catch up, better decisions needs to happen but they will need to leverage bigger games than Hellblade 2 - and maybe even Starfield, it will be ABK / next Elder Scroll games more long term, and even then: so many of those games may well get put on PS5 anyway..(especially if Microsoft cannot grow the Xbox platform enough). Sony will be delighted to have kept CoD.
@PixelDragon 😂😂 it’s fine, and we all can be biased. I feel a little sorry Microsoft fans actually, hasn’t been the funnest gen for them, sure it will get better.
And if it was simple as MS will have access to ‘best in class’ games - it could be as you suggest. But in reality, Microsoft have made some some shocking decisions this gen in hardware, software and QAA processes (what on earth happened with Redfall? That game out between GoW: Ragnorok and ToTK: those are the standards expected from top tier publishers) - to catch up, Microsoft need to make far better strategic decisions in future to compete. They can buy all the games/publishers they want but high quality dev culture and talent needs to be harnessed in the right way. You need to check where games are at, for starters (again Redfall). So many game delays and incomplete features…Their hardware strategy has bombed (basically because it is evident that they have an inferior product to the PS5; Series X has power but no games to show it nor PSVR2 or a Dual Sense etc), gamepass has got more expensive but not necessarily better, and
all those ABK/Bethesda games will have to run on a Series S, whilst Sony can push the frontiers with the PS5 Pro et al.
I hope Microsoft does improve as it is needed for the industry but I’m coming to the view that Phil Spencer (and his team) need to be moved on for that to happen.
They are selling so, so well: even with three positive Xbox showcases (although no real triple aaa games), Starfield and Gamepass, none of it is making a dent in PS5 sales - and Sony don’t even have many games out this year…
And fair play to Sony: I think they have improved every aspect of their offering from last gen. Hardware is superb and clearly superior to the series S (which isn’t fair on the S but as it has proven to be as popular as the X, consumers are now making that comparison between the PS5 and Series S more and more), decent optionals like PSVR and Q-Lite (upcoming), the dual sense is excellent, a digital and cheaper PS5 with no loss of software parity. I bought a PS3 (and own a PS4) recently for retro gaming purposes and man, the PS5 is miles ahead of the PS4 (and where Sony were before). Successful TV shows and movies. PS Plus has really improved; and their first party games have been excellent and high quality. Even 4K streaming is round the corner - how they have beat Microsoft there man, I have no idea…
Would like more ambition from Sony though, I do think they are playing it a little too safe at times? A lot of sequels and some new projects would be good to see.
@Max_the_German could not see banks supporting either Sony or Nintendo making acquisitions that size (ABK has a higher market cap than Nintendo, for instance). The market cap represents what the market assesses your value as - whether you have money saved doesn’t mean you can buy way over your cap limit. Nintendo allegedly do have a lot of saved (I don’t know how much, and no one does really), but I think they just want to sit on it and don’t seem too interested in acquisitions anyway. Also, they wouldn’t buy ABK because Nintendo would look at others way closer to them (probably Japanese devs/publishers - Square or someone like that?).
Sony, I don’t know. They seem to have money for acquisitions (maybe $5bill or so) but there is a limit on it (and Sony don’t just do gaming mergers there are also about other parts of the business): that money is for the whole business as well. No one likes because people want silly massive deals that will never happen but buying companies early and adding value is good strategy for Sony and has really worked out.
@Max_the_German sorry, but I’m not sure if that is accurate. Nintendo’s market cap is $55b; Sony (as a whole) is about $104b. Of course Sony are a larger company, they do more than gaming etc, (with all the electronics hardware they do). Not that it matters when compared to Microsoft anyway.
Neither Sony or Nintendo could ever afford ABK or anything that size - big tech companies like Microsoft are trillion dollar companies that can, and are in a completely different ball game. Tencent possibly could though. This is why Sony/Nintendo acquire smaller dev teams who are often starting out. The Bungie acquisition is the largest Sony have done and to my knowledge, I don’t think Nintendo have acquired a company that size either.
@GamingFan4Lyf yeah, it could be a possibility. But again, just think of how much money people have invested into the PlayStation eco-system over so many years? Personally, I would probably buy a PlayStation for that alone: access to old titles. And that audience will be humongous by the end of the gen: well over 200 million by the time the PS5 is done (which is like most of the console market). Catching up a little? Maybe. But the timing of Sony’s success has really helped them.
Microsoft could catch-up with good games but it won’t be ‘fable’ or ‘perfect dark’ et al, it will be ‘elder scrolls’ or blizzard-acti games (which a lot of people will buy on PC anyway). But the underlying sales figures of the consoles as it stands emphasise just what a big swing would have to occur to get ahead of PlayStation next gen. And the PlayStation games are likely coming mate, they are just being worked on and will be announced when ready. Sony are keeping their powder dry; that’s all. You don’t abandon strategies that your historical success is based on overnight.
Microsoft could become a secondary system - it is interesting but that’s probably not where they want to be at all. Sony do well because they appeal to casual gamers who only have time for one eco-system/console (players who play and like FIFA, call of duty, Genshin, rocket league etc). That’s what the acquisitions are about, getting that audience over to Microsoft as the place to play games (wherever that is console or a Microsoft PC platform). Sony are basically the Apple of gaming at the moment.
You know, I’m not sure the dial is going to move so much to Microsoft late gen, simply because of the digitalisation of gaming libraries - next gen (after 2027/8 or so?), Sony will have dominated two generations where people have bought digital games since 2010: man, it is going to take some mighty moves for that to shift, and it is going to take a long while from now. And it’s not as if PlayStation have got complacent either, or will sit there and not respond?
Ultimately, I think Microsoft are entering the PC space now much more, and will downplay the console side of it. That will work well with them but essentially both PlayStation and Microsoft will be in different parts of the market.
Loved Quake 2 on the PS1 - was one of my favourite games of that era actually. Very cool, very much enjoying all these PS1 games coming back onto my PS5.
With how large the PS5 audience is now (and growing), I think we will see some Bethesda titles popping up on PS5, if I am honest - especially remasters.
I thought it was technically excellent. It felt like a proper PS5 experience. And overall, super enjoyable - a lot of cut scenes though and I wanted to actually play the game a lot more. The combat was solid; not as chaotic as it looks on the trailers but I was desperate for some kind of dodge/roll (eg soulsborne/FF7 remake), I hope there is more variety in the combat a bit.
Not sure if I liked the darker tone of it entirely: it’s fine but I think prefer FF7 etc
But I played for two hours straight and was just engrossed the whole time, and I think I will buy it once I have saved enough.
I’m not entirely surprised. All anecdotal but I get the sense that a lot of gamers are older now (or at least in comparison to the 90s and 2000s), and that mean time becomes a bigger issue. Enthusiasts love these services but if you play 5 to 10 hours a week or so, they become harder to justify. It is probably better just buying and playing the game you like.
I’ve not renewed my PS sub recently (and have cut Spotify as well) in favour of just putting away £15 away each month to spend on stuff I like. Just makes more sense for how I consume stuff.
I think this will be the first time I don’t sign up to PS Plus for the year. I added up the backlog; 100 games across PlayStation, Switch, Steam and Xbox. It just seems silly to spend unnecessarily when I have plenty of games to play. But for those that are; ShopTo do good deals on PSN cards, you can get PS Plus Premium down to about £65 (which makes it £5.50 per month). It is very worth it at that price.
That last showcase didn’t indicate to me that Sony will have any good games coming to PS Plus from their first party if I’m honest: God of War: Ragnorok is the one now. And if they do, I’ll just grab a month of it. If they had brought the PS1 games regularly, I would have signed up in a heartbeat.
I am not surprised about Premium, it can get be obtained for a lot less than 95 quid (and you may as well get it if it is not much more than Extra). I paid 63 quid for a yearly round of PS plus premium and I bet many people have done similar: got it on a deal using discounted psn cards.
95 quid - I’m not sure I would pay that - but for 63 overall, it has been amazing value. I’ve played a ton of the PS1 games - especially loved Syphon Filter, Legend of Dragoon and Ridge Racer Type 4, and many of the demo’s too.
@Octane agreed. Imagine if Sony went full on day and date games on PS Plus - with both MS and Sony doing it, game sales would fall through the floor. And you are right, I own a series S and check out what is happening with MS, and it feels that audience is now just expecting through gamepass. And get annoyed when things don’t turn up there.
I think they need to make ownership more of a thing; e.g. if I have bought a game early and spent full price - could I get subsequent DLC at a reduced price, or even for free? They never will, people are buying a lot of games on the PS5 (lol I know this would never happen) but maybe Sony should be thinking in those terms a little if the trend to subs/cloud gaming does take-off? They stand to lose a lot if people stop buying games in future.
It’s fine, we all get carried away mate (and we all do it). Oh absolutely - that’s why I was quite happy to drop £70 on a new game I really want to play. I don’t mind it being on there after a year or so on PS Plus, more I think it would good if Sony were a little more upfront so folk could make choices?
I agree: I worry that sub services are getting a little too good value and it makes a little bit of a two tier system-basically in that gamers that buy games quickly become a little disadvantaged. And it’s not great for devs either.
It’s fine, we all get carried away mate (and we all do it). Oh absolutely - that’s why I was quite happy to drop £70 on a new game I really want to play. I don’t mind it being on there after a year or so on PS Plus, more I think it would good if Sony were a little more upfront so folk could make choices?
I agree: I worry that sub services are getting a little too good value and it makes a little bit of a two tier system-basically in that gamers that buy games quickly become a little disadvantaged. And it’s not great for devs either.
@TommyNL I’m not going to argue or respond to abuse. Calling someone else pathetic because they don’t have the same view as you says is not appropriate, and says much more about you than ever will about me.
@WallyWest because they haven’t been upfront about when the game enters into a sub. Because they are inconsistent in how they do it; lol I’m very happy with HFW, it is a great game but that’s irrelevant in many ways as I would have waited if Sony had a consistent, clearer and transparent process when it came to when games get added to a sub. Put it like this: HFW cost £70 and my PS plus costs me £5.25 per month (amazon discounted rate): basically I don’t know if that is fair on folk who buy games straight away (for whatever reason?). Yet the developers rely on people buying games early and a year is not that long in a lifetime for a triple AAA game like HFW.
Anyway, I’m not really interested in arguing so don’t bother if that is what you are after.
@danlk1ng Yeah but this is problem though isn’t it? Like fans just defend these company through anything (not you at all). And actually, I think transparency is important. Where I think it is a bit dodgy personally because in comparison to gamepass or even Nintendo online, it’s very straightforward- you can plan to purchase a product or not but at least you are doing so knowing full well if that game is going to be added to some type of service (or not). That is not the case with PS Plus at all - it is a mystery box, which suits Sony. And considering they raised prices to £70, which was already egregious as it is - that lack of transparency is something I find problematic. And why I’ll stop buying their games if that’s how they want to play it.
I don’t have a physical PS5: and because of stock constraints I couldn’t get the disc-based one so again: it’s not relevant to me if it is cheaper elsewhere (and even then, the cheapest option would be to wait for PS Plus).
@WallyWest same here, I never buy new games but I loved HZD and made the exception. I’m a patient gamer all the way but it’s a little cheeky from Sony I think overall.
@danlk1ng well you are not me and I am not you. I spend a small amount on new games personally over a year - I could do a lot with £70 - I loved HFW but as I say, like I would have waited if I had known it is coming out on PS Plus, and I may do the same with all their exclusive games.
I know 365 days is a long time but it makes me question whether I should just wait in future. It is the lack of transparency about it that makes it slightly dodgy. Sony are unpredictable and haven’t articulated to consumers what they are planning with first party games: now it is a year (and some games get missed entirely). It adds a risk to buying any new game, and these games are £70 - that’s a lot of money right now to folk.
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Re: Poll: What Did You Think of Sony's State of Play for February 2025?
@Titntin absolutely, and if you have been from the early days, it all seems ridiculous.
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of Sony's State of Play for February 2025?
@Oz_Who_Dat_Dare they have always been a third party platform. Their success is rooted in that.
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of Sony's State of Play for February 2025?
I think the first party thing…I don’t know how many of you have been playing games on PlayStation since the 90s but as someone who has…
They don’t always emphasise first party historically. That’s not a constant. PS4 era, they really went for that but before…it’s very much about third party releases. Their aim is to be the platform for everything in gaming so that is why first party is not always the emphasis in SoP. If you are expecting Sony to match Microsoft or Nintendo in that way, it’s not going to work like that. First party is there to sell the consoles and ecosystem, as much as games.
And guess what, it has totally worked, hence PS5 sales increasing the way they have.
Re: Game of the Year: #7 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
@Nowings I’ve not played DD2 so I can’t really say. But as always - like if user scores are consistently not mentioning an issue with a game, and rewarding high scores in terms of their overall experience, I’d like to think gaming journalists would have some indication on the reception of a given game? But subjectivity is always a thing sadly. It’s getting harder to find journalism that does it like it used to in the magazine days.
Re: Game of the Year: #7 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
It’s going to be at least top five if you asked the site generally (if not top 3). A bit saddened by how this game has been treated/written up about in recent months. A lot of the small justifiable criticisms have been built up to be much larger than they are, if I’m honest.
It may have too much going on at times and there are some minor issues in performance (that is quite honestly fine - metacritic user scores hardly mention it and it currently sits on 8.9). I don’t think any other game this year comes close variety and quality in terms of gameplay, combat, art direction and music. It’s a miraculous release in many ways. Shame, it hasn’t been celebrated the way it perhaps should have.
Re: PS5 Exclusives Final Fantasy 16, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Failed to Meet Expectations
I think - and I'm sure others will disagree here - I do wonder if Rebirth may have done better if it had been released on the PS4 in particular. I'm not sure if Rebirth could even work on that format - I imagine it would require a lot of re-working and compromise. However, as Remake was already on PS4, I suspect they missed out on many, many sales from people who would have enjoyed continuing the story on a platform that remains very popular to this day. Other platforms would have helped too, of course, but that was the one I think they really missed out on.
I think a multiplatform strategy is a good call for Square Enix in future - it will help (and FF7 is a classic, should be enjoyed by all). Yet, I also think the real problem is the episodic nature of the FF7 remake series - it is an odd approach, if I'm honest. Like who is going to jump into the second game if they had not picked up the first? In a game exclusively on the PS5? You can just see the potential market getting smaller and smaller. Two games across PS4 and PS5 would have been fine.
Rebirth remains a delight - truly something special and still GOTY in my view (although I have not played Astro yet). It is amazing and games this size and technical excellence don't come along all that often (and may not in the future the way costs are rising). Yet, even as good as it is - it is a classic example of development 'creep' too - there are things that could probably be cut that would have saved money (and helped pacing in the game itself).
Re: Feature: The 10 Best PS5 Games of 2024 So Far
Rebirth is some game, and I can’t see much topping it. Astro, perhaps? Still can’t believe Push gave it an 8 - it seemed GOTY material from the first 5 hours of playing it…
Re: Talking Point: What's Your PS5 Game of the Year for 2024 So Far?
Rebirth. I think it may end up being one of the best games of the generation. The case for it is getting stronger throughout the year as well.
Its secret weapon is that it has some serious Mario energy to it.
Re: Xbox Really Wasn't Happy with PlayStation's Call of Duty Marketing Deal
“I want to give you the choice on how you play your games, and who you play with, and not try to do slimy platform things to force you to do what I want you to do,”
…how does that remotely square up with spending the best part of a £100 billion, and making a lot of those games exclusive to Xbox platforms? Things are changing now but mainly because Xbox have done so poorly - forcing multiplatform releases.
Not excusing nonsense from Sony in the past - but when whole publishers have been bought, I’m not sure Phil should be making such comments.
Re: PS5 Fans Beg Sony for a More Fulfilling Livestream in the Aftermath of Xbox Show
I don’t think Showcases matter as much people assume, if I’m honest. Casual audiences, for starters, (who are like the ones everyone wants) aren’t really paying attention to this stuff. And also, I’d say Xbox have had better lshowcases than Sony for the past 3 or 4 years (mainly because they show games as far as two years away and Sony have a clear year out at least policy - even 3 or 6 months for some games). And what difference has it made? The net result is that expectations and delivery is managed better on PlayStation - whereas for all the decent Xbox showcase showings - their games get delayed or are years away too often. Redfall and Forza motorsport all once looked great.
Execution is where Xbox fall down, and that is where Sony excel.
Re: It's 'A Truly Exciting Time' for PlayStation as New Sony CEOs Take Control
@UnlimitedSevens yeah man. Great points, and agree to some extent. Completely see why you may think like that.
I think for me: financial stuff does matter a bit (like the profit from both the PS1 and PS2 was wiped out by the PS3 losses). It’s quite odd, but Sony didn’t really start make decent profit until the PS4 - so, as much as I would love a return to an older industry (I’m a PS1 player mainly today as well - currently playing GT2 😊), I can see why Sony have shifted a bit. My frustration is about lay offs (considering Sony have made 2.5b in profit each year since 2020). But, the ultimate point is: the financials dictate what is possible for Sony to do (whether we like it or not).
I think that lists is interesting - because Factions should be there too. You are absolute right: it is weaker than maybe we would expect but we also have to concede that the early years were also far stronger than normal - just think about the early years this gen: we had Demon Souls, Returnal, Ratchet, HFW, GT7, SM2, God of War: R FF16 and FF7 Rebirth - like for the first 3 years, that is ridiculous. So practically, there is going to be a lull as those big games, just take years now (and people should not crunch, we know better now). Maybe they could have remastered Killzone or something? Farm an IP to a second party dev - I like the idea but I suspect it won’t make too much money. And the simple issue is exactly what you describe, the market is already providing so much (there are so many great games), this means that Sony does not need to push it - they can just be the platform it all gets put on, where people buy it (see Valve too).
And it’s weird, but that’s how Sony did play it PS1 and PS2, they did publish great games but so much of their success is about building a platform for third party etc. live service communities in the modern context as well.
I’m optimistic too about all of it - and the communication issues of Sony is probably a result of febrile media environment that creates mountains out of molehills and silliness. Sadly, era we are in.
Re: It's 'A Truly Exciting Time' for PlayStation as New Sony CEOs Take Control
To be honest, best of luck to them. Some of the negativity Sony are getting is a little over the top on here if I’m honest. And my advice, would be ignore the noise a little. We have 8 first party exclusives* in 2024 (or partner exclusives and others released on Steam):
Helldivers 2
FF7 Rebirth
Rise of the Ronin
Stellar Blade
Concorde
Until Dawn (remaster)
Astro Bot
Silent Hill 2 (remake)
For a ‘quiet’ year, that’s super impressive and I am excited about many of these. Both Rebirth and Astrobot could be GOTY contenders (and a lot of these feel very spiritually at home on PlayStation as well - SH and FF7 have super strong association with the brand; Astro Bot is a celebration of PlayStation and feels like a modern day Ape Escape; Steller Blade has mad PS2 energy and Rise of the Ronin feels very at home too - big open world, third person action game. Helldivers 2 honestly feels inspired by SOCOM in a strange way to me).
A lot of these are also from smaller, double AA teams as well. PlayStation are making some healthy profit (which has not historically always been the case) and the larger games are coming - dev cycles can be 5-10 years now (Helldivers 2 - double AA dev etc. 8 years to make). Hardware is excellent as well - Portal and the consoles are selling well. It’s all fine really - they are doing what they always do.
*Edit: not to mention Pacific Drive (not an exclusive, also on Steam or Epic) but actually one of the most original games I have ever played on my PS5 this gen.
Re: Reaction: PS5 Livestreams Are No Longer Speaking to the Fans Who Built the Brand
lol built the brand - those here in 1994 and the early 2000s say hi
But actually: that was a decent state of play - I liked Astro, Behemoth, Where Winds Meet, Dynasty Warriors and SH 2 are genuinely old school PlayStation games in spirit and looked decent. Concords gameplay looked good - and there are audiences out there who love that stuff.
Yes, I want more but it was decent all things considered.
Re: Soapbox: Once a PS4 Console Exclusive, PS5 Players Are Missing a Visual Stunner in Hellblade 2
@DaniPooo think the point is this article is cynically going for the console war types though? Engagement and clicks, in it? If PureXbox reviewed (fake) reviewed PlayStation stuff and lamented it wasn’t available - you would get the same reaction. A better piece might have asked: what are the chances this comes to PS5, or explored how Sony can learn from it? Or added context: 81 on metacritic, only 3k players on steam at the moment (it’s like 200 in the steam charts). Or how it is also evidently inspired by PlayStation exclusives and their technical impact, but kinda misses what makes those games solid: gameplay.
But there is a sad truth here like many Xbox games, HB2 would find a stronger audience if released on PlayStation and it would maybe give the devs a chance to survive.
Re: Soapbox: Once a PS4 Console Exclusive, PS5 Players Are Missing a Visual Stunner in Hellblade 2
I am sure the game is decent but 81 on metacritic doesn’t scream people are missing out too much - I think angle for an article like this should be about the sadness in that Microsoft haven’t allowed games like HB2 go multi-platform - considering the original game out on PS4 - that would make sense editorially. But to do a kinda review of a game this audience cannot play (and to say it’s great) is kinda odd? lol do xbox or Nintendo sites review Last of Us? Of course not, it is just not relevant to that audience.
Weird - and I think I’ll be looking elsewhere for gaming news if this the direction pushsquare is going.
Re: Talking Point: What's Your Favourite PS5 Game of 2024 So Far?
FF7 Rebirth - just over half way through and this quite easily my favourite game this generation so far. It might end up being an all-timer.
Re: Documentary Details the Creation of PS5's Critically Acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
@idiotthechef defo - that's quite amazing if you got 65+ hours of brilliant gameplay before you feel it is time to give it a break. I I'm looking forward to those parts of the game actually!
You know, I think that this is an issue with modern games in many ways. The original FF7 is brilliantly paced but most modern games aren't? They are filled and filled - so I'm just used to it now. In practice, it means I play games slowly and take breaks with them otherwise, it burns me out. Even Witcher 3 (as ace as it is) just had so much content that it took me months. I still have not got through BOTW (lol it has been 4 years). I'll complete Rebirth over the year.
Re: Documentary Details the Creation of PS5's Critically Acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
@Nepp67 I think if Ubisoft side content was an issue with Rebirth, it would be reflected in user scores (which as I say, are as high as they can be on 9/10 on metacritic). lol I’m not complaining, like who cares? Point I’m making is that 8/10 seems miles away the commentary is at.
Also, glad you are enjoying DD2, different strokes etc.
Re: Documentary Details the Creation of PS5's Critically Acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
@Shepherd_Tallon absolutely - I just loved exploring it (same with all the regions if I'm honest). And the music (whole game): just incredible.
Re: Documentary Details the Creation of PS5's Critically Acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Still a little surprised it got an 8/10 from Push Square. 25 hours in and I think it is the best game I've played on the PS5. I wonder, as the game is so large, reviewers just had to rinse it to get write-ups out - and burnt themselves out on it? There is a lot here (but I think pacing is always an issue with massive open world games. The overall high quality of gameplay is ridiculous in Rebirth). Metacritic user scores are solidly 9 (should always be cynical about user-scores but that is actually higher/on par with Balders Gate 3 - on 8.9).
The Gondola region is perhaps the most incredible setting I've seen in an open world game.
Re: Capcom Responds to Dragon's Dogma 2 Microtransaction, Performance Backlash
In any user review site at the moment: DD2 is getting hammered. 51% metacritic, 48% like it on google and it is 5.8 on metacritic - all slowly moving upwards but still a long way from where things should be for a game as good as this is. However, the metacritic scores 86 (PS5 and Xbox) and 89 (PC) don’t scream game of the year and or up there with Balders Gate 3 or anything like that anyway.
When you read the user scores though; people are also saying the game is quite archaic. People are not just talking about mtx or performance alone, it is that it feels clunky to play (and pawns can be frustrating, movement is not great, people losing massive saves etc). I think DD2 is probably an amazing game for enthusiasts who like the idea of an uncompromising, old school fantasy experience (and who loved the original), but maybe not a game that everyone will like? I wish there was a demo so I could see myself what I think of it.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 (PS5) - The Apex of RPG Adventuring
@DennisReynolds I'm not interested in arguing with you Dennis - lets just leave it there.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 (PS5) - The Apex of RPG Adventuring
@ShogunRok I can imagine how challenging it can be - because we all love games We want to celebrate them. I'm loving FF7 Rebirth, think it is incredible - and like: if it was 1.99 to fast travel...There would be uproar, I think.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 (PS5) - The Apex of RPG Adventuring
@DennisReynolds you can re-create character as much as you want in AC or fast travel without paying any cash - you spend 1.99 to do so in DD2 every time (I mean, you can find items to do so but its besides the point).
Also, frankly, who cares about the specifics (as it becomes a case of re-contextualising/comparing what different people see as worse MTX in different games) - I'm making the point that we've never seen this type of MTX in an open world game - like this. It should be called out - unless you are happy to see all these things continue?
People are not overreacting - they are pointing out $70 is enough to spend without optional extras the game (and many reviewers) have not told people about.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 (PS5) - The Apex of RPG Adventuring
@ShogunRok Thing is: I agree: it looks a really good game and I think you make a good case for why it is so good. But the problem here is that Capcom have got away with it a little - because if review scores stay around 9 or 10, it kinda lets them. This game has egregious MTX - even Farcry/AC don't go as far as this - and they have got away with it.
Don't get me wrong - evidently, there is a difficulty for reviewers here because you want to celebrate something great (so I can see why 9/10 or 10/10 are given out). But I just wish (and this is more of a general point, not aimed at your review, which is great) - reviewers were prepared to mark harsher over it. Simply, I don't think this practice changes unless reviewers and buyers make it clearer they won't support it.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 (PS5) - The Apex of RPG Adventuring
@ShogunRok respect for adding in the microtransactions so people can go in fully informed.
Not sure it deserves 9 though - you have four negatives there that all seem quite significant? I don’t know, maybe these things don’t matter but I think I am holding off for now now.
Re: PS5 Sales Surge a Frankly Flabbergasting 244% in Europe
@Darylb88 more like 21 million units, and console sales have been very flat this year in particular in key markets such as Europe. It will improve for Xbox though, just need the games and a more coherent hardware strategy.
Re: PS5 Sales Surge a Frankly Flabbergasting 244% in Europe
@XboxTheBestBox I hope they are great games. I’m sure they will do well but obviously Sony have great games coming too (and a track record, and don’t really have delays etc). Microsoft need to deliver, whereas Sony have been delivering for the two gens.
For Microsoft to catch up, better decisions needs to happen but they will need to leverage bigger games than Hellblade 2 - and maybe even Starfield, it will be ABK / next Elder Scroll games more long term, and even then: so many of those games may well get put on PS5 anyway..(especially if Microsoft cannot grow the Xbox platform enough). Sony will be delighted to have kept CoD.
Re: PS5 Sales Surge a Frankly Flabbergasting 244% in Europe
@PixelDragon 😂😂 it’s fine, and we all can be biased. I feel a little sorry Microsoft fans actually, hasn’t been the funnest gen for them, sure it will get better.
Re: PS5 Sales Surge a Frankly Flabbergasting 244% in Europe
@XboxTheBestBox well obviously, you have a view 😂
And if it was simple as MS will have access to ‘best in class’ games - it could be as you suggest. But in reality, Microsoft have made some some shocking decisions this gen in hardware, software and QAA processes (what on earth happened with Redfall? That game out between GoW: Ragnorok and ToTK: those are the standards expected from top tier publishers) - to catch up, Microsoft need to make far better strategic decisions in future to compete. They can buy all the games/publishers they want but high quality dev culture and talent needs to be harnessed in the right way. You need to check where games are at, for starters (again Redfall). So many game delays and incomplete features…Their hardware strategy has bombed (basically because it is evident that they have an inferior product to the PS5; Series X has power but no games to show it nor PSVR2 or a Dual Sense etc), gamepass has got more expensive but not necessarily better, and
all those ABK/Bethesda games will have to run on a Series S, whilst Sony can push the frontiers with the PS5 Pro et al.
I hope Microsoft does improve as it is needed for the industry but I’m coming to the view that Phil Spencer (and his team) need to be moved on for that to happen.
Re: PS5 Sales Surge a Frankly Flabbergasting 244% in Europe
They are selling so, so well: even with three positive Xbox showcases (although no real triple aaa games), Starfield and Gamepass, none of it is making a dent in PS5 sales - and Sony don’t even have many games out this year…
And fair play to Sony: I think they have improved every aspect of their offering from last gen. Hardware is superb and clearly superior to the series S (which isn’t fair on the S but as it has proven to be as popular as the X, consumers are now making that comparison between the PS5 and Series S more and more), decent optionals like PSVR and Q-Lite (upcoming), the dual sense is excellent, a digital and cheaper PS5 with no loss of software parity. I bought a PS3 (and own a PS4) recently for retro gaming purposes and man, the PS5 is miles ahead of the PS4 (and where Sony were before). Successful TV shows and movies. PS Plus has really improved; and their first party games have been excellent and high quality. Even 4K streaming is round the corner - how they have beat Microsoft there man, I have no idea…
Would like more ambition from Sony though, I do think they are playing it a little too safe at times? A lot of sequels and some new projects would be good to see.
Re: PS5's Meteoric Rise Underlined by Staggering German Sales Graph
@Max_the_German could not see banks supporting either Sony or Nintendo making acquisitions that size (ABK has a higher market cap than Nintendo, for instance). The market cap represents what the market assesses your value as - whether you have money saved doesn’t mean you can buy way over your cap limit. Nintendo allegedly do have a lot of saved (I don’t know how much, and no one does really), but I think they just want to sit on it and don’t seem too interested in acquisitions anyway. Also, they wouldn’t buy ABK because Nintendo would look at others way closer to them (probably Japanese devs/publishers - Square or someone like that?).
Sony, I don’t know. They seem to have money for acquisitions (maybe $5bill or so) but there is a limit on it (and Sony don’t just do gaming mergers there are also about other parts of the business): that money is for the whole business as well. No one likes because people want silly massive deals that will never happen but buying companies early and adding value is good strategy for Sony and has really worked out.
Re: PS5's Meteoric Rise Underlined by Staggering German Sales Graph
@Max_the_German sorry, but I’m not sure if that is accurate. Nintendo’s market cap is $55b; Sony (as a whole) is about $104b. Of course Sony are a larger company, they do more than gaming etc, (with all the electronics hardware they do). Not that it matters when compared to Microsoft anyway.
Neither Sony or Nintendo could ever afford ABK or anything that size - big tech companies like Microsoft are trillion dollar companies that can, and are in a completely different ball game. Tencent possibly could though. This is why Sony/Nintendo acquire smaller dev teams who are often starting out. The Bungie acquisition is the largest Sony have done and to my knowledge, I don’t think Nintendo have acquired a company that size either.
Re: Looks Like Quake 2 Will Target PS5, PS4 Later This Month
@GamingFan4Lyf yeah, it could be a possibility. But again, just think of how much money people have invested into the PlayStation eco-system over so many years? Personally, I would probably buy a PlayStation for that alone: access to old titles. And that audience will be humongous by the end of the gen: well over 200 million by the time the PS5 is done (which is like most of the console market). Catching up a little? Maybe. But the timing of Sony’s success has really helped them.
Microsoft could catch-up with good games but it won’t be ‘fable’ or ‘perfect dark’ et al, it will be ‘elder scrolls’ or blizzard-acti games (which a lot of people will buy on PC anyway). But the underlying sales figures of the consoles as it stands emphasise just what a big swing would have to occur to get ahead of PlayStation next gen. And the PlayStation games are likely coming mate, they are just being worked on and will be announced when ready. Sony are keeping their powder dry; that’s all. You don’t abandon strategies that your historical success is based on overnight.
Microsoft could become a secondary system - it is interesting but that’s probably not where they want to be at all. Sony do well because they appeal to casual gamers who only have time for one eco-system/console (players who play and like FIFA, call of duty, Genshin, rocket league etc). That’s what the acquisitions are about, getting that audience over to Microsoft as the place to play games (wherever that is console or a Microsoft PC platform). Sony are basically the Apple of gaming at the moment.
Re: Looks Like Quake 2 Will Target PS5, PS4 Later This Month
@Bentleyma it has a wicked multiplayer - the split screen was excellent. I was deadly with the railgun.
Re: Looks Like Quake 2 Will Target PS5, PS4 Later This Month
@GamingFan4Lyf good points. Agreed.
You know, I’m not sure the dial is going to move so much to Microsoft late gen, simply because of the digitalisation of gaming libraries - next gen (after 2027/8 or so?), Sony will have dominated two generations where people have bought digital games since 2010: man, it is going to take some mighty moves for that to shift, and it is going to take a long while from now. And it’s not as if PlayStation have got complacent either, or will sit there and not respond?
Ultimately, I think Microsoft are entering the PC space now much more, and will downplay the console side of it. That will work well with them but essentially both PlayStation and Microsoft will be in different parts of the market.
Re: Looks Like Quake 2 Will Target PS5, PS4 Later This Month
Loved Quake 2 on the PS1 - was one of my favourite games of that era actually. Very cool, very much enjoying all these PS1 games coming back onto my PS5.
With how large the PS5 audience is now (and growing), I think we will see some Bethesda titles popping up on PS5, if I am honest - especially remasters.
Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the Final Fantasy 16 PS5 Demo?
I thought it was technically excellent. It felt like a proper PS5 experience. And overall, super enjoyable - a lot of cut scenes though and I wanted to actually play the game a lot more. The combat was solid; not as chaotic as it looks on the trailers but I was desperate for some kind of dodge/roll (eg soulsborne/FF7 remake), I hope there is more variety in the combat a bit.
Not sure if I liked the darker tone of it entirely: it’s fine but I think prefer FF7 etc
But I played for two hours straight and was just engrossed the whole time, and I think I will buy it once I have saved enough.
Re: PS Plus, Game Pass Subscription Growth Has Totally Stalled in USA
I’m not entirely surprised. All anecdotal but I get the sense that a lot of gamers are older now (or at least in comparison to the 90s and 2000s), and that mean time becomes a bigger issue. Enthusiasts love these services but if you play 5 to 10 hours a week or so, they become harder to justify. It is probably better just buying and playing the game you like.
I’ve not renewed my PS sub recently (and have cut Spotify as well) in favour of just putting away £15 away each month to spend on stuff I like. Just makes more sense for how I consume stuff.
Re: Sony's Huge PS Store Days of Play Sale Is Live Now, Get the Best PS5, PS4 Deals Here
I think this will be the first time I don’t sign up to PS Plus for the year. I added up the backlog; 100 games across PlayStation, Switch, Steam and Xbox. It just seems silly to spend unnecessarily when I have plenty of games to play. But for those that are; ShopTo do good deals on PSN cards, you can get PS Plus Premium down to about £65 (which makes it £5.50 per month). It is very worth it at that price.
That last showcase didn’t indicate to me that Sony will have any good games coming to PS Plus from their first party if I’m honest: God of War: Ragnorok is the one now. And if they do, I’ll just grab a month of it. If they had brought the PS1 games regularly, I would have signed up in a heartbeat.
Re: PS Plus Premium More Popular Than Extra, 30% of Subscribers Upgraded
I am not surprised about Premium, it can get be obtained for a lot less than 95 quid (and you may as well get it if it is not much more than Extra). I paid 63 quid for a yearly round of PS plus premium and I bet many people have done similar: got it on a deal using discounted psn cards.
95 quid - I’m not sure I would pay that - but for 63 overall, it has been amazing value. I’ve played a ton of the PS1 games - especially loved Syphon Filter, Legend of Dragoon and Ridge Racer Type 4, and many of the demo’s too.
Re: 17 More PS Plus Extra, Premium Games Coming in Best Update Yet
@karlhendrikse lol and that makes okay? I think we are allowed to expect more, personally.
Re: PS Plus Extra, Premium Get 17 More Games Next Week
@Octane agreed. Imagine if Sony went full on day and date games on PS Plus - with both MS and Sony doing it, game sales would fall through the floor. And you are right, I own a series S and check out what is happening with MS, and it feels that audience is now just expecting through gamepass. And get annoyed when things don’t turn up there.
I think they need to make ownership more of a thing; e.g. if I have bought a game early and spent full price - could I get subsequent DLC at a reduced price, or even for free? They never will, people are buying a lot of games on the PS5 (lol I know this would never happen) but maybe Sony should be thinking in those terms a little if the trend to subs/cloud gaming does take-off? They stand to lose a lot if people stop buying games in future.
Re: PS Plus Extra, Premium Get 17 More Games Next Week
@TommyNL
It’s fine, we all get carried away mate (and we all do it). Oh absolutely - that’s why I was quite happy to drop £70 on a new game I really want to play. I don’t mind it being on there after a year or so on PS Plus, more I think it would good if Sony were a little more upfront so folk could make choices?
I agree: I worry that sub services are getting a little too good value and it makes a little bit of a two tier system-basically in that gamers that buy games quickly become a little disadvantaged. And it’s not great for devs either.
Re: PS Plus Extra, Premium Get 17 More Games Next Week
It’s fine, we all get carried away mate (and we all do it). Oh absolutely - that’s why I was quite happy to drop £70 on a new game I really want to play. I don’t mind it being on there after a year or so on PS Plus, more I think it would good if Sony were a little more upfront so folk could make choices?
I agree: I worry that sub services are getting a little too good value and it makes a little bit of a two tier system-basically in that gamers that buy games quickly become a little disadvantaged. And it’s not great for devs either.
Re: PS Plus Extra, Premium Get 17 More Games Next Week
@TommyNL I’m not going to argue or respond to abuse. Calling someone else pathetic because they don’t have the same view as you says is not appropriate, and says much more about you than ever will about me.
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for February 2023 Possibly Leaked Early
@WallyWest because they haven’t been upfront about when the game enters into a sub. Because they are inconsistent in how they do it; lol I’m very happy with HFW, it is a great game but that’s irrelevant in many ways as I would have waited if Sony had a consistent, clearer and transparent process when it came to when games get added to a sub. Put it like this: HFW cost £70 and my PS plus costs me £5.25 per month (amazon discounted rate): basically I don’t know if that is fair on folk who buy games straight away (for whatever reason?). Yet the developers rely on people buying games early and a year is not that long in a lifetime for a triple AAA game like HFW.
Anyway, I’m not really interested in arguing so don’t bother if that is what you are after.
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for February 2023 Possibly Leaked Early
@danlk1ng Yeah but this is problem though isn’t it? Like fans just defend these company through anything (not you at all). And actually, I think transparency is important. Where I think it is a bit dodgy personally because in comparison to gamepass or even Nintendo online, it’s very straightforward- you can plan to purchase a product or not but at least you are doing so knowing full well if that game is going to be added to some type of service (or not). That is not the case with PS Plus at all - it is a mystery box, which suits Sony. And considering they raised prices to £70, which was already egregious as it is - that lack of transparency is something I find problematic. And why I’ll stop buying their games if that’s how they want to play it.
I don’t have a physical PS5: and because of stock constraints I couldn’t get the disc-based one so again: it’s not relevant to me if it is cheaper elsewhere (and even then, the cheapest option would be to wait for PS Plus).
@WallyWest same here, I never buy new games but I loved HZD and made the exception. I’m a patient gamer all the way but it’s a little cheeky from Sony I think overall.
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for February 2023 Possibly Leaked Early
@danlk1ng well you are not me and I am not you. I spend a small amount on new games personally over a year - I could do a lot with £70 - I loved HFW but as I say, like I would have waited if I had known it is coming out on PS Plus, and I may do the same with all their exclusive games.
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for February 2023 Possibly Leaked Early
I know 365 days is a long time but it makes me question whether I should just wait in future. It is the lack of transparency about it that makes it slightly dodgy. Sony are unpredictable and haven’t articulated to consumers what they are planning with first party games: now it is a year (and some games get missed entirely). It adds a risk to buying any new game, and these games are £70 - that’s a lot of money right now to folk.