Gaming Industry

This Year is Insane For Games!

This Year is Insane For Games!

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After The Game Awards, I needed a breather. It took my breath away just how ‘good’ we have it in 2025. Not only do we have GTA coming back for the first time in two generations. We have a Mafia in the same year, potentially a new Borderlands, and to be honest, we haven’t even mentioned what PlayStation and Xbox have. Nor have we mentioned how secretive Nintendo is being with the Switch 2 and the launch titles for that.

Could this be the biggest year in gaming potentially? We’re now at the halfway point in the generation of these consoles, and we’re going into a new generation of Nintendo. From my decades of playing video games and following news. I can tell you quite comfortably that we’re reaching the point where this generation is going to finally arrive on all fronts. I can also say that this generation will go into the next one. Just as the PS4 has gone into the PS5. The difference is going to be just how capable the hardware is going to be to power some of these games and the reason to upgrade to play them.

For most of the hardcore who want the best experience, it’s always going to be on the card that they upgrade. It’s also going to be about how they can keep the trend of exciting games coming to us to give us a reason to. This year is insane for games, and we’re in January and still have more to see that we haven’t gotten a glimpse of yet.

The Game Awards really was a great show and had some good reveals. If you would like to know which ones I enjoyed. You can check out the YouTube on the homepage. All in all, great stuff.

The Vibe of PlayStation

The Vibe of PlayStation

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With the news that PlayStation will be utilising more of its past IP. I think that’s a great thing, not because the modern stuff is not hitting the mark or anything like that, but because we love past PlayStation as much as we do modern. There was always something special about those PS2 days, however. For Sony, this could be the perfect opportunity for them not only to service the fans in the right way but to really embrace their past and how great that was.

After all, without PlayStation’s past and how successful they were and are now. It’s perfectly reasonable to say that the vibe of what PlayStation used to be is just as important as what they are now. If you look at AstroBot, fans are absolutely clamouring for gameplay that differs from the modern template of gaming. When you have the portfolio that PlayStation has, you simply cannot ignore it.

The reason for that is it’s content that is already there that is readily available to be utilised and remodernized for a new audience who will be able to experience and enjoy it as well. There is no doubt to me that none of their past library can be off the table here. Nintendo, for example, knows how to service its fans. The future is all going to be about the content. Who is best placed to be able to use it to best effect? That will be the defining thing here.

We’ve already seen Xbox look to Gears and do a modernised take on E-day. Then you have Fable coming back in the future that has a lot of momentum behind it as well. So the point I am trying to make here is who utilises this content the best from their past? It’s not going to really matter. Because ultimately, the fan service is there, and we all want that!

That’s exactly what you need as a platform to keep maintaining that momentum. Personally, I would love to see a lot of the old PlayStation classic games back. To name a few would be The Getaway and Killzone. It’s going to be interesting just how proactive Sony is when going into their past. You look around, and third parties are doing the same also. The success of Silent Hill 2 by Konami, with even more potentially on the horizon there.

I’ve always said that it’s about utilising your old IP in the right way. It’s about the right opportunity and the right developer being there to undertake that task. As we know, PlayStation has some of the best of that, and that’s the exact reason we should all be excited by this no matter what games come out from it.

If you have Sony doing this, the market leader. It’s only going to push the other two into more situations that allow for their fans to have something to cheer about as well. So bring it on, I say.

The PlayStation Experience on PC

The PlayStation Experience on PC

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Recent comments from Shawn Layden have put the future of consoles in doubt. Personally, I always think the hardware will be around but I think we’re going to see hardware that takes advantage of the cloud for it’s computing power a lot more. I think that’s a distinct possibility while also allowing local play because technology is changing all the time. I think we’re going to see a different form factor for consoles of the future.

We have already spoken about how PlayStation will be battling it out with Xbox for content. With the news that From Software is a distinct possibility for acquisition. I think what that tells us is that Sony is going to take advantage of the position they are in as the leading market leader. They cannot match Microsoft for cloud infrastructure but what they can do it match them for content. The industry is changing, we know gamers are enjoying more portable experiences these days. But at the same time, Sony’s ambition I believe is to finally get their console experience on PC.

I think the next step for PlayStation will likely see full integration of their platform on PC to match Microsoft’s ambition there. Sony already has PC gamers logging in, it’s going to be about how they better integrate that into their core experience. If anything, Sony will not want to be left behind if consoles are seen as tailing off in terms of usage in the future. Branching out is the best possible outcome for them because it allows them to take the PlayStation experience and maximize the reach of how far their content goes.

We’re still a way from this happening but I think Sony are already dipping their feet in uncharted waters.

 

Thank You, PlayStation

Thank You, PlayStation

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Can anyone believe that it’s been 30 years of PlayStation? It’s gone so quickly, and most of us have great gaming memories over the years. Especially having grown up with the platform since we were practically in the midst of greatness that the original PlayStation offered. If anything has been consistent about PlayStation, it’s that it’s always evolved with every generation, and I expect the PlayStation 6 generation to be no different.

So this is a thank you from us, the players, for all the great memories that PlayStation has brought us. It’s a celebration that even through some tough moments, the PlayStation brand is stronger than ever. All due to it’s unwavering commitment to it’s fans. You could say that PlayStation has benefitted enormously from the success it’s had in being a premium brand for gamers out there. However, it has always given us great enjoyment many times in our lives. For many, that’s priceless, which is why so many have stayed loyal to the brand.

Of course, PlayStation does things a lot differently now. However, it’s always looked to bring joy and a platform that meets the expectations of it’s fanbase. These days, with Sony’s commitment of getting back to releasing more single-player story-driven games every year moving forward. It’s a move that respects the traditions of what has made PlayStation as a brand so successful. It’s always about what the fanbase wants, and I think they’ve heard the fans loud and clear there. No other brand other than Nintendo has been as successful in doing that. That’s why these companies are in the positions they are in their respective positions in the gaming industry.

So where does PlayStation go from here? The journey continues, and I do think that we’re going to see a consistent array of games as we move forward onto the PlayStation 6. Sony themselves have already said as much. But as we’re seeing, there does seem to be a sea of change happening in the gaming industry. Not only with new hardware but with the way PlayStation wants to reach more fans.

There seems to be no price that PlayStation fans themselves will rule themselves out of when it comes to new hardware. Not only has the PS5 Pro sold well, but a poll recently even stated by fans that the price of an upcoming Sony handheld wouldn’t be that important to them. I think if anything, that just shows how different the gaming industry is now. You have PlayStation that is offering these premium products. But also, I see potential in the way other companies are stepping in to fill the gap to provide value. I think everything has it’s place, no matter if it’s cloud gaming or a subscription model. These are just other revenue streams that give fans options and provide affordability to those that just want to play.

I think that’s incredibly important moving forward that we still get those options and that competition. As the industry continues, this hobby of ours is getting more and more expensive. If anything, the way these companies have operated recently shows that growth is of the upmost priority for all of them. We’re heading into a generation that is going to be incredibly important for the industry as a whole, in my opinion. I feel as though it’s going to be the moment where engagement and not hardware sold is the most important thing for game studios and their developers. That’s why exclusivity is becoming less important to some. And others, they’re creating other opportunities to play their games as to promote buying the hardware.

I think about how successful all of this will be for each company. It’s going to be about the games. It always is about that. PlayStation has shown the path to how successful you can be if you meet the expectations of your fans consistently. As has Nintendo. It’s always about doing the right things with not just your platform but also the content themselves and providing a balance on what that content is so as not to piss anyone off. Nine times out of ten, if you do that well. Then, as we’ve seen over 30 years of PlayStation. You become the main go-to platform around the world, and almost everything in the relationship with the consumer becomes a success.

PlayStation has been instrumental in my life of gaming and getting through some tough moments. As it has many of yours as well, I’d assume. I think if that says anything, it says that there is always a place for us all away from all aspects of this reality that engages us into a sense of real escapism, and sometimes one platform can do that more for you than any other. But if your playing, then your already winning. It never truly matters what platform you are playing on, as long as you meet that mindset.

Thank you, PlayStation. From us all, most importantly to every single person out there that works on a videogame no matter what platform they’re working on. We’re all in this together, and that’s what makes this industry so exciting, no matter if you’re creating or playing. It’s contributing to the success of an artform that is becoming more and more important than ever before to everyone. And that much is clear.

Are PlayStation Going All Premium?

Are PlayStation Going All Premium?

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It’s not long now until 2025 is upon us. Not only do we have The Game Awards to look forward to. There seems to be a lot of optimism around the gaming industry about how big 2025 could be for Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. Today, I am going to get into just where I think the focus is going to be in the future.

Nintendo is going to launch the successor to the Nintendo Switch. This is going to be a big moment for them. We’ve learnt recently that PlayStation will be joining the handheld market again. We’ve spoken about how Nintendo would have to ‘compete’ for third parties through better hardware of it’s own handheld. That seems like it’s locked on to happen now. Not only is Xbox in the process, but with PlayStation getting involved now as well. That is a big momentum shift for the industry as a whole. As we know, PlayStation is much loved in the same way as Nintendo. The PlayStation Portal did very well in Japan. So much so that they pushed ahead with the development of their own competitor to the actual Nintendo Switch.

There is no doubt that the future of gaming is portable. It’s in your hand, and it’s on the go. Especially with the younger generation of gamers. We already know what Nintendo will offer and why it will do incredibly well in Japan based on the success of it’s predecessor. The interesting thing is how Sony supports the handheld this time around and how serious they are about it. If they are serious about competing on that front. We’re then going to see competition in this space like you’ve never seen before. What is going to be interesting is how each makes the most of that. We know Nintendo’s whole platform for a generation has been around portability.

I guess the most interesting thing about all three will be how it moves the handheld tech forward. How it improves the longevity of battery life, and almost certainly, what the content outlook for each will look like as well. We know that Nintendo already has the experience of a generation that has been incredibly successful. So they have that on their side, and of course their incredible IP. I think the outlook for all is promising for their own merits. There is now an audience there who want to see this level of competition. The interesting thing as well will be if PlayStation stays in the VR space. I think the success of their new handheld could be an interesting indicator of if they continue with that.

In 2025, we’re going to see a strong PlayStation for games again. I believe Nintendo will be back with a great successor that ushers in it’s continued strong presence in the market for handhelds. I also believe that it could also be a great year for Xbox fans for what Xbox Game Studios is going to offer, and cloud gaming is more than likely going to improve further.

I foresee PlayStation coming back to the handheld market in a big way, and I expect an OLED screen to be a part of that as just one of their features. We all know how Sony likes to create a premium product, and it has had a very strong impact on the console with that way of creating products. If we look at the success that the PS5 Pro has had. It has sold well. It even did well in Japan as well. This tells me that Sony will move forward to make their next handheld a premium experience. Whether that’s reflected in the price will depend on how competitive they want to be with Nintendo and how much ground they want to make up.

In terms of content, 2025 is going to be a big year for all platforms, I believe. We’re really going to get a sense of where the industry is and how it moves forward from some of the difficulties it’s entailed recently. Great games are on the agenda for all, and there is no doubt competition on all fronts will continue to grow. This is an industry, as we know, that competes to make each other better. When it does that, the true winners are always certainly us.

Good Games Always Matter

Good Games Always Matter

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I think what is well known out there is that good games will always win the hearts of players everywhere. I feel as though we’re at a point now where it could be interesting for Xbox. They have Avowed and Indy coming up, and they’ve really been coming out with great things being said about them. If Microsoft can keep that kind of momentum going into the future. They stand a great chance of being in a good place going into the next generation.

Xbox has had a ‘good game’ problem. If they resolve that in their own way by utilising their own studios in a way that meets the full potential of each. Then we could have some cause for celebration on the Xbox front. It’s, of course, what most Xbox fans deserve. The mantra that everything is an Xbox is something that I believe is going to only benefit that situation. Being able to play Xbox games and that are up there with some of the industries best. Having Xbox at the table again on a consistent basis is going to be extremely important.

It’s all about Xbox getting into that headspace, really. Even recently, the previews for the new Fable have impressed. Of course, the proof will be when everyone has that game and they’re playing it themselves. I do, however, sense an air of positivity in the sense of the creative ambitions of the studios. It’s going to be really interesting if that resonates with the audiences in the future as much as PlayStation Studios games do for PlayStation. If Xbox find their own sense of identity, it really could be game-on for them.

I mean, the key thing here is. You can play them anywhere, and you have instant access via Xbox Game Pass. That has to factor into a lot and if these games start coming more consistently. Nobody can limit the potential of that for Microsoft or Xbox, for that matter. No matter where your actually playing them. It will not matter. Because all that matters is if the games are good.

Xbox Determined to Keep Growing

Xbox Determined to Keep Growing

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Acquisitions, who do they actually help? Because when a studio or publisher is acquired. The only people that are hurt are the people working on the games (redundancies). To the gaming industry and its fans. News can be exciting when it fits a fanboy narrative about who is better. However, with exclusives becoming less relevant it’s not really as destructive as we think from the basis of how it’s interpreted by fanboys of each side anymore.

The fanboy narrative is ever closely becoming a thing of the past. So, there is that benefit! It’s just everything else is treading murky waters in regard to the impact of it all for those that actually matter in all of this.

It’s something they will continue to keep doing anyway because it fits the purpose of their engagement and growth targets. It fits the purpose of making Xbox Game Studios and in particular Xbox Game Pass, the best possible place to play games. However open Microsoft want to be about bringing its games to PlayStation the only winner here is going to be Microsoft in the long-term. They really have the gaming industry pretty much in the grip of their hands.

Sure, the optics will say that PlayStation is getting all the games from Xbox, but the consequences and long-term strategic view is something that anybody can see. If you’re asking, what do you mean by that? Well, I believe that Microsoft is playing the long game in pretty much everything it is doing even if it’s losing on hardware at this moment.

It’s acting as a business, and in an industry that is super competitive. But ultimately, we can all see that Microsoft and the direction that Xbox going is much larger than what all other platforms are doing put together. Time will tell just how large and how much an impact their decisions have when they make further decisions on who to buy.

What a Mess

What a Mess

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We haven’t brought much focus to Manchester United lately. How do I feel about the situation there right now? Okay, so I believe Amorim is the right manager for us. I believe it was the right decision to let Ruud leave or be let go. However, I am at the point where I just don’t understand what we’re doing.

One moment we’re backing Erik Ten Hag. We bring his signings in, now there are talks that some players do not fit the structure of the team. Even reports that they might not be ‘good enough’ for the Manchester United shirt. It’s just a right mess at the moment. The club really needs to get a grip. The new management appointment now has all eyes on INEO’s and how they recruit henceforth.

The club has been ruthless, and you have to be to get where you need to be. There however, has to be an acceptance that ‘it’s going to take time’. We’re at this point now where if this doesn’t work out, we just need to keep going with it. We need to stop making recruitment mistakes when signing new players and ship everyone out that’s not contributing enough.

There has to be a stance at Manchester United that the club is bigger than anything else going on in the dressing room. We cannot continue this cycle; it just can’t happen. Everyone is of course excited about the Ipswich game. However, the proof is going how consistent the support is from above to the new boss Amorim. This is what’s going to dictate the future course of this football club.

My take really is ‘wait and see’ because it’s not going to be just the new boss that needs to get a grip on things.

Exclusives Becoming Less Relevant

Exclusives Becoming Less Relevant

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With the news that Phil Spencer has said that there are no games off the table when it comes to Xbox Studio games coming to PlayStation. I think if that epitomizes anything is that hardware is not the focus anymore the engagement is. This is just a move that’s going to accelerate that and open the platform up to new revenue streams. That means that the way we know Xbox is going to change next generation.

The way it changes will be interesting, but we all know that they’re opening the platform up not only to PlayStation but Nintendo as well. It’s sort of a universal paradox that’s happening in the gaming industry where exclusives are becoming less relevant and it’s going to be something that continues as it suits each company. We’re even seeing games from PlayStation going to PC. Sure, the strategy is different, but the message is the same. It’s all about getting the games that developers create to the biggest audience and any console platform shouldn’t be a hurdle in that.

I don’t foresee Nintendo picking up this strategy with its own exclusives. I think they’re too important and Nintendo loves to ‘protect’ its IP. However, I don’t see why in the future anything is off the table. After all, there is a new leadership and a new vision. However, as I said with what I wrote before. It’s going to be absolutely key that Nintendo positions itself strongly with the next generation Nintendo Switch 2 so it can take advantage of this as well.

Personally, I couldn’t be more excited about where gaming is going for the new generation out there. Further growth is the aim now in an ever-increasing competitive industry.

 

 

Return of the 'Powerful' Nintendo

Return of the ‘Powerful’ Nintendo

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Nobody knows exactly what the specs of the Nintendo Switch 2 are going to be. However, not a lot of people are going to be ‘that’ bothered. The reason for this is the original Switch has killer software. Nintendo has been kingmaker in regard to how it’s utilised its IP. If Nintendo does the same with the Nintendo Switch 2. Then expect to see even more success. However, I do think that the return of the ‘powerful’ Nintendo beckons.

One of the reasons why I think the Nintendo Switch 2 will be substantially more powerful now is because of the competition. There is a lot more handhelds out there now vying for your attention. I think where Nintendo will come in with the Nintendo Switch 2 will be interesting. Because ultimately, it’s going to want to be powerful enough to compete in a market where third-party support is going to be critical to the long-term viability of the platform.

Now, I am not saying we’re going to see the biggest leap in handheld technology from Nintendo. You can all chuckle at that. However, do expect something that is competitive because it’s getting into the ring with many other handhelds. Handhelds with many feature sets. Of course, the Nintendo IP will sway the majority as well as backwards compatibility and playing your games at better ways performance wise. That’s going to be Nintendo’s priority going into a new generation where everyone is going to be vying for your screentime.

That and the fact that it’s obvious that Nintendo has to make sure that it has a product that people are going to be happy with. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we see various things from Nintendo that make it even easier for you to ‘play your way’.

No Reason Why This Won't Happen

No Reason Why This Won’t Happen

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Last year, I spoke about Kojima and Xbox’s horror game being able at some point to be played on PlayStation. It seems that PlayStation and Xbox are a lot more in sync than they used to be. There is a shift in how profitability is put ahead of exclusivity. That basically means we’re going to see more exclusives become less exclusive.

That also means that there is going to be a lot of leeway on where you can play your games. It’s one way gaming companies are coming together. This is to appeal to a new generation of gamers. A lot of us have been around since the 90’s. We’re considered the old guard now among many gaming companies. Also, to an extent, this means that there is now a focus on approaching ways that not only serves players but also increases the profitability margins.

This is exactly what we’re seeing unfold right now with PlayStation. Sony aim to serve those that love single-player games. It has a commitment from 2025 that we will get a new game every year from PlayStation Studios. That’s a commitment to the hardcore audience. Also though, there is also a commitment to the casual players and those that wish to play live service games. In that sense, there is money to be made and it’s showing.

Everything around the platforms right now is about adaptability and reading where the future of gaming goes next. It’s not just about appealing to ‘some’ it’s about appealing to all. It’s this drive that is clearly working for Sony.

What’s interesting is how Sony’s and Microsoft’s plans differ going into the next generation. How they decide to serve their player bases, and it means that more games will go to other platforms when ready and vice-versa.

Nintendo Provides Positive Affirmation

Nintendo Provides Positive Affirmation

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On the day where most are grim on the future of America and how that is going to impact democracy as a whole and people’s fundamental rights for wellbeing that they’ve fought for their whole lives. One thing you can be quite happy about is that Nintendo are here to make you smile were sadly many have been let down. Of course, politics should stay out of gaming, and it will on this website. I feel though, that it’s probably the biggest decision that has ever happened in American history. A decision that’s always divisive and not in a good way. However, let’s get onto Nintendo with all that being said and done.

Nintendo has made the right call on its own future. The Nintendo Switch 2 has been officially communicated on as being backwards compatible. That is essential because everything is going to come with you. The energy you have put into making Nintendo Switch a successful platform has been seen and heard by those at the top of the table at Nintendo. It’s these types of decisions that are very healthy because it proves that Nintendo at least with this decision are making the right moves for the successive platform.

That’s absolutely key because in generations prior Nintendo hadn’t kind of learned that. This generation with the Nintendo Switch has kind of ushered in a platform that is going to be primed on what Nintendo has done well and stability of the platform. Why is that good news for you as Nintendo fan? Because seemingly the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be a spec up on its previous iteration but at the same time is going to be the successor that focuses on everything a Nintendo fan could want out of it. So yeah, it’s a very important step in a world where there are seemingly more handhelds coming into competition with the Nintendo Switch, even if indirectly as such. Nintendo will be absolutely primed to be able to sell this console on its own terms and focus on what it’s good at that will accelerate the popularity of this even more based on those right calls.

Making the right decisions for the Nintendo Switch 2 out of the gate. That is a great way to give fans ‘hope’ in a world which has become quite bleak to many presumably in and out of gaming.