Gaming Industry

Physical is dying, it’s an unfortunate occurrence in this modern world we live in. Subscriptions are becoming more of an option or more of a certainty in some aspects. But that doesn’t mean that physical media is not still loved by countless players around the world. The likelihood is you’ve just become a part of the digital shift that is sweeping every generation of people right now.

We’re witnessing the change right before our eyes. When you see the retailer Game give up one of it’s biggest money makers in the used games sector. Leaving CEX as the only place, it’s just insane how fast this industry is evolving and we’re bearing witness to it. Bearing witness to a cultural shift in how we consume entertainment on all levels.

It’s like those days when us 80’s and 90’s kids were the first on the block of internet access. How much has changed is crazy and it’s an evolution that nobody is going to stop. Most physical games now have to be downloaded and most consoles need internet access. It’s a sign of the times people. Whether we like it or not. So how do we move forward from this? Unfortunately we have to embrace that change.

Now we’re coming to a time where purchasing things digitally doesn’t actually guarantee you actual ownership. This is happening on all platforms except for Nintendo. But we still don’t know how Nintendo Switch 2 will handle and what path it will take.

I will say, there is a slowdown in the uptake of subscriptions and they’re levelling off. But how long until the subscriptions become actually meaningful to people in gaming just as it has in music? When you get Ubisoft coming out and talking about the importance of subscriptions. These things come as a bit of a shock.

But then, we have to realise that we’re in 2024. The same momentum happened with digital. Could it happen with subscriptions also? Will it continue to grow? If Microsoft and Ubisoft are betting on it. Surely, it’s going to be about the content going forward. It’s going to be about enticing and changing behaviours. It’ll be interesting how things go in the future and who is right. Whether that be the industry or players.

Well, what a show that was. The thing I loved most about The Game Awards this year was just how fresh it was. I’ve mentioned previously how stale gaming has been getting with sequel after sequel or purposeless remakes. Of course, they’re okay when they’ve been MIA for a long time. One thing I will say though, innovation and a refresh had to be coming. And it just happened.

Mostly everything showcased the other night was something new from people that have worked on big games in the past. Now they’re back, but reinvigorating the whole industry with their creativity on video game projects of their own. This is so important. As I’ve also said previously, this is now the point where this generation is going to get a whole lot more interesting.

Personally for me, this is the turning point and with all these games coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S it’s looking like curtain calls for the previous generation. Add to that, the increases in people jumping onto this generation now. You look at the games in the pipeline and it’s certifiable because of how demanding these games are going to be to run.

I was very pleased to see Xbox and Nintendo do well. Alan Wake 2 winning was satisfying as well to see. I always like to see a great comeback and this was it. Fully deserved. No surprises on where the Game of the Year actually went. Baldurs Gate 3 might have not even been a thing if Google Stadia hadn’t gone the way it did. The fact that we as fans of these platforms can enjoy that game. Well, it couldn’t have worked out better could it?

The Last Sentinel will be the first game I focus on. But there will be a bunch of others as well. Others that all deserve a spotlight and ones that you’ve just got to be excited for. Even if we haven’t gotten any game-play. In fairness, there wasn’t much of that at The Game Awards. To counter that though, there wasn’t much time for anything including the speeches so it’s hardly the platform for big game-play showpieces.

Nevertheless, it’s going to be interesting to go in depth on some of my favourites.

It’s been a few days now since Rockstar were forced to release their trailer for GTA VI earlier than expected. It’s racked up over 100 million views in just a few days. Thinking about the time frame for its release. I think with PC not getting the new GTA at launch. This ultimately could mean PlayStation gets a better version.

How so? Well, I think with the PS5 Pro coming out pretty much before GTA’s release. It’s going to give Sony and Rockstar ample time to work on that version. A lot of the talk from the GTA community is about 60 FPS and if that would be possible in the kind of vivid world Rockstar creates. I think it would be on Sony’s mid-generation refresh.

On the Microsoft side, it’s going to be interesting if the Series X is capable of keeping up with this generation. This is based on the fact that we know that Phil Spencer is sticking with the Series X for the foreseeable future. However, with how Rockstar is I wouldn’t be surprised if all fans get what they want eventually anyway. It might just be a case of waiting. Especially as Rockstar are renowned for releasing multiple times on platforms.

Many of you on Xbox will be familiar with the name Free Radical. It developed the first ever game I played on an Xbox. Timespitters 2, it was something of a phenomenon back in the day. It pretty much has a cult following and a fan base that has wanted a comeback ever since. Of course, The Embracer Group now owns it and it’s in jeopardy of closing before Christmas sadly. Not something we want to hear as fans.

With all the great video games we’ve been getting this generation. A new Timesplitters might not be one of them. Unless of course, Microsoft or someone else takes the opportunity to save the studio. We really hope that will be the case. After all, this is people’s livelihoods we’re talking about. It’s not a good look at all.

A new Timespitters has been ongoing for many years now, it just hasn’t come to fruition and with this decision it sadly might never do. Unless somebody takes the opportunity to really save this studio and all the talented people there.

If ever there was a time for Microsoft to really grab hearts everywhere. Funding a new Timesplitters while also saving a great studio would be one of them. With the expertise Microsoft has now within Xbox Game Studios. This studio would fit right in especially with all the technology they have at their disposal. After all, who better out there with shooter genre expertise than the console that pretty much owns the best of them.

There was absolutely no chance I wasn’t going to highlight how great this game looks. Capcom has done a great job visually and by the looks of it they’ve expanded on the universe in a big way also. Dragons Dogma is a game that everyone should get into. The previous game has a cult following. The fact we’re getting a sequel now is testament to the power of all Dragons Dogma fans everywhere. Now it’s our job to support it.

I think the great thing about Dragons Dogma 2 is just how everything has seemingly been improved. Alan Wake 2 and now Dragons Dogma 2 all within a matter of months. Nobody could have dreamed that this time last year, really. This generation is starting to step up and we’re going into The Game Awards pretty blindsided with our expectations. But everyone is like, get tuning into that. Of course, I will be. Reactions will be following everything announced.

But getting back to our bread and butter here. Dragons Dogma 2 is the sequel we’ve always wanted. As I said in my previous written article. I expect this to be firmly competing for Game of The Year next year or at the very least best RPG. It’ll be in the nominations that’s for sure.

Obviously it’s great news, there is a hike in the pricing and I hope that doesn’t put fans off of supporting it. This is going to be the ultimate Dragons Dogma experience and what we’ve all been waiting over ten years for. I think having the late March slot and getting it out the way of February particularly for PlayStation fans is smart. For Xbox though, our focus will probably be on this release. It’s going to be a game that we all sink countless hours into.

Ultimately, what this all means is now is the time to jump on board this generation. I think if you’ve just bought a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X/S you couldn’t have done so at a better time really. It’s just getting to the point now where it’s getting serious in terms of releases. Which means it won’t be long until PS4 and Xbox One are left behind.

I expect GTA VI will convert the majority over anyway. But anyone who got in on the Black Friday sales and are now looking forward to Dragons Dogma 2. It couldn’t get any better really could it? Well, it might do at The Game Awards but we’ll have to wait and see what Geoff has up his sleeve for that one.

This generation is the generation of the remakes and returns. From Resident Evil 4 and Alan Wake 2 being Game of The Year contenders. To the impending arrival of the next set of remakes in Max Payne. The remakes and returns are coming fast. They’ve been dormant for so long for over a decade or more and yet here they are, coming at last.

Everyone is asking for the returns to their favourite franchises. I’d like to see a new Bioshock. Will it happen? I think so. I think with the success that all these games coming out right now are having. It’s a possibility like never before. The fact Dragons Dogma 2 is a go and is set to release early next year by Capcom. That’s a good thing in itself. The fact that it’s more of the same and modernised to the point of getting everyone into the tone of the game. I think it’ll be up there next year as one of the best games easily just because of that reason.

We’re now nearly half-way through this generation. I still believe that with all the success this is having. More is to follow. Players are really enjoying the fact that some of the best games are coming back. Dead Space Remake for example, on Game Pass right now is a great way for EA to look at engagement for fans. That could possibly result in a sequel.

So many great reasons why returning to games after so long is needed. Preservation is one thing, creating that world for a new generation of players is another. Of course, I think where it’s taken a little bit too far is when you have the likes of The Last of Us 2 coming out. Then again, people buy it.

There has always been a bias against Xbox. Ever since the Xbox One launch disaster. I have to admit, I wasn’t feeling that vision either and picked up PS4 at launch. One of the things we can agree on is that the Xbox One was ahead of its time. Read More

In the days where GTA 3 was one of the biggest games in the entire generation for its upgrade to 3D. There was an underdog in The Getaway that for many slipped under the radar. Of course, Sony has brought games back. Most notably would be one of my favourite games Medieval in recent times. So the question is. Could The Getaway make a comeback?

I think the likelihood under current Sony is slim. However, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility. The reason for that is sooner or later PlayStation suits in HQ will be looking at what they can bring back and how they can modernise it. To me, The Getaway seems like the perfect candidate. Because the two games they put out didn’t actually do that bad back in the day. This is definitely a franchise that Sony could work with and have massive success with.

When you think about it, Sony has a pretty nice relationship with Rockstar Games. Could we possibly foresee Sony doing something that Nintendo does regularly with some of its IP by outsourcing and putting that close relationship to good use? I mean, who is bigger to work with than the GTA maker. If you want The Getaway to make the biggest return possible. Why wouldn’t you work with one of the biggest developers in the world with one of the best selling games of all time?

I think out of all the games in PlayStation’s library of games. I am of the opinion this would be the biggest success. Especially, if Rockstar decides that GTA never goes back to London. I mean GTA is pretty much American culture right. It just works. So working with Sony on something like The Getaway. It isn’t really such a bad shout when you come to think of it that way.

If it did happen, it would definitely raise a lot of eyebrows for good reasons. I think this is exactly what Sony needs to get back to. Becoming unpredictable but in the best of ways with it games. We’ve kind of started to just know what to expect from PlayStation these days. That’s not a criticism. I just think there is an expectation from the fan base for Sony to mix it up a little and utilise its IP a bit more.

And what a way of doing it this would be. Could you imagine how big this would be, especially if it included its own version of what we know as GTA Online? It’d be a massive win for PlayStation fans. It would also signify Sony’s ability to make use of the many existing IP’s that many PlayStation fans are asking for.

Everyone is waiting for the next GTA VI. That’s indisputable. It’s been a long time since 2013 and going without a new GTA for almost two generations has been a long wait indeed. But what I will say is that things are moving along and all signs are pointing to it. We’re nearly in the middle of this generation and we’re almost certainly going to see something at some point. Patience is a virtue in this instance.

The thing about Rockstar Games though is that it’s pretty much been out of the spotlight for a while. When it comes back into it. I think we’re going to see a lot of questions from fans of Rockstar Games answered.

But the good news is that we’ve seen a lot of great comebacks this generation. If you look at Alan Wake 2. If you look at the pending arrival of Dragons Dogma 2. Of course, these are sequels and earlier I was moaning about the lack of creative prowess in the industry. That point does remain, but when it comes to franchises that haven’t been made for a long time. It’s kind of a different story with gamers everywhere, right? It’s all about the hype that Rockstar Games can create. That any studio can create utilising IP that haven’t had a sequel in years. The effects that it has in creating the right kind of response from fans is important.

We’re waiting to see what’s next from GTA VI. Most of us are even waiting for a revival in LA Noire. So don’t get me wrong, sequels do have their place. It’s just how they are utilised and how they can bring new ideas to the table over the longer period. The greatest example is how Rockstar Games utilises that hype machine. Which is why I’ve brought them into the equation here.

If anything, Rockstar Games is one of the best at doing that as well as the hype they create. It’s going to be interesting to see everything that Rockstar Games has been working on. I know like many of you out there how important these particular franchises are to us all.

But don’t be surprised if we see more from Rockstar Games very soon. More than just the initial franchises I have mentioned. Because there are whispers going around. It’ll be interesting if any of that has any substance to it.

Over night, we had news about there being a live-action Zelda collaboration with Sony. Bear in mind, this isn’t with PlayStation. This is actually in fact with Sony Pictures which is a collaboration that is going to be funded by the pair. This is great news. I think this is going to be something that gets a lot of people excited. It’s pretty much something that everyone has been asking for since the Mario movie dropped.

Sure, there may be some disappointment with the fact it’s not animated and there may also be some concerns about how they make it work. But what we have to remember is the people involved in this particular production know their stuff.

I think it’s an absolute win for both sides I really do. Nintendo for obvious reasons as well as Sony for the hype and obvious money it will make the pair. It really is a no-brainer.

So when will we likely see something become of this movie? I haven’t got a clue. I couldn’t tell you but my bet is that it will bridge the gap of the next release from Nintendo in terms of their next Zelda video-game on the next generation of Nintendo Switch.

Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, take the helm of this particular project. It’s no wonder then why the internet has really erupted with this news because it’s going to be interesting to see what form it takes. As well as how the story plays out.

The main thing for me is casting in what will be possibly Nintendo’s most important movie to date.