The Thursday letters page thinks it knows why PS5 and Xbox Series X/S sales are on the decline, as a reader highlights a deal for 20% off Meta Quest 3.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Growing out of it
I have seen an absolute ton of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 ads in the last few days. I can’t go anywhere near YouTube or a games site without the screen being filled with images and videos. But I can’t say it’s working. Although I guess this one at least looks more interesting than last year’s I just can’t bring it in myself to care about the franchise anymore.
I’m not saying it’s doing anything particularly wrong, it’s probably just me. Even when I was still playing it, four years or so ago, the majority of other players seemed to be almost exclusively teenage boys, which makes me think that, despite the age rating, Call Of Duty is really just aimed at kids.
I realise I’m probably a bit late in realising that, but I don’t think it’s immediately as obvious as with something like Fortnite. But when you see how silly Zombies is now, and who all those ads are aimed at, it is kind of obvious. I’m not complaining, I’m just realising that it’s not for me anymore. Curious to know who else in the Inbox is still a fan.
Columbo
Lost opportunity
Sad to see what happened to the people at Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown but I’m not sure I attach any particular blame to Ubisoft. I saw a reasonable amount of marketing for the game when it came out, they did previews, and they had at least one expansion. At the end of the day, I just don’t think the game is that appealing to most people.
The graphics are kind of bland, the genre of Metroidvania is massively oversaturated, and it doesn’t actually seem to have anything to do with Prince Of Persia – you don’t even get to play as the guy the game’s named after.
It doesn’t matter if the game is good, if it doesn’t look interesting then people aren’t going to buy it. I didn’t. I think this is a good example of companies trying to push a franchise at the expense of the game itself. If it had had an original setting and characters, I think it would’ve done a lot better.
Klamar
Generational shift
I know it’s been going downhill for a while now, but I am still shocked at how quickly console sales for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are fading away this generation. If Microsoft didn’t have infinite money this is the point they would’ve just given up on making consoles but what is Sony going to do? If the PlayStation 6 dries up just as quickly, are we going to see the time between generations shrink and shrink?
And then sitting completely outside the loop you have Nintendo: the Switch is getting on for eight years old and it’s still outselling the Xbox in its biggest market. Unbelievable really.
I don’t know what to suggest about any of this, expect the obvious difference here is that Nintendo keeps supporting its format with lots of first party exclusives and Sony and Microsoft… don’t. Seems a pretty obvious connection as far as I’m concerned.
Focus
Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Big Two
Tin hat on: despite being initially apathetic to the idea, I am now a fan of PlayStation and Xbox releasing games on PC, and recently found myself wishing Nintendo did the same with their older back catalogue. Being able to buy a game cheaply from CDKeys or in a Steam sale has seen me double-dip on most PlayStation 4 and 5 games.
The games run well on Steam Deck overall (Spider-Man runs perfectly) and I can play them on any future PC/handheld PC with the knowledge that they should upscale nicely. I understand why Nintendo don’t do it, and they’re smashing it with Switch so have no reason to change, but I’d love to have the Big 3 all on one system and not have to dig out my older consoles.
They’re doing their litigious best to shutdown emulation on PC but maybe that points towards an untapped market? I think the crossover between console and PC gamers is minimal, as the majority don’t want the ‘hassle’ of PC (even the streamlined Steam Deck experience) so I can’t imagine it eating into console sales significantly. No downsides for me as it gives me options. For developers, they get to rinse a bit of extra money out of us on software and it must be worthwhile or they wouldn’t still be doing it.
Magnumstache
PS: A lot of the negativity I saw around Spider-Man 2 on PC was due to them announcing there’d be no story DLC on PC/PlayStation 5.
Quest for savings
Anyone thinking of buying a Meta Quest 3 headset, it’s 20% off if you buy from Very using Very Pay first order, which is their credit. Pay it off a week after it arrives and you will pay no interest.
Even if you already have a Very account, as long as haven’t used Very Pay previously it still works. (It’s not classed as a console, so it’s OK under their terms and conditions.)
Very keep sending my wife and I £50 off a £100 spend, which comes in useful for buying console games!
Also, use a referral link for £23 Meta Quest cash to spend for you and the person who referred you, to spend on games in Meta’s store. The link is here. Lots of Meta Quest Facebook groups have referral links, if you don’t know anyone with one.
Goldenlay
Virtual holiday
I did feel the sentiment of GameCentral‘s genuine suggestion, of asking the reader to answer the question of whether to purchase a Meta Quest solely to experience Batman: Arkham Shadow. I’ve spent thrice as much for the privilege of a rubbish 10-day holiday I couldn’t wait to escape from.
This puts things into perspective but sadly a depressing realisation that I’m more inclined to shut out the real world than open up to it. I’m more impressed by inhabiting a virtual world. I’ve been contemplating writing in with a weekend feature regarding this topic, but it is a nuanced subject that has to be addressed more succinctly than any submission I might contribute.
I’ve always been a massive VR fan, it captivates me and I wrote in the other day to express my pre-excitement/trepidation of playing P.T. VR on Dreams (which is amazing and I recommend anyone with the tools to hand to get involved).
Arkham Shadow will be played eventually by me, but I’m reticent to pull the grapple gun trigger just now. Maybe I’ll just book another holiday first before I take that particular plunge.
D Dubya
Bricked off
I agree with the reader about Lego City Undercover being great. Me and my daughter got bored of all the other Lego games quickly, as it’s the same repetitive stuff, but Lego City Undercover is different, so much to do and I like that it’s one big open world instead of lots of smaller ones.
It’s our go-to game and makes both of us laugh a lot, as it’s genuinely funny. Shame they never did a sequel.
Rob
GC: The problem is it was a timed Wii U exclusive, so obviously it never sold much on that, and then it was four years before it arrived on other formats. So, it was undoubtedly one of the poorest selling Lego games, regardless of quality.
Out of Control
I enjoyed Control quite a bit and Alan Wake 2 also, minus the combat.
But having just done my first play through of Silent Hill 2 I find it’s making me view those games’ narrative, and the Remedyverse’s story in general, with a more critical mind.
How Alan Wake 2 handled its story and narrative was very much the reason many scored it 9 or 10. The gameplay certainly doesn’t justify that score.
I would say how it presented that story does deserve high praise, with the musical bit an absolute gaming highlight, and would recommend playing the game for that aspect. But after playing Silent Hil 2, the mountain of lore Remedy is building with its shared universe of their games just feels like nonsense and waffle.
A bit bland too to be honest, for all its pretence to otherworldly weirdness and shenanigans.
Silent Hill 2’s emotional impact from a few scenes, from a few characters, is gut wrenching.
The game as a whole and the themes it deals with inspire a level of discussion about the human experience that’s up there with The Last Of Us’s ending.
In hindsight Remedy’s interconnected FMV cast speaking in riddles, and how it’s not a loop but a spiral, all feels a bit lame.
Simundo
GC: We will never understand the praise for Alan Wake 2. That 10 minute musical sequence is great but the rest is an absolute slog, as far as we’re concerned.
Inbox also-rans
After The Day Before, anyone that gives money to Fntastic deserves anything that happens to them. You must have money to burn if you join their Kickstarter.
Dale
Who would want a Rayman remake? That makes Until Dawn look like a must-have. Now, a proper sequel to Rayman Legends… that I would definitely be interested in.
Sofor89
Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
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MORE : Games Inbox: Batman: Arkham Shadow as the best VR game ever, Spider-Man 2 PC, and Smash Bros. 6
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