The Wednesday letters page sees readers weigh in on the declining console market, with sales down 20% year-over-year, and whether Grand Theft Auto 6 can reverse the trend. One reader, Cranston, notes that while GTA 6 may help, the core issue is a lack of compelling games and consumer confidence. He questions how many will buy a PlayStation 6 at launch given recent industry turmoil.
Assassin's Creed Remakes and the Bloat of RPGs
Reader Mycain expresses enjoyment of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced but hopes Ubisoft doesn't overdo remakes. He prefers new games focused on action and stealth over the leveling systems that encourage bloat. He argues that constant leveling creates an endless loop that feels manipulative compared to player-driven exploration.
Emulation and Piracy as a Response to Abandonment
Gannet writes that while he usually opposes piracy, he cannot bring himself to care when companies like Sony abandon PC and physical media. He notes that ordinary gamers care more about gaming history than corporations, contrasting the preservation of old horror movies on Blu-ray with games that vanish when servers shut down. He questions why fans should respect rules when publishers show no regard for preservation.
Physical Games: A Silver Lining for Collectors
Bobwallett highlights a positive aspect of the all-digital future: used game prices will skyrocket for collectors. He owns Lollipop Chainsaw, which spiked in value, and predicts his Xbox collection will become rare as the platform lags behind. GC counters that this positivity comes at the cost of affordability for others.
Switch 2 OLED Rumors and Pricing Tricks
Blintz comments on the rumored Switch 2 OLED model, suspecting Nintendo will price it high to make the base model look better. He views this as a dirty trick but notes it's mild compared to other industry practices. He wonders if complainers about screen blurring will actually buy the improved version.
Sony's Digital-Only Shift: The Spark of Discontent
Gorf notes that while he went all-digital years ago, Sony's abrupt move has ignited broader frustration with the company's behavior this generation. He believes most people are not deeply bothered by the digital shift itself, but it has become a flashpoint for accumulated grievances. He predicts Sony will ignore the backlash and cause further self-inflicted damage.
Battlefield 6 Fades from Memory
Lewis observes how quickly Battlefield 6 has been forgotten after initial hype, contrasting it with Call of Duty. He points to reports of insufficient content and player counts despite EA's heavy investment, suggesting a live service failure.
Player Morality in Games
Michael Veal reflects on moral choices in games, citing Fallout 3's Megaton destruction. He wonders how many players make evil choices compared to righteous ones, acknowledging that such actions in fiction don't reflect real-life morality.
Inbox Also-Rans
Futterman questions whether Nintendo will launch a big-budget new IP this generation, while Clint notes he has never met anyone who plans Counter-Strike despite its dominance on Steam.
