The Friday letters page features a surprisingly mixed reaction to the GTA 6 extended look on Netflix, with one reader lamenting the death of physical media.
Mixed Reactions to GTA 6 Extended Look
One reader, Euclidian Boxes, praised the graphics, calling them "Best. Graphics. Ever." and expressed astonishment at the level of detail, noting that it would be difficult to improve further given the time and cost involved. They speculated that GTA 6 might end up having the best graphics of all time, asking, "Who else is going to spend $3 billion making a video game?" However, they found the lack of narration odd, making scene transitions seem random, but described the final bodyguard sequence as "could've been its own movie!"
Another reader, Gantz, offered a more lukewarm assessment, saying the graphics were good but the gameplay looked identical to GTA 5. They criticized the car conversations as lame and expressed disappointment that there was nothing surprising, questioning whether a "Die Hard knock off in 2026" was the best Rockstar could come up with in 13 years.
A third reader, who did not provide a name, called the extended preview "dull as dishwater," criticizing the pacing, weird cuts, and a mix of cut scenes, missions, and slice-of-life activities. They felt the needle drops didn't land and the game seemed neither stylish, funny, nor fun, comparing it unfavorably to Nintendo's 2017 Zelda: Breath Of The Wild trailer as an example of how to sell a game effectively.
Pricing and Pre-Order Concerns
Magnumstache noted that several upcoming releases are launching at reasonable price points, with Star Wars Zero Company, Control Resonant, and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy all having RRPs under £50 and decent pre-order discounts on physical editions. GameCentral agreed, noting both Zero Company and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy are out on the same day at relatively low prices and are both great games.
Simundo advised against pre-ordering digital games months in advance, noting that Steam and Xbox offer refunds within 14 days of purchase and with less than two hours of playtime, but Sony offers no such policy for PSN. They suggested Sony should match Steam's and Xbox's refund policies, especially as they are removing the physical option where customers could recoup most of their money.
Leaks and Industry Concerns
The Dude Abides downplayed the GTA 6 leaks, saying they are easy to avoid and will make zero difference to sales. GameCentral responded that only Rockstar is upset about them, but the situation is "extremely peculiar."
Bobwallett lamented the move away from physical media, recalling the VHS, cassettes, and cartridges of the '80s and the floppies, CDs, and DVDs of the '90s, and warned that if a big company like Sony leaves gaming and switches off servers, everything bought after 2027 would disappear.
G4RBO predicted the games industry is heading into a nosedive, possibly repeating the 1983 crash, citing the 25th anniversary Xbox's putrid green color, Sony's all-digital push, and the GTA 6 Netflix premiere as a trailer for a Hollywood movie. They expressed nostalgia for the Sega and Nintendo wars, saying the industry had a more positive vibe then.
