The Friday letters page asks what's next for Nintendo after Zelda: Ocarina of Time, as one reader questions how big a hit God of War Laufey will be. Readers discuss recent sales figures and the future of first-party games.
Sales Figures and the Next Big Nintendo Hit
One reader, Prof. Blue, appreciates that Nintendo always makes its sales figures public, even during difficult periods like the Wii U era. They note that Sony does not always release figures, and Microsoft has not released a sale figure for anything in over a decade.
Looking at recent numbers, Star Fox has sold 1.17 million since late June, which the reader describes as "okay." Nintendo clearly wants to bring Star Fox back as a major franchise, but it is unclear if that is enough to greenlight a brand new game. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave has sold 1.34 million since its September release, which seems strong given its higher price point. Splatoon Raiders, released in July, has already sold 2.42 million, though the reader questions why Nintendo did not simply make Splatoon 4, given Splatoon 3 sold over 11 million.
These are all considered B-tier franchises, along with Metroid, Kirby, and Xenoblade, which are already announced for next year. Pokémon is also expected next year, but it is not technically a Nintendo game. The reader asks what will be the next A-lister, noting that while some suggest Super Mario, there is no proof or strong rumours to confirm that.
Concerns Over Elder Scrolls and Sony's First-Party Lineup
Another reader, Bobwallett, shares mixed feelings about the next Elder Scrolls game. They loved Oblivion and earned all achievements, but found Skyrim a slog and gave up when Dark Souls came out. They have Starfield sitting untouched because people remain unimpressed even with updates. The reader hopes the new game, Sentinel, will be a lot better than Skyrim and that Bethesda will work to make it worth playing and fun.
Regarding the God of War Laufey delay, Colin says it is hard to feel too upset, especially as it is not very long, but worries if it was moved just because it was a busy month. As a Sony first-party game, it should be what other games get out of the way. The reader notes that while the quality of Sony's first-party games is usually up to par, most have not sold that well. God of War Sons of Sparta, Saros, and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls all came and went quickly this year, and Marvel's Wolverine does not look like it will match the Spider-Man games. If Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet does not do well, the reader can see Sony rethinking its whole approach.
Indie Racing Gems and Other Reader Topics
Kurt Lewin highlights two indie racing games from this year. Super Woden: Rally Edge is their current game of the year, praising its isometric view and pitch-perfect handling for arcade rallying, plus a campaign that evokes PS1 rally games. Parking Garage Rally Circuit recently received DLC based on European car parks, evoking Sega Dreamcast vibes, with real depth where anyone can beat bronze medals but gold requires mastery. The Windsor-based level is a highlight.
Focus reflects on Rockstar's history, noting the same developer that made Lemmings also made GTA. They miss when Rockstar did different things, but would not want a sequel to L.A. Noire. They would be interested in a Bully 2, though the original was only half a good game. They think the only hope for something new is another open world game like Red Dead Redemption with a different theme, such as pirates, sci-fi, or fantasy, and suggest Rockstar would have been perfect for a Game of Thrones game.
Marc offers a critical view of the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, saying a mostly 1:1 redo is not enough when other remakes push the envelope. They enjoy the weaponised nostalgia in Resident Evil 4 remake and the way Final Fantasy 7 Remake bends player knowledge, but imagine if Nintendo did that, there would be riots. They worry about Nintendo's direction with a second slavish remake in a year, paired with the Mario movies. The GameCentral team responds that the remake exists partly as an alternative to Breath of the Wild, which reinvented the formula, and that a remake in the 40th anniversary year is not the place for innovation, especially as Nintendo has indicated the next mainline game will be completely different.
freeway 77 shares excitement about obtaining a foil-covered version of the Zelda remake on release day, noting the queue and the upgraded Hyrule Town. They suggest amiibo could offer more, such as a chance to play Master Quest or open closed doors in Castle Town, and comment that Princess Zelda needs better security for the space year 2026. The team responds that people get angry about amiibo offering anything but small cosmetic extras, but they are not opposed to Master Quest DLC in general.
In other notes, Simundo mentions Silent Hill f is discounted on PSN at £15.39 until the 20th of the month, which the team strongly recommends. Nick The Greek asks about Link having a jump button in the remake, and the team says it complicates things for casual gamers but makes no difference to experienced players.
