A reader expresses concern over the delay of the new Tomb Raider: Catalyst to 2028, noting that fewer people seem to care and there is little online discussion despite decent trailers. They reflect that it has been eight years since Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, and the series may have lost fans due to the reboot trilogy not feeling like classic Tomb Raider. They question whether nostalgia for the original gameplay will be enough for the remake to succeed.
Ad-Based Streaming and Switch 2 Concerns
Reader Gantz comments on ad-based streaming games, suggesting that five minutes of ads at the start can be easily skipped, making it a great deal for users but terrible for advertisers. They wonder if ads might appear during pause screens, which would be jarring in a medieval game like The Witcher.
Menson doubts Nintendo would miss the chance for a special edition Switch 2 for Zelda: Ocarina of Time or the 40th anniversary. They find it odd that Nintendo's big Christmas game could be a 28-year-old title unknown to younger fans, and note the Switch 2's second year lineup seems weak, with hopes pinned on unannounced games.
FIFA Pricing and Remakes Sales
Paul C. describes the £140 price tag for EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Plus edition as mind boggling, though acknowledges it may be worth it for FUT enthusiasts. He notes recent football games have been poorly received, and he prefers older titles like PES 2016 and FIFA 17 which are cheap on disc.
Another reader, Focus, reflects on a list of best-selling remakes, noting that The Last Of Us Part 1 sold well despite seeming pointless to hardcore gamers. They are surprised that Dead Space sold over 4 million copies despite EA calling it a flop, and conclude that companies sometimes make sensible decisions and sometimes crazy ones, but what gamers want often doesn't align with profit motives.
PSN Outage and Indie Games
Kimble criticizes Sony for handling a PSN outage by saying nothing, leaving customers in the dark, and feels Sony acts like a Victorian era toff. They lament that Xbox is not a viable alternative.
Alucard highlights two indie games on Steam: Rubinite, a dark fairy tale action-adventure similar to Zelda: A Link To The Past with Soulsborne combat, and Dive Or Die: Children Of Rain, a Lovecraftian survival game set in a flooded world where players manage oxygen, sanity, and health while exploring depths and making dark decisions. They praise indie gaming for offering unique experiences without the pressure of mass sales.
Inbox Also-Rans and Reader Comments
Korbie wonders if Microsoft might cancel Forza Horizon 6 for PlayStation 5 due to lack of mention since exclusives returned. Toad hopes for an Assassin's Creed 2 remake after Black Flag's success, but GC notes only the first game has been rumoured.
The letter page concludes with standard disclaimers and invites further emails.
