The Tuesday letters page questions whether Microsoft's Xbox reset can succeed after a significant price increase, while another reader criticizes Nintendo's new Direct format. The discussion also touches on Valve's historical console support and the broader challenges facing console gaming.
Xbox's Uphill Battle
One reader, using the name Xane, expressed skepticism about Xbox's future: "I’m not sure what anyone can say about Xbox now, after this latest price hike. It almost seems like a joke, except it’s not even a little bit funny." They argue that the recent price rise makes it hard to imagine anyone buying an Xbox, unless they are "an ultra casual gamer, who has heard absolutely nothing of what’s going on."
Xane further doubts the effectiveness of Microsoft's 'reset' strategy, stating, "Gears Of War: E-Day is never going to make its money back, nobody wants to buy an Xbox anymore, and definitely no one wants Project Helix if it costs £1,000." They conclude that it's time for Microsoft to admit defeat and for another company to provide competition to PlayStation.
Nintendo's Direct Strategy Questioned
Another reader, Porko, questioned Nintendo's one-Direct-per-game approach: "I’d be curious to know if this one-Direct-per-game approach is working for Nintendo, because it definitely isn’t for me." They note that they used to watch all general Directs but now skip those focused on specific games they aren't interested in, such as Fire Emblem or Splatoon Raider.
Porko argues that this strategy might be counterproductive: "If Fire Emblem was in a general Direct I would’ve watched its bit, but now I’ll never have any idea what it’s about. Surely encouraging people to get interested in things outside their comfort zone is very much in Nintendo’s interest?"
Valve's Console Love? Not Quite
In response to a previous letter, reader Simundo defended Valve's track record with consoles, listing titles like Half-Life on PlayStation 2, Half-Life 2 on Xbox, and The Orange Box on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. They also noted the Portal Companion Collection on Switch in 2022.
However, GameCentral's response was skeptical: "If that’s showing love, we think Valve needs to upgrade their romantic aspirations." They pointed out that apart from the Switch port, the most recent of those releases was 14 years ago.
Console Gaming's Uncertain Future
Reader TWO MACKS expressed concerns about the industry's direction: "I just don’t see how it’s going to work. They make a console so expensive that very few can afford it and then the cost of making a game for the new console, which won’t sell well as few have the console, is never got back." They also noted that their son and his friends have migrated to PC gaming due to cheaper games, predicting "the end of console gaming."
