The Tuesday letters page tackles the possibility of a £1,000 PlayStation 6, with readers expressing concern that console makers are sleepwalking into a crisis of affordability. One reader, Cranston, warns that Sony, Microsoft, and Valve seem oblivious to the financial strain on gamers, pointing to early statements about high costs for Project Helix and the Steam Machine. 'What worries me is that these companies are just going to ignore all the problems... and pretend everything is okay,' he writes. 'They’re sleepwalking into a world where only the super rich can afford a new video game console and they’re not even trying to avoid it.'
Sony Copying Xbox: A Pattern of Mimicry
Reader Tim observes that Sony has long followed Xbox’s lead, from indie focus to expensive peripherals like PlayStation VR2, which mirrors the Xbox One’s Kinect. 'When Sony say the PlayStation 6 will go beyond the living room, I’m fairly sure they mean Xbox has an Xbox Series X-shaped fridge, Sony will have a PlayStation 6 shaped fridge,' he jokes. GC notes that it’s strange how often Sony copies Xbox despite PlayStation’s dominant position, citing the recent move to bring first-party games to other platforms.
GTA 6 Digital-Only Sparks Debate
Reader Magnumstache expresses disappointment over GTA 6 lacking a physical disc version, shifting his purchase from day one to wait-and-see. He hopes Rockstar will follow Larian Studios’ lead with a deluxe edition like Baldur’s Gate 3 Deluxe Edition, priced around £90 and including the game on two discs. 'A good compromise leaves everybody mad,' he quotes, referencing a Calvin and Hobbes strip. GC responds that digital-only saves publishers some costs, but they still pay retailer cuts and packaging for code-in-a-box, suggesting the primary concern may be preventing leaks.
Kirby Air Riders and eFootball Delight
Reader Rob shares his positive experience with Kirby Air Riders after initial hesitation, noting that the tutorial and story mode helped the game click. He praises the split-screen mode when enemies are turned off, but finds some tracks too narrow. Separately, he recommends eFootball Kick-Off! on Switch for £15, calling it 'one of the best football games I’ve played' and a steal compared to FIFA.
GTA 6 Characters: Memorable or Neutral?
Reader Michael Veal speculates on GTA 6 protagonists Lucia and Jason, expecting them to be morally neutral like past leads, except for Trevor from GTA 5, whom he avoided playing. He hopes for interesting non-player characters, citing the celebrity-obsessed elderly couple from GTA 5 as a highlight.
Digital-Only Risks and Refund Policies
Mark Matthews highlights the lack of refund policies on PlayStation and Switch compared to Steam’s two-hour window, making digital purchases risky. 'You may get lucky and get a one-time goodwill refund but overall Steam’s two hour refund window encourages me to buy more games on PC,' he writes.
Next-Gen Upgrades: Worth the Price?
Reader Paul C. questions the value of a £900-1,000 next-gen console, noting that current AAA games run at 60fps and 120fps requires a 120Hz TV, adding another grand. 8K 60fps would necessitate even more expensive displays. With a 2027 release and five-year development cycles, he wonders if the upgrades are truly needed, especially for a new Splinter Cell game likely arriving around 2032.
Nintendo Sets Positive Example
Reader sand03 praises Nintendo for raising base salaries by 10% and adding 300 employees over the past year, contrasting with Western industry woes. GC adds that the industry’s problems are mostly Western, especially if PlayStation is considered American due to its US-based HQ.
Reader Feedback on Star Fox Remake
Benjy Dog expresses a wish for more new levels in the Star Fox remake, even if the existing ones are short. 'Even if they didn’t want to extend any of the levels... surely they could’ve managed a couple of brand new ones?' he writes.
