The Friday letters page explores the purpose of pre-ordering GTA 6, as another reader praises 007 First Light. Games Inbox collects reader letters, comments, and opinions. To join the discussion, email gamecentral@metro.co.uk.
First Chance
Now that we know when GTA 6 pre-orders will go live, the relentless ads and stories are about to begin. I'm excited for the game but not the surrounding circus. Normally, nobody needs convincing to buy a game like GTA 6, but the truth is there are no games like it, and maybe never will be again. Many people don't even know GTA 6 exists yet, but once they hear about the 'biggest entertainment release of all time,' they'll get interested. They'll need that hype and advertising to get there, and then they'll get caught up in pre-orders. But what's the point of pre-ordering? I did it for GTA 4 because it sold out everywhere on launch day, but by GTA 5, times had changed. Now most people download it. What do you get from pre-ordering a download? They won't run out of stock, and the only bonus is a cosmetic you use for five minutes. It's more a badge of honour to brag about loyalty. I don't like the concept, and while it makes little difference for GTA 6, I dislike publishers pushing you to pay before you know what the game is like.
Name Your Price
I don't think GTA 6 will cost more than £70. There's no need. Right now, practically everyone has an interest in the game, even out of curiosity. But raise the price even a little, and those not super keen might change their minds. The sensible option is £70 for the standard version and £100+ for deluxe editions. If they include interesting extras, they can charge whatever they like for those, and plenty will buy them. But keep the standard version standard to avoid upsetting anyone and bring in the less committed. We'll see.
Turning the Tanker
I'm not sure why getting Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 onto PlayStation 5 was a priority. You'd think Activision would want to forget the series after last year's poor reception. It makes me wonder if the next game in 2028 will be Black Ops 8. Given how long new games take to make, if they started that one before Black Ops 7 became hated, there's not much they can do except ride it out. If I were them, I'd change the name and remove ties to previous games, but who knows how much work that is. I'm interested to see how this year's game goes and the fallout.
The Right Heads
I feel off speculating when so many jobs are on the line, but I wonder what will happen to Bethesda during these Xbox layoffs. Not Bethesda as a whole, but the developers. Their output has been rock bottom since Fallout 4, and Starfield wasn't the expected success. Sharma has complained that The Elder Scrolls and Fallout need to come out quicker, and while she hasn't criticised Bethesda directly, she's probably not happy. But what does she do? Cut staff? That won't speed things up. Get rid of Todd Howard? Most problems are likely his fault, but execs rarely pay for their mistakes, plus he was involved in the TV series. I don't know what she'll do, but if heads roll, I hope they're the ones that caused this mess, not the poor grunts blamed for it.
Dear Super Play
I know this letter is 35 years late, but I played the Mega Drive version of Ghouls 'N Ghosts on Nintendo Switch Online recently. The difference between this and the SNES version is vast. The SNES version is far superior, not just graphically but in sound too. Getting one up on Mega Drive owners was the ultimate kick for me back then, until I was labelled a hypocrite after buying a Sega Saturn due to the N64 being delayed.
Death of the High Street
That morsel of GTA 6 pre-order news made me think back to buying earlier instalments in physical game shops. It was always fun buying a physical copy of a highly anticipated game on release day, but picking up the latest GTA was the pinnacle of the launch day experience. I never queued late at night, but I recall Vice City and San Andreas launch days, seeing physical copies stacked behind the till. I don't know if supermarkets will have physical copies of GTA 6 at launch. Some bigger stores might. We've lost something since it's no longer imperative to visit a shop on release day. Delivery by post or downloading is so convenient that visiting a store would seem retrograde.
Pro Power
Regarding Steiner: I have a PS5 Pro, and honestly, it's really good. The graphics are fantastic. Is it worth upgrading from the standard PS5? On December 24th, I'd have said no, but my wife bought me one for Christmas, and I love it. I really like the bigger 2TB SSD, so I don't have to delete games often. PSSR 2.0, what more could a gamer want? If GTA 6 is better on the PS5 Pro, which I suspect it will be based on other games I've played, I'd upgrade now. Yes, it's a lot of money, but it's a lot of power.
Bond Is Back
007 First Light is hands down the best James Bond game since GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64. It possesses a similarly maverick spirit that I can't get enough of. First Light replicates everything I love about Ian Fleming's creation, from the classical signature style of its impetuous yet charming protagonist, innovative gadgets, and memorable social engineering moments, to high octane action and grounded storytelling. IO Interactive should be commended for reinvigorating and modernising the debonair character of the world's most famous fictional secret agent. Bond's origin story is delivered with cinematic verve and confidence. The way tutorial sequences both instruct and immerse the player in Bond's prodigious talents is inspired. First Light consistently surprises and delights me even 12 hours in. Some set pieces set the bar for similar cinematic games like Uncharted. It's a strong contender for my game of the year so far. I'm so glad this game has ended up an unmitigated hit.
GC: It's a great game, but calling it the best James Bond title since GoldenEye 007 is an extremely mild compliment.
Inbox Also-Rans
I think the oddest thing about that Final Fantasy 14 business is the idea that Japanese people optionally pay part of their taxes to their local area or a completely random one. If it works for them.
I love that the GTA 5 civil servant story didn't actually have anything to do with GTA. They were using it to see what ordinary people were like, regardless of the game. Unbelievable.
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The Small Print
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