Games Inbox: Selling Xbox Series X to get a PS5 Pro, Flappy Bird nostalgia, and Concord positivity-GameCentral-Entertainment – Metro

PS5 Pro – is it just misunderstood? (YouTube)

The Monday letters page is upset to hear about the trouble at indie publisher Annapurna Interactive, as another reader is impressed by Space Marine 2.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Mid-gen swap
I hate to be one to defend Sony over the PS5 Pro, because all the furore over it is completely their fault for the terrible way they unveiled it, but I do think people are missing the point of it. There are two types of people that are going to buy it: those that absolutely must always have the best graphics/hardware and those that don’t have a PlayStation already and are willing to pay a bit more to jump in with the PS5 Pro.

As has been pointed out many times by GC, this is not a big group of people. Less than 15% of PlayStation 4 sale were for the PS4 Pro and it’s clearly going to be that or less for the PS5 Pro. I’ll be selling my Xbox Series X to get one, not necessarily because I’m disillusioned with Microsoft (although they are doing their best to put me off) but because I often do that halfway through a gen – sell one console to buy the other and play its exclusives.

The PS5 Pro is more than I expected to pay for it but not so much that I’m not still going to get it. The problem here is not the console but the console manufacturer. As the Reader’s Feature said at the weekend, Sony feels out of touch, but I’d say they also feel tired. Like they’re not putting their full effort in anymore. I don’t know why or what can get them to turn themselves around, but I’ll still buy their hardware while it’s still the best way to play their and others’ games.
Gatsby

Nobody knows
So, this at least the second time we’ve had a story about how no one at Xbox knows what’s going on anymore than those of us outside the company. I wonder how much this is true at most other publishers? I can’t imagine Nintendo tells anyone in Europe anything until the last minute, and probably hides a lot from America too. Didn’t Reggie say the Game Boy Micro came out of nowhere, without Nintendo saying anything beforehand? I want to say they did that more that once too.

I doubt anyone at Sony knows what’s going on either. If the two new CEOs that took over had a big new plan they would’ve told us it by now, which means day one for them they probably had the infamous white board with ???? and ‘Profit’ written on it. Talk about lions led by donkeys, if this year’s unending series of disasters has done anything positive it’s to make me even more impressed that developers still manage to make good games, despite the chaos going on around them.
Gordo

Gaming milestone
I think Flappy Bird is the point at which I stopped understanding the games industry, at least fully. It was the first mobile game I was aware of as a major phenomenon and yet it was complete rubbish. Simplistic, brain dead gameplay and stolen graphics (from Mario no less!) and yet it was so popular the creator felt guilty and had it taken down.

And now we have the situation where it’s being brought back against his wishes and people are getting nostalgic about it. I have to admit, I was quite shocked when I learned it was already over a decade old, but I do wish people would get so passionate about games that are actually good. I know usually that would sound elitest but is there anyone reading this that would really argue for Flappy Bird being a worthwhile game?
Statler

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Be the change you wish to see
I was really pleased to hear an actual nice, positive gaming experience, from Adam West, about Concord this weekend.

Although I’m completely appreciative of all the terrible problems and stupid decisions in the industry currently, the Inbox seems to have been mostly full of repetitive, negative emails about Microsoft and Sony for a long time now.

It would be nice if it was more like 25% moaning, 25% pointless Nintendo speculation, and at least 50% chat about peoples actual gaming experiences, comments and queries maybe? (Unless your Inbox really is just mostly moaning these days?!)
Matt

GC: We can only show what we’re sent. Although we take your point, yours is essentially a letter moaning about people moaning.

Concord – some people liked it (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Niche product
My worry with the new PS5 Pro is that this is a way of testing the water to set a new benchmark cost for a console. I read a report that Microsoft are done selling the console at a loss, as it’s not bringing new gamers into the ecosystem system and people buying consoles are already gamers. With Samsung TV and Fire TV allowing you to play Xbox games without a console, are we looking at £800 plus next gen?

I could never warrant that amount. For me and my son, that would be £1,600 for just two consoles. I think it would be a massive own goal if they do and another round of redundancies, with people not buying new consoles or games designed for the new console. Worrying times on every level of gaming.
TWO MACKS

Change of plans
I think if Nintendo were in two minds about revealing the Switch 2 this year the PS5 Pro announcement may influence their plans. They have been presented with an open goal and don’t need to be Messi to score. As is often the case in business, timing can be everything. Nintendo will be weighing up losing Switch sales during the Xmas period versus capitalising on Sony’s blunder. Therefore, I would suggest a Switch 2 reveal next month has become more likely than not.

I previously thought there was no chance Nintendo would show their hand this year. But circumstances have changed. Xbox are doing their utmost to upset their fanbase. Whilst Sony have turned the clock back to 2006, with the reveal of PlayStation 3. Arrogant Sony is back!

I just feel it’s too much of an easy win for Nintendo. If Switch 2 is reasonably priced, as rumours suggest. Switch 2 will gain momentum without an expensive marketing campaign. I would go as far as to suggest a Switch 2 announcement is a no-brainer.
Si

Mega walkout
I’ve been a gamer for what feels like eons and I honestly feel like very little shocks me at this point about the gaming world. I have to admit the reports coming from Annapurna have shocked me a little – details are still scarce at the moment but the all the workers have quit en masse.

I’m hoping this is a sign of worker and union power finally stepping up to the mega corporations and I’m fully expecting others to take note. That’s certainly what I’m hoping anyway and if that happens it’s the best news I’ve heard for a long time regarding the cesspool that is gaming.
Chria

Indie calamity
It’s just been reported that all of the staff at Annapurna Interactive have quit after a breakdown in talks with the parent company.

This effectively means one of the biggest names in indie publishing is dead. It’s hard to overstate Annapurna Interactive’s influence in curating quality indie games and helping raise their prominence.

Almost every title they’ve published has been of astonishing quality, reflecting a company that knew how to choose the right projects to back with a great range and diversity in its portfolio.

I can’t begin to imagine the turmoil this will generate for developers who have upcoming games due to be published by them. It also leaves a massive publishing gap in the indie market, possibly for Devolver to expand into.

The games industry has been so chaotic this year, with job losses and upheaval everywhere. I hope the staff from Annapurna Interactive can set up their own independent publisher and become indie themselves, I’d certainly pay attention to the games they’d pick.
Euclidian Boxes

GC: It’s a very odd situation, quite different to the usual layoff stories. It’s not clear exactly how the dust is going to settle but the implication is that the Annapurna Interactive will continue with new staff and no current projects will be cancelled.

Inbox also-rans
I don’t get that Immortals Of Aveum story, why would you leave a job to follow the man that was responsible for such a disaster it nearly shuttered the studio after its first game?
Korbie

I’m so impressed by the graphics in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. I would love to know the budget and number of people that worked on it because I bet it’s nowhere near the same as some of the other $200+ million figures we’ve been hearing about lately.
Tati

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The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

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