A reader expresses deep frustration with the current state of the console gaming industry, particularly targeting Sony and Microsoft for what they perceive as a lack of care for games and their customers. The reader, writing under the name Trespils, notes that despite a strong lineup of highly rated games in 2026, the industry's headlines tell a different story of impending crisis.
Industry in Crisis
The reader points to Sony's recent decision to go all-digital, coinciding with the closure of PlayStation 3 and PS Vita online stores and the forced removal of purchased movies from consoles. Meanwhile, Microsoft is expected to announce thousands of job losses and multiple studio closures. The reader argues that competition between console makers, once a driver of innovation, has disappeared, leaving Sony with a near-monopoly and no incentive to please fans.
Loss of Passion
The reader contrasts today's corporate-driven approach with past eras when companies like Sega and Nintendo spurred each other to improve. Now, hardware is identical across Xbox and PlayStation, and killer apps are rare. The reader accuses executives of lacking passion for gaming, stating, "These soulless suits could’ve got a job anywhere, at any corporation, why’d they choose games if they’re not going to even pretend to care about the business and the art?"
Anti-Consumer Practices
The reader criticizes both Sony and Microsoft for pretending to listen to customers while ignoring their wishes, such as the demand for more single-player games over live-service titles. The digital-only push and removal of purchased content are cited as examples of treating customers "like dirt." The reader concludes that gaming has become merely a way to extract money, with companies no longer hiding their true intentions.
Despite the grim outlook, the reader acknowledges that Nintendo still seems to care about games, though even they have stumbled with the Switch 2. The feature ends on a somber note, with the reader questioning whether getting into gaming was a waste of time, echoing their mother's long-ago advice.
