The Wednesday letters page questions whether gamers will buy a PlayStation 5 for Grand Theft Auto 6, as console sales drop 20% year-over-year. Readers also reflect on Sony's all-digital future and the surprising disappearance of Battlefield 6 from public discourse.
Console Sales in Crisis
A reader identified as Cranston notes that weekend features about the potential death of Xbox and PlayStation resonate deeply. "No one knows exactly how it’s going to play out, but console sales are 20% down in a year? That’s a complete disaster," they write. While GTA 6 might provide a temporary boost, the real concern is how much worse sales would be without it. Economic pressures and a lack of compelling exclusives are cited as key factors. The reader questions: "How many of you are going to get a PlayStation 6 day one, after everything that’s happened in the last few years?"
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake Success
Another reader, Mycain, praises Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced but worries Ubisoft will overcorrect with more remakes. They prefer new games focused on action and stealth rather than bloated role-playing mechanics. "If you’re constantly trying to get to another level then you need things that are higher level to fight," they explain, criticizing the endless loop of progression.
Emulation and Piracy Debate
Gannet argues that emulation becomes justified when companies abandon preservation. "It’s yet another example of ordinary gamers caring far more about gaming and its history than any of the companies that could make a difference," they state. They highlight that obscure horror movies often receive Blu-ray restorations, while video games vanish when servers shut down.
Physical Games as Investments
Bobwallett sees a silver lining in the all-digital shift: used game prices will skyrocket for collectors. "With all the digital only buyers, the chances of me owning a most wanted game should be fairly high," he writes, noting that Xbox collections may become particularly rare. He mentions Lollipop Chainsaw as an example of a game that spiked in value. However, the GameCentral editor counters that this positive spin ignores the rising costs for average consumers.
Nintendo Switch 2 OLED Rumors
Blintz comments on the rumored Switch 2 OLED model, suggesting Nintendo may price it high to make the base model look more affordable. "A dirty trick? Kind of but at this point if that’s going to be the worst a company does then I feel we’ve got off lightly," they say. They doubt complainers about screen blurring will actually purchase the upgraded version.
Sony's Digital-Only Future
Gorf reflects on the backlash against Sony's move to digital-only. While personally all-digital for years, they acknowledge the controversy as a symptom of broader dissatisfaction with Sony's generation. "Even if Sony did somehow give in to fans what would that gain them? An extra year of disc releases, that’s literally it," they argue. The reader predicts Sony will ignore the outcry, causing needless damage to its reputation.
Battlefield 6's Rapid Decline
Lewis expresses shock at how quickly Battlefield 6 has been forgotten. "Until your story on Tuesday, I’d completely forgotten it even exists," they write. Despite initial sales outperforming Call Of Duty, the game now faces content and player shortages. The reader notes that EA's desperation for a live service hit seems to be backfiring.
Player Morality in Games
Michael Veal ponders player morality after reading a review of D-topia. Citing Fallout 3, where he blew up Megaton twice, he questions whether in-game choices reflect real-world character. "I would love to see the data. How many players make bad/evil choices in games versus how many gamers are pure and righteous?" he asks.
Inbox Also-Rans
Futterman hopes Nintendo releases a new big-budget IP this generation, rather than relying on remakes. Clint notes that despite 30 years of gaming, he has never met anyone who plans Counter-Strike, yet it remains one of Steam's most-played games.
