I want to believe

This upcoming XBOX 25th Anniversary is a big deal. I want to believe that this is going to be the event that really kick starts a comeback of sorts. And you know what they say, each step we take is progress. The same can be said with the XBOX momentum. They’ve seen some XBOX fans return to the platform of late because of the changes not only to reverting the Game Pass price back but also listening to the fan feedback.

In a sense, the pendulum can swing back into any platform’s favour if you give the fans what they want. Of course, I am not saying Sony aren’t doing that but they’re a westernised version of the PlayStation I knew prior to 2020. Their exclusive uptake by the Sony fanbase is in free fall with sales down.

Is this a sign of burnout or the same sort of games? That’s anyone’s guess. If we look at the competition. Sure you’re seeing franchises like Fable return. You’re seeing Gears of War going back to its roots. However, there are always surprises along the way and a risk to do something new and fresh.

That was the Sony of yesteryear. In fact, one of my favourite games was a game that Sony seemingly dismissed from having a sequel made in Days Gone (a new IP). I thought Sony Bend deserved a lot more respect than they got with that one. Obviously, different tastes and all that, but when you consider that I have played through every Sony console since the beginning and the majority of their best exclusives and franchises that really resonated with the Sony fan base in the PS3 and PS4 era.

I am not lying to you when I say that what Sony are currently doing just doesn’t resonate with me in any way. I am just being honest about the situation there that’s spanned across this whole generation in fact.

I am never going to defend any given brand. What I will do is praise the ones that are starting to turn a corner and call the ones out when I think what they’re doing is not in line with what we’re used to. Like Sony’s complete disdain for their competition with 48 hour pointless exclusivity windows that only hurt other fans’ ability to play a game.

If you don’t know what I am talking about. It’s Remedy’s Control: Resonant. Sure, it’s 48 hours. I can wait, I am not that bothered about it, but it’s the principle of the practice, and it’s a show of absolute desperation by Sony. Keeping games off other competing platforms isn’t the win that you associate with the platform that they think it is.

It’s actually the exact opposite, and I understand why Sony does it. I really do, but when XBOX are basically supporting Sony’s platform with their games, and then, they go and do that. It just makes you think doesn’t it?

I mean, Phil Spencer’s wish was for everyone to be friendly and get on and share the games and all that lot. But now, I think things are going to get really interesting at XBOX, and if they had any sense at all, they would take the competition to Sony. I do not think anybody, not even Sony fans would complain. Especially the ones that have been there since the beginning, and see them as a shadow of their former glory. The gaming industry sorely needs a kick up the arse, and XBOX might be the ones to start it. If there’s anything to champion. It’s that.

Hopefully, XBOX’s 25th Anniversary is one truly ‘for the players’.