Consoles

The Pokemon Company’s CEO thought the Switch would Fail

Published

7 years ago

September 6, 2017

We cannot stress enough how much of a success the Nintendo Switch has been for users worldwide. However, a lot of people (Myself included) were cautiously optimistic about the console. This really isn’t news, considering the questionable decisions made for the console like returning to Motion Controls and the battery life. Both of these topics are still somewhat talked about.

The president of the Pokemon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, thought the Nintendo Switch would be a failure before it was revealed. “I told Nintendo that Switch wouldn’t be a success before it went on sale because I thought that in the age of the smartphone, no one would carry out a game console,” Ishihara said. “It’s obvious I was wrong.”

We’ve all learned that a console can sell so long as users have enough reasons to buy it. The fact that it’s a hybrid between portable and home console is more of a plus rather than the main feature. If there’s something to be learned from this is that Nintendo can do some amazing things.

“I came to realize the key to a successful game is quite simple: software with absolute quality leads sales of hardware,” Ishihara continued. “Playing style can be flexible if the software is attractive enough. Currently, it’s popular among the early adopters, but there needs to be one more step to attract a wider audience. I see more potential in Switch, but one shouldn’t overestimate its potential.”

Remember when I mentioned that I didn’t cover the Sonic Mania DRM because it didn’t really affect the core game? This is pretty much what makes a great game stand out even while it has an anti-consumer system in place. Of course, the game also needs to be exclusive to the console so much so to mitigate issues regarding availability in different consoles.

It’s no secret that the Switch has pulled off such amazing numbers, so much so that they are number 1 in Japan once again. And that’s because they have some of the best IP’s as exclusives; Splatoon 2, The Legend of Zelda, Xenoblade 2 and other great exclusives are giving the Switch the edge it needs for it to succeed.

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Consoles

Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year

Published

9 months ago

January 10, 2024

Zach Riley

PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.

With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.

While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.

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Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

Published

10 months ago

December 6, 2023

Zach Riley

A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

We updated system software security
We improved system software stability and performance
Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

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Consoles

Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Version Will Help PS5

Published

10 months ago

November 30, 2023

Zach Riley

Belgian developer Larian Studios’ work on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Series S version will improve performance on all platforms, including PS5. The game’s fifth major patch, expected to launch this week, will include upgrades and new features. More details will be revealed later today.

Director of Publishing Michael Douse says PS5 performance improvements may be the “least exciting thing” in the title’s next update, so it sounds like a big one. Larian Studios employees are proud of “finally” implementing tweaks, fixes, and changes, Douse says. Later today, we’ll bring you all the Baldur’s Gate 3 update details.

Those who reached the RPG’s third act have reported technical issues during the narrative’s conclusion, especially in co-op, so today’s update should fix them. New features like a permadeath mode are expected, along with Xbox Series S optimization fixes. What else should be added to the game?

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