I know how much you like columns in which I encourage you to discuss. Recently, I wrote a text in which I indicated that Insomniac Games might be now the best development studio in the world. Although the vast majority of the article was criticized in my opinion, many of your arguments were interesting and substantive. As expected, the comments were dominated by Rockstar Games, Naughty Dog or Sony Santa Monica, and you often mentioned various Japanese producers, for example From Software. There is nothing strange about it, these are teams that, after releasing a game, count hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues and know their profession very well.
I hope that there will also be many different comments under today’s text. This time I will present five reasons why PlayStation 5 is still not available for purchase in stores. Of course, I also take into account pandemic problems, limited availability of semiconductors or global difficulties with the production of electronics, but these are not the only obstacles that make the PS5 disappear at an express pace even from auction or advertising portals. I bought my copy myself in this way, and my order in one of the stores has been carried out since September 2020. Until today I am waiting and I do not know if I will ever live to see it. In January, my friend placed an order for PS5 in the largest electronics retail chain in Poland. He did not receive the console until July 28.
5. After great games on PS4, people expect exactly the same on PS5
Well, probably everyone who bought a PS4 and had contact with this equipment could not complain about the excellent quality of exclusive games. The whole series started with Bloodborne in 2015, then came the amazing-looking Uncharted 4, and then the bag of perfect exes opened. God of War for some is a disadvantage of the spirit of the entire series, and for me it was a perfect example of a properly implemented refreshment of a well-known brand. The Last of Us II, although controversial, still has no competition in terms of technology or the way the story is conducted. Even Days Gone or Ghost of Tsushima found a lot of fans because they are great productions. When Sony announced that a sequel to the former would not be created, a petition was created, signed by nearly 130,000 people.
No wonder that Jim Ryan, which I criticize, does not have to be afraid of a drop in revenues and even his poorly thought-out decisions are not able to discourage people from using this equipment. The greatest value of each console are games, which Microsoft brutally found out when switching almost entirely to Kinect in 2010. Crazy Don “TV” Mattrick is still considered an icon of the defeat of the Xbox division and probably will never be able to wash off this dirty, gray stain.
4. PlayStation has much more positive associations today than Xbox
That’s why PlayStation is your first choice. For many Poles, it remains synonymous with the console. We go to play the “plejak”, we hear about it in songs or personal songs of rappers, and people interested in sports can often see how footballers throw photos of PS5 salons under their TV sets. He sees Xbox much less in these circumstances. It does not mean, however, that it is not there. Thanks to Phil Spencer’s successful decisions, the brand is slowly regaining its former glory, and the recent E3 fair has shown that it does not intend to lay down its weapons at all. The upcoming Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5 or Halo: Infinite this year have a chance to attract millions of new players to the green camp.
I wish this, because only with clear competition we can count on a breath of fresh air. The announced Contraband or Redfall are extremely intriguing, and STALKER 2 looks phenomenal. The big investment in ZeniMax is also important. Games from Bethesda, led by Starfield, will sell millions of monolithic Xbox X Series, and it must not be forgotten that the Xbox Series S is a technical masterpiece and an excellent console for owners of Full HD TV. Either for kids or as a Game Pass player. I have quite a mixed opinion about this service, because on the one hand it is fantastic, on the other hand there are a lot of productions there that do not impress with their quality. Something for something.
3. Shortages in stores are also the fault of global problems with the availability of parts
Unfortunately, there is still a huge problem in the world with the availability of semiconductors and this will not change soon. We definitely have to be patient by the end of the year, but in 2022 a lot of new technologies for PCs and cars will make their debut. They all use similar electronic parts that someone has to produce and deliver. Global logistical problems, a pandemic, production limitations among factories and staff shortages have significantly delayed thousands of orders that now need to be made up, and more are arriving every week. It could take up to 2023 to straighten out this mess, according to Intel.
While demand for the PS5 remains unchanged, players are eagerly awaiting replenishment of their inventory. Some people buy Xboxes for lack of choice, but US ones are also impossible to get. In Poland it is a bit better in this case. I will not mention how many people have not got their graphics cards yet, and the most affluent ones often spend several thousand zlotys more just to get their GPU and maybe … start digging. Because problems with accessibility are also the result of the work of tens of thousands of miners, which is related to the growing Bitcoin price. Here is such a curiosity – do you know that if you invested $ 1000 in this cryptocurrency in 2011, today, after ten years, you would have over $ 116.4 million in your account? Just saying. It’s a pity I didn’t do it myself.
2. Exclusive games and proven brands are of key importance
Needless to say, PS5 wouldn’t be so successful without some great exclusive games. Sony started with a big bang, serving a very successful remake of Demon’s Souls, plus Spider Man: Miles Morales, which is considered by some to be a great addition to the “one”, as well as a great family Sackboy. The next exas also conquered the market, led by the fantastic Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and the very successful Returnal. It’s only been 10 months since the launch of the PS5, and here we have already received at least four exclusive titles. There is still Deathloop ahead of us, which promises to be at least intriguing.
Probably the next part of Horizon will not come out this year – then we would have a real pogrom. But it’s still a successful year for PlayStation 5 owners. Astro’s Playroom, pre-installed on each console, perfectly shows the capabilities of the controller and is a very successful production, but of course – tiny and not significant. Destruction AllStars or Godfall are also mediocre. Sony guaranteed at the beginning of the generation that it would deliver the largest number of exes in PlayStation history, and looking at the first few months, it looks like they will keep their word. We still have mystical Ken ahead of us, although it is an indie production, in addition from creators who specialize more in film animation. Players are looking forward to the next, announced God of War, the next game from Naughty Dog or Gran Turismo 7.
1. This is truly next-gen gear with an innovative pad and a controversial look
Despite the fact that I am a big fan of the new Xbox, both the stronger and the weaker, seeing XSX and PS5 in the store and not having a clue about consoles, I would think that PlayStation is stronger and newer. It just looks like that. It goes to some, others cannot even look at it. I got used to it, although my initial feelings were very mixed. Today, when I look at this equipment live, I can appreciate the craftsmanship of engineers. Mounting the SSD requires a bit of effort, and the drive could be a lot quieter, but fortunately the console does not have a tendency to overheat and does not climb to the ceiling of the jet taking off, like the first PlayStation 4 models.
In addition, Sony very effectively presented the advantages of the new DualSense controller, which is much more comfortable not only in terms of ergonomics. It has a new, more futuristic design, haptic vibrations and adaptive triggers that make a huge impression. It is impossible not to be delighted with such Astro’s, especially when we sit down to play this game for the first time. Similarly, we are very happy to move the Lombax in the new Ratchet & Clank, where you can feel every change of surface on the pad. Sony also released excellent wireless headphones – Pulse 3D, which in exclusive games add amazing quality and change the reception of a given production. The sound coming from them is great, actually spatial, and players from all over the world appreciate this product very much. Check how they sound in The Witcher 3, which is not adapted to them, e.g. after entering an inn. Fairy tale!
In its advertising campaign, Sony approached the presentation of the equipment very selectively from the very beginning. Nothing was shown, until finally, when the PS5 trailer crashed, the whole world could not look away. They did everything right. We already knew about Xbox and its appearance over a year before its premiere. He did not arouse such excitement, and building tension is something that the Japanese know like hardly anyone and have proved it many times. I am happy to read your comments here. What do you think about it, have you already got your PS5 or are you planning to buy this console in the future? I encourage you to discuss! Speak soon!
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