The Front Row

Enter Xbox, a platform that has everything to prove and has the finances to back any project it wants, with the level of ambition that the game’s creator wants to go and create—and you have the perfect partnership. Let’s not forget, this is Hideo Kojima developing a game that was going to be the hallmark title for the PS6, potentially.

Now, could Sony somehow be proven right not to fund this project? Of course they could. But at the same time, these were the big moves that old Sony were making that really elevated them to where they are now in the gaming industry. You now have Asha, who is making all the right moves, and she’s doing so in a way that really highlights the ambition that Xbox has going into the next generation. Some gamers will call it ambition and some will call it stupidity. What we have to recognise here, though, is that this isn’t a new developer who hasn’t had a renowned franchise in this genre before.

I said something similar a while back: if Xbox can use their might to fund game projects that people will love, they will regain some level of appeal with the fans. Now, I am not saying you’re going to dethrone Sony, but what you are doing is setting your brand—Xbox—on a course of doing the right things. When you start doing that, you’re going to create all the right kind of momentum.

The art of this game is just beautiful and so is the reimagining of a title where seemingly nothing has been taken away from what made it a magical experience in times gone by for fans that were there day one with the Nintendo 64.

Nintendo is going all out to celebrate the franchise with this one. Not only are Nintendo collaborating with Sony on a Zelda movie. There is a special Nintendo Switch 2 console that’s been designed specifically for the occasion. A somewhat extra surprise that we were expecting here. It’s selling out though, as expected.

I think the important thing to disclose is the fact that there’s a physical version of the new Zelda game. One that will be on the cartridge and it’s launching just two weeks ahead of the new GTA VI.

Ultimately, I think what this proves going forward is that other Nintendo games could potentially look as good as this one. When you go with realistic art but get the tone and aesthetic so right. It just goes to show what can be achieved and why we all should continue to be excited about what’s to come.

As such, I actually believe that this game has a lot of promise even if it’s in early access right now. I think back to the earlier days of Assassin’s Creed and how the original title was. With Assassin’s Creed 2, Patrice really perfected the vision in a way that felt as complete as it could get for its time. I truly believe that with time and resources the same could potentially happen for 1666: Amsterdam and its subsequent sequels.

Hunting witch hunters called ‘The Originals’ when under the moon and being able to turn into a cat. It all sounds epic. It’s probably the most ambitious game and it’s being done entirely independently under Patrice’s own studio Panache Digital Games. It’s no small feat, and I think there has to be room for understanding in terms of it being a work in progress. Even so, what this potentially could be is one of the most exciting new IPs that have come around in a while. The fact that it’s from the original Assassin’s Creed creator and his team. That should be enough in itself to keep you hooked on how this one turns out over time.

The way we’re being run it’s nigh on impossible to have the kind of success that the fans expect. Even if we get a good result against Manchester City. We’re not the team of the Fergie days where we could go back-to-back and win five in a row anymore.

I mean how long has that kid been waiting for a haircut now? In all seriousness though, let’s put things into perspective. We had a level of success last season which the board were very happy with. We haven’t built on from that, and we certainly haven’t given Carrick the tools to be ambitious in putting his own blueprint on the squad.

I sometimes look at what we’re doing and I do not recognise a style of play. It’s just not there. I mean, the two goals we scored against Everton were moment chances and individual brilliance. If you look at what Arsenal are doing. They’ve further strengthened their defense with a view to shutting everyone out.

Of course, it takes time to build a team but I do not have much confidence in what we’ve invested in this summer.

I actually think our recruiting was nowhere near ambitious enough. You can talk about the reasons why and that we did the most we could in terms of funds. How are you ever going to be ambitious if you’re constantly having to treat your transfer dealings as secondary?

Especially in line with what the fans expect in terms of ambition to go and win an actual title? We’re still treating our current squad members as assets. If you want to know what I mean by that. You only have to look at how that defensive line-up hasn’t been changed in four years, nor has six of our senior squad.

That’s embarrassing. So when ex-players turn around and they say the club wanted to proceed to do things but they couldn’t because of the budget. They’ve had many other years to get the house in order. We’re stuck at this moment in repeating the same mistakes and Ralf was very much onto something when he got the boot. We’re never going to be a serious club under this board. That’s my belief.

Our ambitions are being weighed down by the ambitions of a board and ownership that are putting profits and dividends at the top of the table. It’s no longer Manchester United. It’s about how they can keep the status quo just ‘good enough’ in terms of results so that the fans do not kick off in numbers. I said last season that third was good but it wasn’t something to be over ecstatic by.

Two pivotal managers in our club history would agree. We need a manager that not only delivers on a style of play, but has the full backing of the board to deliver the change we need.

I want to believe in Carrick, and I want us to do well. However, knowing what I know in my head, and what I know in my heart are two very different things. You may call this article highly critical. I call it tough love for a club that needs to remember what it once was and how it got itself there.

Could we see either Bayonetta or Astral Chain. I mean, these are just some of the ones I am putting out there and we haven’t seen Platinum Games in a while. Some rumors are pointing to a new Smash potentially, and that’s something that could certainly be feasible. Whatever we get, I personally believe it has to be a big Direct this close to one of the biggest launches in the gaming industry just to steal some sort of hype away.

I think Zelda is going to have something else potentially as well and that could mean our first actual look at game-play. It is already going toe-to-toe with GTA VI. When every publisher has been moving their games out the way. Isn’t it amazing when you have an IP that you know people are going to go out and buy anyway.

Either way and whatever your expectations with this one. Nintendo is really starting to launch the Nintendo Switch 2 generation. I hope you all nabbed a console before the price increase as this generation is really starting to kick off for them.

I mentioned it to you earlier in the year. This year Nintendo was going to go all out. That certainly seems to be what’s being presented to us right now with everything that is in the Mario-esque pipeline.

However, I’ve seen a lot of fans recently moving from Sony to XBOX. I have even seen some moves to Nintendo Switch 2. All Sony had to do was license their Blu-ray tech. They didn’t need to take the backlash for a future that most publishers are looking for and wanting to be the future.

I think this is probably the equivalent to how bad the Xbox One generation was for Microsoft. It’s just been a very badly mismanaged generation by Sony that has had more negatives than positives throughout. They’re not at all ready for the next generation and unless they have incredible software from the get go, and increase their output quite dramatically then why wouldn’t people look at other platforms with interest?

There is a high price to pay to entirely trust a closed Eco-system that hasn’t communicated at all well this entire generation. There have been a number of times I have read on Push Square about the need for better communication from Sammy. It’s just been completely ignored by Sony.

Then when you consider how bad the recent State of Play was for the majority. I think PlayStation are starting to lose even some of their ‘own supporters’ faith just a little bit and it’s down to that ongoing incompetence. So how can they reverse that? Well, it’s going to have to start with new leadership and actually doing the kind of things that the PS4 did so well.

The problem with that is I feel the gaming industry has gotten more corporate regarding the way it understands the needs of its fans. The things that XBOX seems to be doing so well at least is listening to the feedback and improving and they’re doing so in a way that is quite clever. And let’s be honest, they’re doing so because there is a need to because they’re so far behind.

It only takes a few good decisions to start getting some faith restored in your brand, but at the same time, let’s not kid ourselves. There is no saint in the gaming industry, but where competition is there, that’s when you always have a chance for some of the right things to start going your way again.

Ultimately, sometimes even when you’re not hitting all the right notes. You’re still very much performing to a standard. That always gives you a chance within an industry led by Sony that’s needed a kick up the arse for quite some time now. Fans are always going to dictate what is successful and what is not.

Sure, you can have your digital future, but as we all know, if you do not meet fans half-way regarding how they wish to move forward with their entire collections. You’re always going to be in trouble. Even if it’s in the minority, a brand tainted, it’s never the same after 30 years of loyalty, and I believe Sony has recently realized that and is backtracking accordingly.

It’s not enough though, they need to start getting things right with their game studios and bringing back more of what fans love. They also need to take the lead and improve their digital store. Because while I understand the need to get as much out of your fan base as you can through the likes of PlayStation Plus.

If Sony does not read the room in terms of this upcoming generation being different from past ones. Then they could find themselves just hinging on past glories while not actually evolving.

PlayStation is in a great place right now. They’re doing better than ever, and we want them to continue to do well, but they’re going to have to meet their audience half-way and stop seeing them as just dollar signs. That becomes hard to do though, when that’s all the current PlayStation boss knows.

This initiative at least makes you feel better than the alternative platforms out there. It’s an alternative to the ‘one store’ portfolio that Sony wants us to have where you’re very restricted. I just think at this point if you’re not buying your third-party games on XBOX at more sensible prices then you’re getting a bad deal. Especially when at the forefront of all this, XBOX Play Anywhere has a big future, which I suggested it would when going into the next generation.

Today it was announced that all the benefits of your XBOX physical game collection will be future-proofed in a digital format. This makes sure that there is still use for those Series discs yet. It also goes to prove to me at least that the decision I made in terms of moving platform was the right call. Game preservation is really important and the fact that our games will be moving forward with us in such a favorable way is only going to improve what everyone thinks about trusting XBOX as a place to play going forward.

It’s a move that has listened to the fans by putting them front and centre but it also shows an attitude where game preservation should be taken seriously by everybody. Sony didn’t want to hear the call of the fans, but with XBOX they very much have met the fans in a way that provides a level of balance that you want and should have in the industry. It might not be the answer that we needed, but any company that takes some sort of initiative to meet the consumer half-way. Well, to me, that’s at least ‘something’.

The game is going to be a narrative focused experience. “No Law is an upcoming first-person, story-rich cyberpunk action shooter developed by Neon Giant”. You play as Grey Harker, an ex-military veteran who just wants a quiet life before everything spirals out of control. It’s also going to be coming out on PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series and will be launching in 2027.

I am really looking forward to this one as the ambition is even bigger than their previous game. There are many games that grab certain people. Obviously, our tastes are subjective but when you build on something that already has an established game in the genre, and bring something unique to your own kind of world then you better sit up and take notice at what is being created for us here. I think that’s what No Law’s developers are trying to do. It’s certainly something I am looking forward to finding out more about as time goes on.

This in-depth video explores every reason why you too should be excited about this upcoming release.