No surprises here
Despite the years-long production drought in the early COVID days and an unwavering price point, the PS5 is considered a real money-maker. Not long after the release of the PS5 Pro, Sony has finally revealed its figures for the original console at an earnings briefing. As of the end of Q2 2024, Sony’s current-gen console has sold 65.5 million units, not even considering the big holiday push expected this December.
Surprisingly, it’s a million or so units short of last year’s figures for the same period. Sony isn’t stressed. Despite the minute drop, revenue is up by 9%, and operating profits are climbing by 73% to $2.91 billion. It’s even raised revenue forecasts for the rest of the year, assuming the mightily expensive (R19,500) PS5 Pro shores up even more of the company’s figures before then.
Sony has the success of its games, not the accompanying hardware, to thank for the massive boost. The massively successful Black Myth: Wukong, reportedly selling over 20 million copies – including PC sales – maks up the majority of revenue (and a distinct lack of Xbox support, even months later). That’s not to mention the huge debut of a ‘new’ and untested IP – Astro Bot – whose first real outing reportedly netted 1.5 million sales.
“Be quiet, Boy”
Yet to beat God of War: Ragnarök? As upsetting as that is, there’s no better time to dive in as a PS5 player. The long-awaited 06.00 update to the God of War’s latest outing has finally arrived for the PS5, bringing a “reduced puzzle hints” toggle, first introduced in the PC release a few months back. That may sound like we’re overhyping things, but trust us. It’s better this way.
Anyone who has played Ragnarök before the update will understand our desire for such a toggle, and even sympathise. God of War is filled with puzzles that may require an iota of brainpower to beat, made useless by the game’s side characters immediately handing the answer to the player on a silver platter. Hell, you might still be looting the pile of corpses left in your wake when Atreus’ whiny voice permeates your ears.
Flick the new toggle on, and rejoice in the silence. And, if you have a PS5 Pro, you can do so with higher graphical fidelity at a silky smooth 60fps. We’ve yet to test it, but that’s the idea. The 06.00 update introduces a “Favor Quality” option, still holding onto a stable framerate. Players can also unlock the framerate on VRR-enabled monitors, while support was added for the Pro’s absurd AI-powered Spectral Super Resolution feature.
Mass Effect is Amazon’s latest toy
Because any mildly popular videogame has to get a movie/TV adaptation nowadays, it makes sense that the Mass Effect IP would eventually be picked up. And Amazon has. Officially. That’s after it succeeded with the excellent Fallout series and the recent and not-so-popular Like a Dragon: Yazuka series.
Variety reported on the series officially being picked up by Amazon MGM Studios, supposedly hiring Daniel Casey, writer of F9 (you know, Fast And Furious) to pen the script. If that doesn’t fill you with excitement, the inclusion of Avi Arad won’t do anything to settle those nerves. Not with that track record.
Other than the hiring of the Borderlands producer (yes, really) who will serve alongside EA’s Mike Gamble as executive producer, the Mass Effect series is still on the back foot, production-wise. It’ll be a minute before we get a look at any casting, and way longer before a trailer interrupts your regularly scheduled programming.
Don’t get your hopes up for a Wind Waker Switch port
Despite rumours circulating for literally years that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Switch port was complete and ready to be released, Nintendo has yet to oblige. That’s apparently for several reasons like being unable to find a suitable release date that wouldn’t clash with another Zelda title, or perhaps they just like to watch us squirm. Either way, it’s time to get back on the copium, for another ‘leak’ punts a WW port this year.
The news comes from a listing on a Russian games site, noting a Wind Waker release for the Switch on 31 December 2024, alongside physical releases of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Slender the Arrival VR, and Eternal Life of a Goldman. While that is most certainly a placeholder date and the validity of the site is still in question, another leaker hinted at projects concerning Zelda and Donkey Kong just a few days ago.
While the leaker (@SamerHunter2) didn’t offer specifics, he was immediately proven correct by Nintendo, which announced a Super Nintendo World Direct live stream to show off Donkey Kong Country at Universal Studios in Japan. While not particularly exciting, it does give credence to the leaker’s predictions and brings his number of accurate ‘leaks’ up to 4. Keep those fingers crossed, though until Nintendo confirms it, we offer the usual pinch of salt.