Super Mario Odyssey – Nintendo

Decades-old and spanning multiple genres, the Mario franchise is not only one of the most recognised brands in the industry, but also the most consistent. The franchise evolves with each new iteration of the Nintendo hardware while also remaining super fun and addictive to play. Super Mario Odyssey is no different. It is one of, if not, the best game in the series, which is not an easy feat to achieve.

With colourful worlds that are packed to the brim with quirky and minute details, silky smooth animation and perhaps the best spin on New York City EVER, Super Mario Odyssey builds upon the 3D platforming that franchise has excelled at since Mario 64, and adds new and fun mechanics that enhance the gameplay in so many ways, making it a must buy if you own a Switch.

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the wild – Nintendo

Acting as Nintendo’s ace up its sleeve for the release of the Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild absolutely served its purpose. With one of the highest Metacritic score in all of the videogames, standing alongside Super Mario Odyssey, BOTW not only lived up to The Legend of Zelda legacy but also gave us one of the best games in the franchise.

The game was universally praised for its huge scope, great story and gorgeous world. Although the multiple delays during its development raised a few concerns and eyebrows, all doubts were thwarted once the game was released. Consequently, the game played a huge role in the Switch’s immensely successful launch. The sequel couldn’t come soon enough.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate – Nintendo

There’s no doubting the quality of Nintendo’s first-party franchises. And if they are good at one thing, it is iterating on legacy franchises while finding ways to keeps it fresh and fun. With Super Smash Bros Ultimate though, Nintendo took a different route. SSBU took a step back and created something incredible out of it.

Justifying the “Ultimate” in the title, SSBU featured every character that has ever graced the franchise. Throw in a few tweaks to the already stellar gameplay and you have an incredible game in your hands. It is no surprise that the game sold over 3 million copies in the US alone in under two weeks. Developer Masahiro Sakurai’s painful hours spent while being injected with an IV, during the game’s development sure seemed to have paid off.

God of War – PlayStation

Sony is no stranger to creating new and exciting IPs. Like Nintendo, they have a first-party line up that has immense fan bases. But, arguably, their best game this generation comes from a franchise that almost died a few years ago. With the release of God of War: Ascension for the PS3, the franchise had hit a wall. The series had already seen several releases across three different Sony hardware and the ever-angry macho persona of protagonist Kratos started to feel stale. It was imminent that the writing on the wall was already there for the franchise and another game would mean the end of it. Then came God of War 2018 on the PS4.

Taking a whole new spin with an ageing Kratos, who now contemplates the repercussion of his past actions, and venturing the series in a whole new direction, God of War subverted expectations in the best way possible. The game not only breathed new life into the franchise but also gave us one of the most cinematic and story-driven third-person action games yet for the PS4.

Uncharted: A Thief’s End – PlayStation

The God of War franchise may have taken over a decade to get the franchise to the cinematic masterpiece that it is today. But if there is one franchise that set new standards for story-driven action-adventure games back in the PS3 era, it is Uncharted. Uncharted: A Thief’s End not only serves as a swan song to Nathan Drake’s story but is also the best game in the franchise. While it lacked the number of epic moments when compared to, let’s say, Uncharted 2, A Thief’s End, it made up for it with strong story moments.

The addition of Nate’s never-before-mentioned brother Sam was expertly handled. With a quasi-open world approach and a grappling hook throw into the mix, A Thief’s End delivered in spades in the gameplay department too. Few cold-hearted individuals haven’t teared up at the end of the game, which as considered by many was, simply put, perfect.

Spiderman – PlayStation

Superhero games are a tricky business. They have the curse of the being based on a licensed product, something that the industry still struggles with. And they often have the obligatory movie tie-in timeline to adhere to. All of this usually results in a hot mess and rarely does something as amazing as the Arkham franchise come out of it. But Sony pulled a golden rabbit out of its hat with Spiderman. Yet another superhero who has had a hit or miss relationship with videogames. Handing the reigns over to Insomniac, who were a relatively smaller studio to handle a brand like Spiderman, Sony played the game of faith-based on Insomniac’s track record. Needless to say, it was a gamble that paid off handsomely.

Imsomniac’s Spiderman for the PS4 was not only the best Spiderman game made yet but was also widely considered as one of the best stories of Peter Parker and his friends, taking into account all the movies, comics and shows. Featuring a robust skill tree with deep customization, and a swinging mechanic that makes you feel like the hero himself, Spiderman was every fan’s dream game made just right. It’s no wonder that it went on to be one of the fastest-selling PlayStation exclusives yet giving the game a well-earned spot on this list.

Until Dawn – PlayStation

Until Dawn is one of that rare mix of things that come together beautifully and turn into something more than the sum of its parts. The game represents a brand of cheesy horror, complete with a tragic backstory, a bunch of sex-craved adolescent stereotypes, and a secluded cabin, that seems to have been lost in 80s slasher flicks. Wrapping all of the above with gorgeous visuals, and (for its time) great acting, Until Dawn turned out to be a gem of a game.

There were a handful of truly tense moments that kept the players on the edge of their seats. Heck, this game even made QTEs and jump scares fun, which is a feat no one would have thought was achievable. Originally planned for the PS3, Until Dawn finally released on the PS4 to critical acclaim largely due to the game’s self-awareness and its ability to make the most out of it. Still, one of my personal favourite party time games with friends, Until Dawn is a PlayStation exclusive which would be a sin not to have.

Horizon – Zero Dawn – PlayStation

Guerrilla games served up one of PS4’s earliest titles with Killzone: Shadowfall. Little did we know at the time that the studio known almost exclusively for the Killzone franchise was secretly cooking up one of the best new IPs to launch this generation. With Horizon: Zero Dawn, developer Guerrilla games made a game in a genre they had never ventured before and delivered it with finesse and confidence. The game featured an intriguing setting with a rather interesting post-apocalyptic world where fauna is in robot form and exists seamlessly with the flora that overruns the decaying world.

The games robotic wildlife, which comprises of its own versions of animals, ranging from bulls to crocodiles to dinosaurs are a joy to tackle and the game’s main story and side quests have been handled with the utmost care so that the player stays invested throughout its 30 or so hours of run time. Aloy’s adventure has been one worth remembering throughout the PS4’s lifecycle and the fact that this game still holds strong alongside the likes of God of War and Spiderman is a testament to itself. Cannot wait for more Horizon.

Forza Horizon 4 – Microsoft

Let’s be honest. Microsoft has not had the best exclusives with the Xbox One. Although an imminent change is on the horizon, it is safe to say that the company has not been the poster child for stand out games. But the one series that has been consistently delivering stellar iterations is the Forza franchise. Forza Horizon 4, which is available on Xbox One and PC, is arguably one of the best racing games ever.

In a market that has big name studios like Code Masters and Polyphony Digital, who specialise in racing games, Forza Horizon 4 seems to have trumped all its competition with ease. With a plethora of vehicle types to choose from, an ever-changing weather system that alters your track accordingly and a gorgeously rendered English countryside, FH4 is just the tentpole racing game that Microsoft wants to bank on. And it has not disappointed us yet.

Gears 5 – Microsoft

The most recent game in our list also happens to be the big M’s best this generation. Gears 5 takes the Gears of War franchise in new directions and builds on the events and characters set in Gears of War 4 in some very interesting ways. Granted, like Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5 was also released on the PC, but the sheer amount of goodness that cannot be experienced on any other console is too hard to ignore. The butter-smooth cover shooting is the best it has ever been alongside some subtle but very useful gameplay tweaks.

The emphasis on building its characters and some strong story moments make Gears 5, the absolute best in the series. Looking back, it is hard to fathom that this was a series that began its journey being known only for its big hulking characters, and (rightfully so) the lancer chainsaw gun. And I would have never thought that I would have a special place in my heart for Jack the robot. Here’s hoping the franchise continues to grow and keeps its upward trajectory in quality that it so well maintains since the first game.

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Their Best Foot Forward

Microsoft certainly seemed to have known what this year E3 meant for them and in retrospect, they did seem to pull no punches. From the announcement of adding Double Fine Studios to their group of internal studios to the announcement of Project Scarlett and the promise of Halo Infinite releasing alongside their next console, Microsoft has been very clear in their message. That they are focused on games and only games.

This is always a good thing. Add to it moments like Keanu Reeves’ appearance and showcases on big games like Gears 5 and Halo Infinite, the show was pretty crowd pleasing. However, despite featuring sixty games on the show something did seem missing.

Punching Above Their Weight Class

For as much as Microsoft have been touting their support for games, one thing was clear, about an hour into the show. Not much new was ready to be shown in terms of exclusives. Despite the acquisition of multiple studios, it was too early to reveal any of the games that the new group of studios have been working on. Ninja Theory’s Bleeding Edge was an exception here as it has been in development for a few years now, as per the studio executives.

The same goes for the reveal of Project Scarlett. I was left confused when the Xbox One X was revealed as Project Scorpio. It felt rushed and need not have been announced when it was, so early before release. Microsoft found itself in a similar position with their next console. The occasion was too important to miss announcing the console, so we had a reveal similar to that of Project Scorpio. A few specs were discussed, and some obvious jabs were thrown at Sony’s console, talking about load times and that their console would eat ‘Monsters’ for breakfast. This was fun to watch and all, but the reveal itself felt unnecessary for something that is to be released in holiday 2020.

Commitment To Games Saves The Day

Despite the shortcomings though, Microsoft still managed to put on a good show with what they had. While their two main games, Gears 5 and Halo Infinite were titles that had already been revealed, Microsoft still managed to sell them well to the crowd. This was perhaps due to their constant emphasis on their commitment towards games and consumer-friendly practices and services. And they made it evident with doubling down on the Xbox Game Pass. The service now offers more value than ever before by covering PC games and bundling in Xbox Live Gold.

This, in my opinion, went a long way in keeping the show, and the audiences’ spirit afloat. And, to be honest the value proposition is quite incredible. Combine this with services like Project X Cloud and Microsoft may be sitting on a recipe that is going to win them the next round of the console wars.

So…How Did They Fair

All things said and done, Microsoft did make the best of what they had and managed to put on a good show, albeit not without its cringe moments. But, did they make the best use of this year’s event. Probably not. And that’s probably because it was too early to show any significant exclusive games. The end result though is that Sony does not seem to have been affected by Microsoft’s show this year. They could still come back next year and blow the competition away. And in retrospect E3 2019 could be the calm before the storm. E3 2020 is already shaping up to be a great event and the wait will only be that much more excruciating. Regardless, my videogame loving heart is ready for it.

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Also read : A Peek into the Next Generation of Consoles – which delicates the future of Gaming industry

The Evolution of Unlockable Content

Back in 1998 the PlayStation 1 had a little game called Tekken 3. It was a 3D fighting game which was revolutionary for its time. It had slick cinematics and super smooth 3D gameplay that was easy to pick up and hard to master. More importantly, it was a gift that kept on giving. Finishing the Arcade mode with each character unlocked a new character. Then there were new modes like Tekken Ball mode, theatre mode etc., that unlocked as we kept playing the game. And just when you thought you have seen everything the game offered, it threw in Doctor B. This character was special. He was a feeble old man who could hardly stand on his legs which was a direct contrast to the hulking heroes and villain of the game. But master Doctor B’s move set and none of the characters stood a chance. It was a blast playing with him. He never returned as a playable character in the subsequent games in the series, until Tekken Tag Tournament 2 in 2011. But this time he was a DLC character, although free. Fast forward to 2015 and Tekken 7 had a good number of fighters as paid DLC. And the long-awaited Mobile version of Tekken is rife with loot boxes. Reflecting back on Doctor B today, it amazes me how much effort and love has gone into making this character. Something that was given away for free. This is something that you can never expect in today’s age of microtransactions and loot boxes. Monetization and recurring income streams have become priorities and the conviction of making a proper game has taken a back seat. The Tekken series is not the only offender here. It is merely following the trends of today. And so are most of the companies and studios that are involved in making games.

Microtransactions and DLCs are different

Upon its release, Resident Evil 5 had a $5 DLC. Once the purchase was made the content was unlocked from within the Disc. These were the days when micro transactions and DLCs were taking their baby steps. Companies have been trying to implement new forms of monetization since and there have been multiple implementations with varying degrees of success. DLCs for games quickly evolved into microtransactions which particularly thrived in the FPS and fighting genres. And after enduring the initial uproar, companies have been aggressively pushing micro transactions until it became the norm. Today any form of DLC with reasonable quality and value is acceptable. Micro transactions have been embraced, so long as they are cosmetic only. And if we consider the companies’ argument of the cost of development being a lot higher than before, which it naturally is, then it does feel fair now that we are used to the idea. Besides, the player has full control over whether or not he wants to make the purchase and above all, he knows what he is getting. Unlike loot boxes. Loot boxes simply meant random rewards of varying value. Something that cannot be specified and left up to chance, or how the developers had programmed it be. This evokes a feeling of winning a lottery. Something that you pay for beforehand without knowing what you get. This model has been promptly pushed by companies. And its ramifications are much worse than just companies trying to nickel and dime their players.

Great Games mutate into Boring Grind Fests

As a natural evolution of the monetization ideas loot boxes have crept into many games, so much so that the game is designed to favour loot boxes and not the other way around. Two such examples are Shadow of War, and more famously Star Wars Battle Front II. Let’s look at Shadow of War first. This was a sequel to the surprise hit Shadow of Mordor. The game had promise, as it set out to improve upon its excellent nemesis system with plenty of refinements to its game playtest. It’s initial 16-minute gameplay trailer showed a lot of promise and there was plenty of hype surrounding the game upon its release. While the game did have all the above, it was marred by the implementation of loot boxes. This system affected the game by a large degree. As mentioned earlier it felt like the game was built around the loot box systems and trying to obtain any item without the boost of actual money was an unbearable grind fest. Something similar could be said about Star Wars Battlefront II, expect everything was dialled up to eleven. From the implementation (of loot boxes), to the grind, to the controversy, Battlefront II was everything that the fans did not want. Special credit to this game for being so loot box centric that they became the talk of the industry, with government officials and bodies getting involved to investigate the matter.  Today, both Shadow of War and Battlefront II have been reworked and are free of loot boxes and are much better games now. I recently finished Shadow of war and you could feel the love and attention that has gone into this game. It is clear this was a passion project for the developers. And it is a shame that such a great game was met with such negativity at launch, thanks to loot boxes.

What of the Player?
Loot boxes are not only harmful to the games in how they work, but more importantly for the player. Video games have been embraced by a large audience spanning multiple demographics. Among them are kids. And some governing bodies have realised this and have been pushing for the removal of loot boxes. As the exposure to such ideas as loot boxes evokes a sense of gambling which could lead to gambling addiction. This, of course is serious, and it is baffling how companies seem to ignore this fact. That said, things have been changing and a lot of noise is being made about it as well. The Belgian government has banned loot boxes in video games and would not allow the sale of any game with such mechanics. Companies, in general, seem to have taken a step back in how they approach monetization through loot boxes.

Loot Boxes are here to stay

While the ban on loot boxes seem encouraging, it is unlikely that companies will let go of such a profitable business model. While things have toned down a bit, and we are seeing a better implementation of it in recent games like Apex Legends, loot boxes are here to stay. With titles as recent as the Trials Rising implementing loot boxes, it looks likes companies will keep pushing it with the excuse of ‘cosmetic only’ until this too becomes a norm. But with all the attention from everyone in the world, it is highly unlikely that loot boxes will be embraced like the idea of a DLC. It will be interesting to watch how things pan out and how it evolves. Only time will tell what our future games hold for us.

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Beastly Nature

This one is the most obvious and needs to be addressed off the gate. The next wave of consoles will no doubt be a significant improvement in specs over their current-gen counterparts. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Last of Us 2 have shown where the industry is heading in terms of cutting-edge graphics and these machines will be equipped with the power to run such graphics heavy games all the way into the next 6 -7 years. Of course, these boxes aren’t going to rival an RTX 2080 but we can expect to get the best bang for our buck in potential $400 we spend on them.

Physical Discs still a thing?

The death of physical game discs has been discussed since the PS3/X360 era. And the technology and internet services of today may finally make that happen. There are already rumours cooking up about a disc-less Xbox One, let alone a next-gen console. And the removal of a disc drive could potentially make the console cheaper, assuming the bigger hard disk requirement does not increase the cost. And if this model succeeds, chances are that this approach will seep into the next-gen consoles from both parties. Whether this will succeed, or the degree of success will also determine the availability of disc-based consoles. Personally, I love my game discs. I like my games to a have physical tangible form. It adds to the emotional attachment one may to a title like say God of War.

Streaming is the Future Present

Further, in the lines of disc-less consoles, subscription services like PS Now and Xbox game pass will be more prominent next generation. With both companies butting heads on offering the best value proposition things may come down to streaming services playing a major role in the success of either console. Sony may not tout the PS Now this generation due to its strong library of exclusive games driving their sales of the PS4. But Microsoft seems to have fixed the issue of exclusive games for next gen. So heading into a potentially even playfield in the next generation, Microsoft’s card of “Better value with subscription services” may be a make or break factor for both companies in the next round. Sony has already evolved its PS Now service mimicking Microsoft by adding the option to download games directly to the console. Chances are both will go the distance to check the depths of streaming services.

Cross Play Galore

With Microsoft, Nintendo, and Gamers being so vocal about crossplay, Sony will be following suit by offering crossplay for third-party multiplayer games on the next PlayStation. I mean they have to, right? This is another point that may seem super obvious but we have seen corporations make a bad decision based on statistics. However cross play seems like a no-brainer and it is something that I fully expect to see it in PS5, but then again, Sony!.

NextGen is All Gen

Backward Compatibility has been another weapon in Microsoft’s arsenal to make up for the lack of games this gen. Backward compatibility is one of the popular practices in the industry. The amount of success it brought to the Xbox one is a different topic altogether, but the appeal of Backward Compatibility is no doubt a force to be reckoned with. With the complicated architecture of the PS3 and therefore the way PS3s games were made, Sony had struggled in this department with the PS4. But recent rumours strongly hint at backward compatibility on the PS5. There was the one suggesting that the PS5 is very similar to the PS4 on how it works, and then another focusing on a patent Sony had made towards backward compatibility. These indicate that the PS5 could potentially play all of the PS4s libraries. As pointed out in my last article about 5 Reason Why Microsoft May Win Next Gen, if this happens Sony would have already won next gen. I hope this happens and, more importantly, not locked behind a paywall as PS4 games are too good to be ignored.

VR still a thing?

The last batch of rumours suggested better integration of PSVR on Sony’s next system. Whether we like it or not VR has been a novelty that has done better than the novelties of the past like Motion Control and 3D. And, if these rumours are true, Sony seems to be embracing VR more strongly next generation. Whether VR will become stronger or will next gen be the end of the VR run will be an interesting thing to see and experience through the life cycle of next-gen consoles.

Super Awesome Games. Or are they?

With every generation, the games we play get more and more advanced with more systems and gameplay nuances integrated within. Games have come from humble beginnings in the PS1 era like Crash Bandicoot, to awesome experiences like God of War 2 on the PS2, to complex story experiences like Mass Effect and Skyrim on the X360, to magnum opuses like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Red Dead Redemption 2 on the PS4. And this upward trajectory is only going to soar towards the sky next generation. If games like Ghost of Tsushima are any indication on where we are headed, then we gamers are in for a treat with our new machines. That said, questionable business practices like loot boxes and unfair implementation of microtransactions will still be an issue from big third party developers. New gaming trends may topple today’s trends like battle royale prompting these companies to apply new ways to make money. But, with every good comes the bad and it is up to us to choose what we want and what we encourage. So let’s be excited for the good and wonderful that is sure to come our way.

And there you have it. My trip to 2021 showed me these visions. How many of these will stand truly is something that time will answer. One thing is for sure though. There has never been a better time to be a Gamer. And you know it is true.

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This is a no-brainer. As the catalogue of games grows by the thousands every year, the games themselves become redundant after a few years. However, unlike other entertainment medium, games are more emotionally connected to people and these redundant games start feeling relevant again. Hence the demand for these old games is higher than ever. Thanks to the misstep that was the architecture of the PS3, Sony was not able to implement Backward Compatibility in the PS4. But with the next iteration of the PlayStation hinted to be very similar to the PS4, architecture-wise, and hints at backward compatibility being thrown in by Sony executives, this may well be a possibility on the PS5.

Having the entire catalogue of PS4 games playable on the PS5 on day one will be one hell of a feature to overlook. And this may be the make or break feature for many (me included) on deciding whether to stick with Sony or move to Xbox. And the best part, in my opinion, is that it all looks possible and could very well happen. Unless Sony decides to put this behind a paywall and start charging money. Chances for which are equally as good, given the popularity and demand for Backward Compatibility. Let’s just hope for now that this would not happen.

“So the Xbox has a game pass. The PlayStation has PS Now”. This would not be a winning argument as of now. PS now is service that launched much before the Xbox game pass and has not been a resounding success that Sony probably hoped for. Microsoft, on the other hand, took the same idea and made a better, more appealing product with the Xbox game pass. With the option to download the games to the Xbox One, the user did not have to rely on streaming the games real time, unlike with PS Now. Sony has since added this option but limited to PS2 classics and PS4 games, and not PS3 titles, possibly due to the aforementioned architecture of the PS3. That said even with the option to download whatever is available, the value proposition does not match to that of the robust service offered by Microsoft.

The solution to this…… Merge PS Now with PS Plus and have the library of games as part of the PS plus subscription, along with the 2 monthly permanent additions as offered now. To be fair this does seem a bit farfetched as executives may see this as potential money down the drain. But keeping in mind that this was not that much money, to begin with (considering the lacklustre success of PS Now), plus the incredible value this will bring to PS Plus in direct comparison to the Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, this options makes a whole lot of sense.

Watching Sony stick to the PSVR is both delightful and disturbing at the same time. Considering its track record Sony does not seem to support a device unless it is a big success (Remember PSP Go?). But things have been different with the PSVR. Two years into its release, Sony has been supporting VR, and the strongest line-up of VR games have only emerged in the last few months making a stronger case for VR as a whole in the future. Rumours have hinted that the PS5 will have better PSVR integration and will be made with PSVR in mind. While this is encouraging and all, Sony still needs to consider the people who haven’t bought into VR Yet. The non VR crowd (me included) who prefer traditional games playable with their DualShock controllers.

Sony’s stance on VR is worrying not because there is a small risk of them abandoning VR, but because they may get carried away and shoehorn PSVR to every PS5 console. Much like what Microsoft did with the Xbox and Kinect. This is a big NO. Also with the Nintendo’s Switch being the success that it is, and Sony’s recent announcement that the PS Vita has stopped production, there is also a worry among fans that Sony may attempt (and fail) to recreate the Switch. While chances of this are far less than the shoehorning of the PSVR, it is still a big NO. Sony’s strength has always been in making great home consoles and making great games for those consoles. That’s what makes them money. I’d say Sony needs to stick with it and do it better than anyone. Invest in the research of your consoles. Invest on your Console Game Testing and Game Functionality Testing, and keep churning out excellent quality, bug-free and micro-transaction free first party games throughout the console’s lifecycle. That will give you the Win.

Like point No.1, this too is a no-brainer. The gaming community is the most vibrant and outspoken ever. We gamers are spoilt for choice when it comes to games to play or opinions to share. So Sony needs to listen to the community rather than the boardroom executives and start to adopt customer favouring policies like crossplay. The fortnite debacle gave Microsoft a launch pad to troll Sony and the public perception that Sony managed to maintain for years sure took a dent. So Sony needs to understand the importance of this and be more flexible towards the community. This may sound cliché but it is more vital than one could imagine.

The most important of the lot, and one that I honestly believe Sony will get right. The Price. $399 has been the sweet spot and Sony is more or less sure to stay on that price (The absurdly overpriced Indian SKUs are a topic for another day). That said, the cost of R&D and the unpredictability of the events to transpire from now until the release of the PS5 (Predicting Holiday of 2020) are factors to consider. Sony will have to overcome all of this and execute a competitive price at launch. What Sony also needs to do is avoid having a mid-cycle refresh like the PS4 pro. I intend to purchase any one of the consoles that win me over in the next gen, whether it’s the PS5 or the Xbox Scarlet.

What I do not intend to do is invest a similar amount two years down the line. The PS4 Pro was a tough proposition and pretty much a grudge purchase for anyone wanting the “best experience”. This was thanks to Microsoft’s move out of desperation to gain footing in the form of the launch of the Xbox One X. With Microsoft looking confident than ever before, I feel that a mid-cycle refresh is unnecessary. Yes, Microsoft hinted at next generation of Consoles, and not a Console. And if Sony was to mimic Microsoft, I’d rather prefer both options (base and pro models) at launch and decide for myself on which variant to invest on for the next 5-7 years and not have these variant pop up 2-3 years down the line. But whether that will happen is something that we will have to wait and see.

Ah, the DualShock controller. Every PlayStation gamer, fan or not, will have a love-hate relationship with his/her console, thanks to the DualShock controller. While the DualShock 4 is much better than the DualShock 3 for the PS3, in terms of build quality and the overall feel, it is still nowhere close to the ruggedness and reliability of an Xbox One controller. I own and use both controllers and prefer the Xbox One controller when I play on a PC, while my preferred console as of now is no doubt the PS4. Sony needs to put some thought and make the DualShock 5 more convenient, reliable and appealing.

It needs to avoid redundant features like the touchpad and motion control and focus on what makes sense. Hell, throw in an OLED screen on it, if it can contribute to the gameplay experience in a way that it feels cohesive and part of the experience. I don’t mind. But do not do so just for some gimmicky features to push the consoles early. As a brand, PlayStation does not need it at this point. Just focus on making DualShock better.

So there you have it. Some words of wisdom from a consumer standpoint to his beloved brand. Only time will tell if these will ever be considered or implemented. One thing’s for certain though, next gen is coming and it is more intriguing than ever before. If you have been playing games since the age of 8 bit Mario as a little kid, you know you are living in the best of times. And the most exciting is yet to come.

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The term “Next Generation of Consoles” has been dropped a couple of times this year at E3. Sony and Microsoft have been cooking up their respective consoles while we enjoy the current line up of games. And we are on the verge of the next round of the Console Wars. While Sony’s lead in the current gen race with the PS4 is commendable, more than a few signs point towards this mantle being taken over by Microsoft when it releases its next console codenamed Scarlett. Here are 5 reasons why Microsoft may lead during the next generation of consoles.

No.1 – Phil Spencer

Phil Spencer was made the captain of a sinking ship when he was named the head of all things Xbox, just after the disaster that was the unveiling of the Xbox One. In an age where public perception can decide the fate of a brand, Xbox had all the hate and negativity a company wouldn’t want at the time. And things looked like they were only going to go downhill from there. But Phil Spencer broke convention and reacted to what people were talking about Xbox. The ‘always-on’ internet policy was taken back, the Kinect was unbundled and eventually scrapped and, most of all, he admitted that the approach was a misstep and a bad business decision. All of these just to begin with. And through the course of Xbox One’s lifetime, Phil Spencer has resonated with the Xbox fan base, made numerous correct/good decisions and turned the tides for the brand, making it the beloved underdog it is today, despite the lack of games and other issues it has. A lot of what is to follow in this list are the doing of Phil Spencer and you will understand its importance as you read through. A gamer himself, this man is a magician, and his magic will certainly be cast on Xbox Scarlett.

No.2 – Investment on Games

Of all things Spencer did for the Xbox brand, perhaps the most important and consequently the most impactful factor that would help them next gen is the investment in creating a talented line up of in-house game studios. Taking a page out of Sony’s book, Phil acquired a number of studios under the Microsoft’s belt which will now be working exclusively on games for Xbox’s next console. This group includes renowned studios like Ninja Theory and in the word’s Tameem Antoniades, head of Ninja Theory, these studios have been given “Complete creative freedom” which means we can expect a truly diverse line up of games just like Sony has now.

No.3 – Xbox Game Pass

Xbox is still in a tough spot, thanks to its lack of games. And it tries to overcome this by offering something that no customer can resist. Value. Xbox’s robust subscription service ‘Xbox Game Pass’ serves as an answer to Sony’s ‘PlayStation Now’, and is far better than its competition. With a constantly changing library and access to Microsoft’s in-house games on day one, Xbox game pass offers tremendous value for money. This service has recently been expanded with the introduction of “Xbox All Access” which provides Xbox consoles in a subscription model. If this service transitions over to the next generation with the same decent pricing, Sony has a very tough hurdle ahead of them.

No.4 – Good PR

Sony may have the momentum in sales and games on its platform. But Xbox, as of today, enjoys more goodwill than it ever did since its inception. Once again, thanks to Phil Spencer the brand has been in the news frequently on a positive light. From its vocal support to crossplay, to its focus on tiny things like the release of the Elite Controller for “The 1% of gamers that want more from their Xbox”, to the release of the “Adaptive Controller” and the aforementioned Xbox game pass, Xbox seems to be on a hot streak of fan favouring moves. One of the main factors for Sony’s success this generation was the goodwill it had among the fans during the release of the PS4. And the misstep from Microsoft in the form of Xbox One’s launch only gained more goodwill for Sony. In the current climate though, things have changed. And Xbox is poised to benefit from similar goodwill – if it continues to build it-, thanks to the company’s efforts and our next and most crucial point in this list which is……..

No.5- Sony’s Blind Eye

Ten years ago, when the Xbox 360 ate the PS3 for breakfast, Sony was a company that was struggling to make ends meet as most of its electronics brands were losing the market. And the PS3’s turbulent launch didn’t help matters. Sony then turned their focus on what would save the Playstation Brand and focused on delivering great exclusive games, simultaneously while it gained footing with the OG PS3. The PS3 slim was then released with a price cut and Sony eventually gained momentum to stand head to head with its rival. Through the release of the PS4, Sony had mastered the skill of being a pro-consumer brand and made all the right choices. It’s exclusives still are the best and there is not a hint of a price cut for the PS4 which is a healthy sign of how it is doing. However, with all of this success over the last five years, Sony seems to have forgotten what got them here in the first place. They seem to have been making decisions like restricted crossplay, that is pro-business but not necessarily customer friendly. Add in all the goodwill Microsoft gets through its push for pro-consumer moves and Sony suddenly becomes the “Big Evil Corporation”. Interestingly enough Sony has been quiet for far too long letting the internet do the damage, until recently fixing the cross play debacle. Plus Microsoft seems to indicate that the next Xbox could launch as early as 2019, whereas Sony hints at a 2020 release for their console. Early release has always been a key factor for the success of each console in its generation and Sony appears to not mind Microsoft’s pace in this matter. Microsoft also recently announced X018, a PSX like event, presumably to show off more of its Scarlett Console. And to PlayStation fans’ dismay, Sony has cancelled PSX this year. This could not have come at a worse time for Sony, as fans (me included) were expecting PSX would be the place for amends for the lacklustre E3 showing this year. But that turns out to be far from what is about to transpire. It will be very interesting to see if Sony does some damage control (and manage to succeed in it), to get players on their side. But as it stands now, this approach from Sony is only helping Xbox as a brand.

In the end, it is us the gamers who make the decision. As a console’s lifetime shrinks every generation we would need to decide on what gives us the most for our investments. As I am in the Console Game testing profession, I can’t wait to see how both companies try to win us over in the months to come, for their next console. We may have to wait until E3 2019 for this to fully take shape. Until then all we can say is “Let the War begin”.

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To understand the importance of Hellblade we need to look at the developer whose roots go way back to the OG Xbox. Ninja theory was originally known as Just Add Monsters. A small but ambitious studio that made their first game named Kung Fu Chaos for the original Xbox. However, despite critical acclaim, the game failed to gain any traction commercially. This nearly resulted in the studio’s demise before it was renamed and gained a new publisher in the form of Sony for their new project. They released Heavenly Sword, which was once again a critical hit and an important game for its time. This game incorporated advanced motion capture techniques which has now become an industry staple, much before the likes of Uncharted did.

Including talents like Andy Serkis, the game certainly was ambitious. But the limited install base of the then-struggling PS3 meant that this game too was a commercial failure. This lead to the end of their partnership with Sony. The struggling studio then utilized all the resources they had and went multiplatform with their next game, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. This was once again a critically acclaimed, but the generally crowded October release date meant that the game was going against the likes of Call of Duty which was in its prime back then. Ultimately the game failed to gain traction sales-wise, despite the high praise it received among critics. Regardless of this, the studio was approached for the reboot of Devil May Cry. And although it was a great game on its own, it was panned down for the radical change in design especially with the protagonist. DMC was criticized right from the release of the first trailer and was doomed to fail. And the reception to the game was not so good as expected. At this point, Ninja Theory had given its all and had produced a slew of high-quality titles and had still failed financially. This lead to the cancellation of their next project, a sci-fi shooter which never saw the light of day.

If you are even vaguely familiar with how video game development and video game testing work you know where this is heading. Heck, for a studio to even survive after their very first commercial failure is rare, let alone four titles and a cancelled project. Their publisher would do the obvious and dissolve the studio. But Ninja Theory would not give up. In a move of desperation, the studio went independent. They divided their workforce into smaller groups and sourced them to help bigger companies on their own projects. Through this, the studio accumulated the necessary resources to start their next project. They did not want to lean towards crowdfunding as it has its own set of issues. Ninja Theory finally began work on Hellblade with a team of less than 25 working on the project. Most of the members of the team assumed multiple roles to make this happen. And this was no doubt a huge risk for them. A definite make or break project.

Ninja Theory knew what they wanted to do, and that required an art style that with high graphics fidelity in the lines of AAA games. They knew that quality is key and would not settle for shortcuts. Believing in their ability to deliver quality games the team set out to make a tight narrative focused game with AAA graphics but with half the runtime, which in turn would cost half the money for the player. This helped them avoid unnecessary padding to the game and to focus on the story alone. Being a great storyteller themselves, Ninja Theory, now without a mainstream actor like Serkis, focused on making a game with a grounded and more realistic take on its underlying subject matter. Psychosis. They did justice to this by involving real doctors and professionals in the development of the game.

During the development process, the studio created various developer diaries to get the community involved. This was the way to go as they did not have a huge budget to market the game. They had to completely rely on word of mouth. And the game spoke for itself upon release. Media outlets praised the game in their reviews and positive word of mouth helped the game sell a lot more than the studio’s modest expectations. This passion project was done with so much of love and care and the community gave the studio the love it deserved.

This success has now resulted in Ninja Theory being acquired by Microsoft with “all the resources and tools needed for their next game, without hindering their creative freedom”. For a studio that was in the brink of non-existence more than a couple of times, this is as good as a result as one can expect.

This goes to show that in a day and age of copycats and cheap cash grabs in the name of games, true dedication towards the art and the quality of it really does pay off. And it can do magical things. This has been one the most inspiring stories in the gaming world and I for one cannot wait for Ninja Theory’s next project.

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One more thing before we get into our list. This list is based on personal experiences and opinions, so something that may have been the high point for a lot of people may not feature in this list. For example, the announcement of Shenmue III will not feature here as I never had a Sega Dreamcast and never got to play Shenmue I and II. So I can’t get behind the hype of the newly announced game. With that out of the way, let’s move on to our list.

8 – Uncharted 2 Demo – E3 2009

2009 was a special year for Sony. It’s PS3 was finally catching up after a disastrous launch and the heavy hitting games were just around the corner helping Sony boost sales. One such heavy hitter was Uncharted 2. The demo at E3 2009 showcased what the PS3 can do and more importantly, marked the evolution of games back in the day. This game was leaps and bound ahead of its predecessor. From the rooftop helicopter battle to Nathan Drakes quips, to the climactic battle in the crumbling building, this demo was a PS3 owner’s dream come true back in the day. And the game still holds up today which is a testament in itself.

7 – Gabe Newall at Sony’s conference – E3 2010

The Jesus of Steam and Valve’s head made an appearance at the Sony conference in 2010. While this sounds like a random executive attending a conference, things could not have been any different. The then-struggling PS3 had its fair share of flack thrown at it by developers as well, thanks to the complicated development process using the cell processor. Among them was Valve’s Gabe Newall. However Gabe went a step further to declare that he had no interest in developing games for Sony’s platform as it was “rubbish”. So it was a pleasant surprise for everyone when he appeared on Sony’s conference a few months later and began with “Hi, I’m Gabe. I’ve said a few things before.” And then went on to announce Portal 2 for the PS3. This was another moment indicating the shifting tides for Sony in the years that followed. Needless to say, this was a dream come true moment for a PlayStation fan like me.

6 – Konami Press conference – E3 2009

Back when Konami was not “Public Enemy no.1” it had maintained a decent slew of titles in various genres to keep the gaming public happy. To showcase these titles Konami had their own press conference in 2009. And what a mess of a conference it was. This list was intended to look at all the good moments from E3, and sitting though Konami conference at the time was nowhere close to a comfortable experience. However fast forward 9 years and when you look back in 2018, what you have is comedy gold from a notorious company that does not give a fudge about its consumers. From Lucha wrestlers slapping each other to an earsplitting musical performance, a dance demo which left the developer gasping for air, another dev pausing every sentence for applause followed by awkward silences, lighting and sound errors, and who could forget the infamous ‘Psycho stare’. This conference had everything going against it. The conference is as hilarious now as it was uncomfortable back then. If you have not seen this, I highly recommend that you find this rare gem of a conference from any corner of the internet and treat yourself.

5 – Ubisoft conference – E3 2017

Ubisoft surprised everyone in 2017. After a roller coaster ride that was E3 2016 namely from Sony, there was no way that 2017 could reach those heights. And no thanks to my prediction Sony did underwhelm last year and Microsoft’s conference quickly turned into a meme machine thanks to the overuse of the word “EXCLUSIVE”. Step in Ubisoft to save the day (or year) who delivered a pleasantly surprising conference. This was the year Ubisoft ACTUALLY showed signs that they do care, at least about the image of the company. For a company known for aggressive microtransactions and downgraded graphics in launched products that shined on E3 conferences, Ubisoft wanted to appear as a more consumer-friendly company. And they did just that. The regular host Aisha Tyler was ditched so the executives themselves could take the stage, and this worked. From a teary-eyed developer unveiling Beyond Good or Evil 2 to Ubisoft and Nintendo heads standing back to back with prototypes of Mario vs Rabbids weapons, and a revamped and more focused Assasin’s Creed, this conference surprised everyone and actually turned out to be better than its competitors last year.

4 – Unveiling PS4 – E3 2013

2013 was an exciting time to be a console gamer. This was the time when the shift to the then ‘next-gen’ was happening. Both Microsoft and Sony had unveiled their consoles with a price tag and teasers to upcoming games. But the similarities between Microsoft and Sony end right there. The XBOX One while announced a few months earlier, was given a price tag just the day prior to Sony’s conference. And the way it was all delivered is hurting Microsoft even today. Non-consumer-friendly practices, like always online, DRM, Kinect attached, and mandatory check in every 24 hours, complicated and restrictive used game policies, were pushed down the throat followed by a hefty price tag of $499. Of course, this was great for Sony, and they had a field day at E3 2013. Sony attacked almost all of the above fails from Microsoft, going so far as to make an instructional video for sharing used games which lasted 10 seconds (One man hands the game to another, and the video ends). Sony then announced the price for the PS4 at $399. Whether you are a PlayStation, Xbox or PC gamer, you will agree that this conference was an entertaining corporate fisticuff that Sony emerged victorious out of. And Sony is reaping the benefits to this day.

3 – Hideo Kojima – E3 2016

Sony’s 2016 conference could fill up this list completely. It was the strongest and the most fan-pleasing event yet. One that set new standards and changed the way companies look at E3. Of all things in that conference, 2 things stood out. We will discuss the other one later, but the one I want to bring up here is the appearance of Hideo Kojima. After the turmoil that transpired with Konami resulting in the demise of Kojima’s brainchild – the Metal gear franchise, Kojima had been off the grid. These events were as saddening as they were shocking and showed how a corporation can undermine and destroy creativity and creators. Enter Sony. Sony collaborated with Kojima getting him a studio and Guerilla games’ Decima graphics engine, and got him to do what he does best. Of course, all of this was under wraps for a surprise at E3. And what a surprise it was. Watching Kojima march down the stage to the tunes of Mad Max – Fury Road, followed by him uttering the words “Hello everyone… I’m Back” in his broken English, gave me and many gamers goosebumps. And that wasn’t all. He immediately announced his next game Death Stranding followed by a trailer which was enchanting and confusing in true Kojima fashion. This was a moment for the history books.

2 – Kevin Butler makes an appearance – E3 2010

I struggled to decide between entries 3 and 2 and settled that this moment definitely deserves the better spot. If 2016 was Sony’s best year, the one prior to that was in 2010. And the one moment that sticks out in peoples mind is the appearance of Sony’s fictional “VP of everything” the one and only Kevin Butler. Portrayed by actor Jerry Lambert, Kevin Butler was a character who appeared in various PlayStation adverts as VP of various fictional departments (VP of testing cars, VP of sharp things, VP of action adventures). These ads really hit the spot with the fans and they wanted to see him in E3. But the E3 roster was only comprised of actual Sony executives. Kevin crashed the party during a seemingly boring keynote about a Coca-Cola collaboration. And he delivered. The next 5 minutes resonates with everyone who has even the slightest sliver of passion for gaming. While this was a pitch for the Move controller aimed at satire, it was also everything a gamer wanted to hear in a time when gaming as a whole was still struggling to be accepted as a legitimate form of art and had an image problem. Just look up for some Kevin Butler PS3 ads to get some context, and then look for Kevin Butler at E3 2010 and enjoy what you see and hear.

1 – God of War – E3 2016

You saw this coming when you read entry number 3. What can I say about this? Sony’s conference in 2016 revolutionized E3, and how the world and other game companies look at it. Sony’s realization about the pedigree of the event and its commitment to deliver and stand out from the crowd really showed throughout the whole hour and a half the conference lasted. And it began with perhaps the strongest opener in E3 history. Complete with an orchestra and a track from the game, God of War was unveiled to the world. And it was a combination of the presentation, the impact of the orchestra and the radically different and wonderful take on the game that created the magic, setting the tone for the rest of the show. This was a moment I personally was not ready for but took in every second of it with a grin on my face. And I know there are millions who share my emotion. When we look back now we can realize that this was a pivotal moment to the industry as God of War has emerged as one of the best-reviewed games with quotes like “New standard for the Industry” thrown in regularly in its reviews. This E3 moment was one for the ages, and I hope that more of these are made in E3s to come.

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