DF Direct Weekly #139: The Last Of Us 2 Remastered, CP2077 Ray Reconstruction Revisit, Xbox Sales
Nov 27, 2023
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The podcast discusses The Last of Us 2 Remastered controversy, Cyberpunk 2077 DLC confusion, visual improvements in Alan Wake, Xbox's struggle in Europe, the impact of Half-Life on the gaming industry, Star Citizen's growth, unboxing the PlayStation 5 Slim, potential handheld gaming devices, and celebrating Thanksgiving in a multicultural environment.
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Quick takeaways
Half-Life's 25th anniversary and the release of a documentary highlight the game's development and legacy.
Xbox Series S and X sales in Europe have declined by 52% year on year, potentially due to a lack of exclusives and focus on services.
PlayStation 5 experiences a 143% increase in sales in Europe, attributed to stock availability and discounted pricing.
While the handheld gaming market is dominated by Nintendo Switch and steamedec devices, there may be room for niche offerings.
Deep dives
Half-Life Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Half-Life recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and No Clip released a documentary discussing the game's development. The documentary includes interviews with original developers from Valve and provides insight into the challenges they faced in creating the game. It reveals how the team made the decision to remake the game entirely before its release and highlights the dedication and passion behind its development. The Half-Life community also celebrated the milestone, and the game was updated to be compatible with Steam Deck. Overall, the documentary and anniversary serve as a reminder of the impact and legacy of the iconic Half-Life franchise.
Xbox Series S and X Sales Struggles in Europe
Recent data shows that Xbox Series S and X sales in Europe have declined by 52% year on year. While Europe has traditionally been a weaker market for Xbox, this decline is still concerning. The lack of exclusive titles and buzz surrounding Xbox could be contributing factors. The shift in focus towards services rather than console sales may also be a factor in the decline. However, it is important to note that Xbox's focus on services, such as Game Pass and cloud gaming, has been successful in capturing a new market and generating revenue through subscriptions. It will be interesting to see how Xbox builds momentum and excitement for its consoles in the European market moving forward.
PlayStation 5 Sales Increase in Europe
PlayStation 5 has experienced a 143% increase in sales in Europe, excluding the UK and Germany, compared to the same period last year. This increase is attributed to the availability of stock and discounted pricing. As PlayStation continues to focus on getting consoles in homes, their strategy seems to be paying off. However, it is worth considering the decline in Xbox Series S and X sales in Europe, which could be due to a lack of exclusive titles and lower brand recognition in the region. While PlayStation has shifted its focus towards big flagship titles and remasters, some argue that it has lost some of its identity as a platform for indie and unique games. Overall, the console landscape in Europe is evolving, with each platform finding its own niche and strategy for success.
The Potential for a Modern Powerful Exclusively Handheld System
While there may be a market for a modern powerful exclusively handheld system, it is unlikely to compete with the current offerings such as the Nintendo Switch or various flavors of steamedec devices. These established platforms have a large user base and offer a wide range of gaming experiences. However, there may be a niche for handheld devices that focus on cloud gaming or streaming options, as well as devices that cater to specific gaming preferences or genres.
The Dominance of Nintendo and Steamedec Devices
Nintendo has a strong hold on the handheld gaming market with the success of the Nintendo Switch, which offers both handheld and home console capabilities. Additionally, steamedec devices like the Steam Deck have gained popularity, providing a handheld gaming experience with PC-like power and the ability to play a wide range of games. These devices are likely to continue dominating the handheld market for the foreseeable future.
Continued Innovation and Niche Offerings
While the mainstream market may be dominated by Nintendo and steamedec devices, there is still room for innovation and niche offerings in the handheld gaming space. This could include devices that cater to specific gaming preferences, such as retro gaming handhelds or devices that focus on cloud gaming and streaming. These niche devices may cater to a smaller audience, but can still provide unique gaming experiences for those seeking something different.
Summary of the Podcast Episode
The podcast episode discusses an unboxing of the PlayStation 5 slim, providing a detailed description of the contents of the box, including the power cable, HDMI 2.1 cable, USB-C cable, and the dual sense controller. The hosts share their first impressions of the materials and size, noting that it is large but marginally slimmer than the previous model. They also discuss the design elements, such as the curved bottom and the stand. The hosts compare the new model's features, including the updated I/O and the addition of an eject button next to the disc tray. They mention questions from the audience about regretting importing the console and potential advantages of buying the older model and upgrading the storage.
Comparison Between Nintendo and Microsoft Handheld Consoles
The hosts briefly touch upon the possibility of Nintendo developing a two-console system, with one focusing on handheld gaming and the other on home console gaming. They express doubt about the feasibility and marketability of such a system, stating that the concept goes against the hybrid nature of the Nintendo Switch. They also discuss the idea of Microsoft creating an Xbox-branded portable system, but conclude that it is unlikely due to the complexities and limited returns of the handheld market.
In this week's DF Direct, the team catches up with the news about The Last of Us Part 2's remaster and wonders what the fuss is about, while Alex takes another look at Cyberpunk 2077 DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction across its updates and via the Alan Wake 2 DLL. Rich finally gets his hands on a PlayStation 5 'Slim' and unboxes it for your viewing pleasure, and Half-Life's 25th anniversary is celebrated by the team. Also: what is actually going on with Xbox's console sales in Europe?
0:00:00 Introduction and DF merch store!
0:03:13 News 01: The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered announced
