Netflix Teases GTA VI's Release Date
As popular and successful as Grand Theft Auto Online is, that’s no excuse to not release the next main installment. No matter how much content it gets, no matter how much money people pour into the Shark Cards, no matter how many popular updates there may be, GTA Online cannot keep up forever. It turns out GTA VI is coming soon. And of all sources, it’s Netflix.
A tweet made by Netflix’s French branch confirmed that GTA VI is coming soon (you can see it here: https://twitter.com/NetflixFR/status/1381959363644981251). Even though it has no context, it left many gamers confused. It also set the gaming community on fire. While leaks and rumors about GTA VI appeared left and right, the last expected entity anybody expected to get involved was Netflix, who never indicated any interest in the gaming industry (until now). Let alone something as big as GTA VI. Many have probed Netflix about it, but the company just joked around, in one reply they said “Between today and the end of the world, let’s see”. While many gamers were given hope by this announcement, it’s clear Netflix just poked a bit of fun. There’s so much hype behind GTA VI, even Netflix knows what to say to get people excited.
While the game is rumored to be under development, if Rockstar doesn’t contain the expectations sooner than later, the game will suffer major setbacks. Netflix knows how much time and effort one project can take, but they’re not a game developing company. As much as I enjoyed GTA V, I will not join Online since it’s more or less a money sapper if you’re looking for the best guns or vehicles. It’s not a good single player experience, with all the glitches and trolls just wanting to look good and feed their ego. But considering Rockstar was accused of forcing their developers to work overtime and one of their founders leaving in 2018 due to the same problems leading up to Red Dead Redemption 2, developing the next instalment will be a tough order, especially in the current events in this world not being enough to write a parody on that which isn’t based in the 2010s. So in order to buy more time until GTA VI eventually gets officially revealed, Rockstar can definitely work on bringing the first Red Dead Redemption to modern hardware, so fans who played the second game can continue playing John Marston’s tale across the West and give the developers an easier time. Since the city scene is in a lockdown situation, living the Western life sounds like a great escape.
The First DOOM Playable on a Kitchen Appliance
Video Credit: This Does Not Compute
The first Doom, the game that established first-person shooters as a genre and which is available on most platforms (you can play it for free if you’re an Xbox Game Pass member on console/PC), one tech wizard manages to make it playable… on a commercial kitchen appliance. It’s so cool and stupid at the same time.
Of course, it did pose problems at first. The game was originally programmed to run in MS-DOS (which ran other games from the era like Commander Keen), so to make the game run on a Oasys iPad (which runs a platform called X-DOS), YouTube channel This Does Not Compute had to install an MS-DOS-based operating system. After trying to run FREE-DOS, Windows 98 and Windows XP (which all had some unique challenges), he eventually got MS-DOS version 6.22 running, after which he was able to install a shareware version of the classic shooter. But because the Oasys iPad has no speakers or a speaker port, the soundtrack is completely missing, though This Does Not Compute managed to get the sound effects running through the internal PC speaker of the unit. The system runs the game pretty well, with its respectable frame rate and resolution being high enough to make the enemies and objects clearer, making the Oasys iPad a good system to play the classic FPS on. And in a generous touch, This Does Not Compute even left the instructions and the resources necessary on YouTube so anyone who has an Oasys iPad lying around can play the game on the kitchen appliance.
This is the best feat of engineering shown by a YouTuber, who managed to play the oldest FPS game on a seemingly ordinary kitchen appliance. Since Starbucks is one of the few companies employing the Oasys device, any employee could install the original Doom on their cash register, which would be helpful during the slower shifts. I would certainly be that kind of employee, being able to game until one customer comes to place the order. It’d be a great stress-reliever. And in case I don’t have that appliance, I could maybe try to make the game run on a digital camera… maybe. Well, I guess this FPS is the most versatile game ever made, since it can be played on almost anything that can run MS-DOS. For now, I’ll just enjoy it on my console via the Xbox Game Pass (since Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media).
The Biggest Nintendo Switch
Video Credit: Michael Pick
Michael Pick, the Alabama-based software engineer behind this masterpiece, crafted the giant Switch after allegedly misplacing his normal Switch. He did it to make it harder to lose and it doesn’t just look cool, its buttons are functional! It’s made out of wood and 3D-printing materials, a 4K TV and of course, a docked Nintendo Switch inside the giant left Joy-Con, with a few mods to make the bigger buttons work. You can detach the Joy-Cons - but you’re better off using the Pro Controller to game on this behemoth. But why did he build such a beast? For a good cause - he donated the giant Switch to his local children’s hospital, in one of the play rooms. He even posted the entire process of building the thing on his YouTube channel, so you too can build this masterpiece if you can, just in case you won’t wait for Nintendo to finally announce the Switch Pro.
It’s seriously a great feat of craftsmanship, being able to build a console that dwarfs the PS5 and Xbox Series X. And to game on this thing in glorious 4K is equally the greatest console a pro gamer can dream of. While Nintendo has yet to speak on the matter, they’re probably proud that their console brought many smiles to the kids at the hospital. Of course, the normal Switch more than earns praise for its portability, better line-up of first and third-party games, and the controllers - once they find a way to fix the Joy-Con drift. Good luck to anyone skilled enough to emulate this gargantuan Switch - so you can enjoy it in the solitude of the living room.
Rumor: Who Wants Square-Enix?
Some companies acquire other companies for many reasons: product flops, less-than-ideal reception or employees jumping ship. The game industry is no different, especially with something as recent as Microsoft buying the whole ZeniMax Media, which brought popular franchises Doom and Wolfenstein to their popular subscription service the Xbox Game Pass. Or Sony buying Insomniac Games (though Sunset Overdrive remains exclusive to Xbox). They just want to enlarge their hold in the industry, to force people to choose between PlayStation or Xbox (who the heck would have the money to buy both consoles?!). And though they’re not in serious trouble per say, Square-Enix might be the next company to get swallowed up by whoever has the money to do it.
While the most prolific game company in the world, thanks to franchises like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Tomb Raider, Kingdom Hearts (with Disney) and Just Cause, some recent games weren’t really a great home run for the company. One of them is the video game Marvel’s Avengers. While not a bad game, it was criticized for repetition, lack of substantial content (even with upcoming DLCs, one of which is exclusive to PlayStation), the user interface and technical issues. In fact, it saw a large player drop due to these issues, definitely not a good image on Square-Enix. Next flop is Balan Wonderworld. Its presentation, level design, gameplay and controls are utterly awful, though the music and character designs are cool. It’s so bad the demo was taken down on April 14 for consoles and April 15 for Steam. Apparently even Yuji Naka couldn’t make the most of the “one chance” he had on this game. While not clear at the moment, it’s possible that a buyout could bail the company out of any more financial issues and there are several parties who would be interested. Microsoft, who recently purchased ZeniMax Media, certainly has the budget to make another acquisition, which could give them a foothold into the Japanese market, not to mention that some of their games (Dragon Quest XI, Octopath Traveler and Outriders) were released on the Xbox Game Pass day one! Sony also worked with them to make Final Fantasy VII Remake exclusive to PlayStation for a while. Tencent or Epic Games could also potentially buy the company with money to spare.
Although this is purely a rumor with nothing concrete enough to judge, it is something to remember in case Square-Enix fails to do a best-seller or a game that’s successful enough to keep them afloat. Being purchased by either Microsoft or Sony could yield bad results: if it’s Microsoft, the company’s future projects would have to migrate to Xbox; if it’s Sony, it would likely hurt any chances of re-releasing old games to new hardware, due to PlayStation focusing on new games. As someone who played Just Cause 3, Dragon Quest XI, Octopath Traveler and Outriders, Square-Enix still has potential and can still make great games, plus we have five new games coming soon for Steam, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch, so I am certain the company can and will pull itself together and remain independent. All it takes is a home run.
Rumor: The Nintendo Switch Pro Succeeding The Nintendo 3DS
While the 3DS survived for a bit after the hybrid console Nintendo Switch, it was eventually phased out of Nintendo’s plans to focus on the Switch and its future. However, with recent rumors about an upgraded Switch, it seems the normal Switch and the Nintendo 3DS may have a lot more in common than fans initially thought. The 3DS got a whopping six different revisions for many types of players, assuming Nintendo is playing its cards right, the Switch Pro might become the ultimate successor to the 3DS. The company had plans for the handheld console which paid, making it a logical step to want to do the same for the Switch, starting with the Switch Lite
Firstly, let’s remember that the Switch became what the Wii U couldn’t: a hybrid console, perfect for home and handheld gaming. While playing on the big screen is nice and all, its portability is its major selling point, to the point that making the Switch Lite became a necessity. It seems like a logical step: reaching a wider market by releasing an affordable version, appealing to the casual gamers with its handheld-only design and with improved battery life to suit its portable nature. The Switch Lite’s creation created larger implications for the normal Switch, essentially becoming not just Nintendo’s flagship home console, but its major handheld console as well, after a past where portability was once a nice option and nice perk, now becoming the standard.
While rumors and supposed links are all the fans have to go off so far, the possible upcoming Switch revision is shaping up to be an upgrade like the New 3DS was to the normal 3DS. And just like the New 3DS, the Switch Pro will not replace the normal Switch, being just another nice option for more dedicated gamers who have the money to spare. Also just like the New 3DS upgrading the normal system and selling alongside it, the Switch Pro is rumored to improve the Switch’s hybrid capabilities, along with a bigger OLED display and docked 4K display, while living alongside the normal Switch and the Switch Lite.
While I mostly prefer the Switch since I cannot decide between home and handheld, and I certainly don’t plan to go 4K anytime soon, I agree that there is a market that demands a big upgrade for the Switch, especially for games that are more powerful than the console can handle, like HITMAN 3. And many gamers want graphics like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, including a 1080p resolution for handheld rather than 720p. If there’s one thing fans hope to see improved, it’s the Joy-Con joysticks, which can drift due to frequent use, letting dust gather or not updating them. Fans don’t want to have to either modify them or spend the price of a Nintendo game to get their Pro controller. So for passionate Switch gamers, this is definitely a great upgrade. Should Nintendo continue to capitalize on the Switch’s success and if the Switch Pro ever comes to fruition, the Switch might as well be the permanent quintessential console gamers should get.
Triple Game Recommendations for Xbox Game Pass
Halo 5: Guardians - Not just to catch up to the plot before the next game, but to also enjoy its gameplay. Firstly, you can now track your objective without getting lost. Secondly, you can dash. Finally, you can ram your enemies. I played it twice, it’s that good!
Gears 5 - The first Gears of War title I played since I renewed my Game Pass subscription. The gameplay is great, but some boss battles can be very challenging. The tutorial is awesome for beginners.
The Messenger - Based on a SNES Ninja Gaiden title while being its own thing, this game sees a ninja going on a straight forward quest to the top of a mountain to deliver the scroll, with a few boss battles to comprehend. It also pokes fun at most things relevant to the genre, especially whenever you respawn after dying.
If you like any of these games, you can buy them at a 20% discount as a Game Pass member. Only the third-party games come and go, while the first-party games (and games whose developer/publisher was absorbed by Microsoft) remain on the catalog indefinitely.
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