The Monday letters web page wonders what’s in retailer for Xbox in 2026, as one reader agrees that Tomb Raider wants to return to fundamentals.
Games Inbox is a set of our readers’ letters, feedback, and opinions. To take part with the discussions your self e-mail gamecentral@metro.co.uk
PLEASE NOTE: We are presently getting ready articles to run over the Christmas and New Year break, so should you’ve been pondering of writing a Reader’s Feature now can be the proper time to ship it in. It may be on any topic you need, so long as it’s a minimal of 500 phrases lengthy.
Promising previews
I assumed that was a fairly good The Game Awards on Friday. I didn’t wait for it however regardless of all of the leaks I assumed it was fairly fascinating and there have been nonetheless a good few surprises. Some of the video games have been a approach off however I used to be glad to see fairly a number of have been comparatively quickly.
That makes me suppose subsequent yr may be a little bit of a particular one for video games. This yr was as nicely however actually just for indie video games. I believe most huge identify video games have been a little bit of disappointment and total there wasn’t actually that lots of them – this Christmas is as quiet as I can keep in mind it in recent times.
Just for me personally, the video games I’m concerned with subsequent yr embody Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, Pragmata, Saros, GTA 6, High On Life 2, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Marvel’s Wolverine, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis. I gained’t get all of them, clearly, however they’re all of curiosity to me.
That doesn’t embody any indie video games, so should you add that on high we actually may very well be taking a look at an all-timer. Of course, 2025 regarded rather a lot higher this time final yr after which we had an underwhelming Switch 2 launch and a GTA 6 delay. So, I suppose the trick is to not take something as a right.
Futterman
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Highest bidder
I might total say that was one of many extra watchable The Game Awards, with a number of truly fascinating video games and a minimum of some surprises. I used to be very excited by the Star Wars video games and Tomb Raider and I don’t perceive why a kind of didn’t finish out the present because the mic drop on the finish, as a result of it appeared like the entire thing was going nicely after which it simply went out with a whimper with Highguard.
Or possibly it’s simply because that’s not my form of sport, however I used to be inspired by what number of fascinating wanting single-player video games there have been and the way a lot consideration Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was getting. If which means a number of extra comparable video games sooner or later, that aren’t tremendous costly and don’t take endlessly to make, then I’ll be very blissful and really optimistic about gaming sooner or later.
Tacle
GC: Everyone pays for his or her trailer slots at The Game Awards. Presumably Highguard paid greater than anybody else.
Reject the reboot
I agree with the Reader’s Feature that Tomb Raider must skew to the older video games not the newer ones. They’re not unhealthy video games and but there’s not likely something I might maintain from the reboot trilogy in a brand new set of video games. Everything that was good about them had nothing to do with Tomb Raider and will’ve been in any competent third particular person motion sport.
This new sport must deal with correct puzzles and platforming, that take actual ability, and on making Lara Croft somebody you want. A good story you could keep in mind for greater than two seconds after it occurs can be good too, however I’m not going to go loopy with my calls for. Not now I do know dinosaurs are in it.
Iceman
Email your feedback to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
The yr forward
So, I see we’re again to Microsoft making homework type excuses once more, this time about why they weren’t at The Game Awards. Sure, they do at all times have a showcase early within the new yr, however additionally they used The Game Awards to announce the Xbox Series X. Or possibly that’s why they didn’t need to do it once more, contemplating how that went!
Someone mentioned about how all their video games this yr have been a flop and it’s exhausting to disagree, despite the fact that we don’t get gross sales figures. I do suppose they may do higher subsequent yr although. They’ve obtained Forza Horizon 6, which is a assured hit now that the sequence is on PlayStation 5, and also you’ve obtained Fable, which certainly needs to be out quickly.
If it’s not I’d query whether or not it’s ever even going to come back out. If Microsoft is in a cash saving part proper now then spending one other yr on the sport, plus all the cash wanted for advertising, it might genuinely be cheaper to only can it and minimize their losses. I don’t suppose it’s doubtless however in a approach it may be helpful, if it places publishers off counting on such huge, costly, and unmanageable video games.
Xane
18-rated motion
I’m guessing Ninja Gaiden 4 isn’t talked about as a result of it was a flop! It’s PlatinumGames at their violent finest although and virtually nearly as good as Metal Gear Rising.
I’m by no means been a fan of most of these video games as a result of I can’t be bothered to be taught combos, however it has a number of primary strikes that maintain me going and I simply test the tutorials every now and then to get a number of further strikes.
It’s so violent and the kills are tremendous satisfying. It’s an actual gem.
Simon
Nintendo after darkish
Completely agree with the criticism of Metroid Prime 4 over the weekend, specific the Reader’s Feature blaming the characterisation of Samus Aran – or slightly the whole lack of it.
I put this right down to Nintendo being too cowardly to attempt to make her a correct character, so it may disguise behind letting the participant make up their very own concept of what they suppose she’s like. If they have been to do it correctly they’d need to take care of her having a tough childhood and having communication issues (to place it mildly!) as an grownup.
But, as was mentioned, Nintendo by no means offers with that form of factor. Nobody in Nintendo video games has real-world issues and I believe they’re not comfy with addressing that form of factor. They’re in all probability proper too, it’s not what their household pleasant viewers need to hear. But then once more, Metroid will not be the type of sport the entire household goes to be concerned with.
Either they should invent some type of Nintendo grownup label, which they’ll by no means do, or at make Samus Aran a simplistic stereotype like Myles and his crew of losers.
Some generic quips and primary dialogue, alongside the strains of some other abnormal motion hero, would nonetheless have been rather a lot higher than a grown lady standing round ignoring folks as they discuss to her, and them treating that as if it’s regular.
Or, and this appears the obvious factor, simply put her in a setting that doesn’t have some other folks round, like many of the Metroid video games. Metroid Prime 4 creates so many issues for itself that didn’t have to occur that I couldn’t even take pleasure in it for the graphics and exploration.
Wotan
Christmas present
Hope all Game Central readers, Underboxers, and GameCentral workers have a very good Christmas and get the sport or video games they want. On Epic Games Store on PC presently, till Thursday 18th January, you will get Hogwarts Legacy free!
Thank you to everybody who helped me in choosing the proper PC elements for my new PC this yr. I’m presently 70% by Bioshock 1 Remastered on my new PC.
Andrew J.
A brand new hope
Very excited to listen to about Star Wars: The Fate Of The Old Republic. A whole shock and for as soon as every thing about it sounded excellent: single-player, the unique director, and Andor references!
Having all new characters appears a little bit of a damaging at first however I believe it’s simple for followers to neglect how lengthy it’s been because the originals, which with out the remake will not be one thing youthful video games are more likely to take pleasure in.
So I believe a brand new crew, and possibly connections to issues like Andor and the High Republic, which didn’t exist when the unique video games have been made, can be nice. I’m certain they’ll throw some cameos in anyway although, particularly somebody like HK-47, who doesn’t want a lot of an excuse to nonetheless be round.
Combine that with the brand new racing gaming and I’m out of the blue feeling very optimistic about Star Wars video games, after feeling that in all probability firms have been pulling again from it after Star Wars Outlaws. It’s an actual disgrace about that sport, as a result of I did really feel it was fairly good, however I do hope we get one thing else set within the seedier facet of the universe and hopefully Battlefront 3.
I’m unsure if EA are actually on board although, as I don’t suppose they’re the writer on both of those new video games? Which is comprehensible as each are being made by those that used to work at builders they personal!
Tim Rogers
GC: They didn’t say who the writer was, apart from Lucasfilm Games. But up until now they’ve not dealt with something instantly.
Inbox also-rans
This is the second yr in a row we’ve had unhealthy loser at The Game Awards. Last time it was Black Myth: Wukong and this time it was Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. I don’t get it although, how might you not suppose it was going to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, whether or not you prefer it or not.
Sophus
That new Street Fighter film appears to be like freaky. I’m unsure going for ‘so unhealthy it’s good’ from the off is absolutely a good suggestion. The costumes are humorous however it’s going to need to have a extremely good script to not be a complete embarrassment. Especially as they’ll’t depend on the wonderful Raul Julia.
Benson
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The small print
New Inbox updates seem each weekday morning, with particular Hot Topic Inboxes on the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on advantage and could also be edited for size and content material.
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