General gaming discussion

Anois_ · 28-01-2026 06:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124187909#Comment_124187909

They learned from the best. Gamepass, achievements, Xbox live(what ever playstation calls it. That's what it was called on Xbox back in 360 days) and what ever else they copied.

Zero-Cool · 28-01-2026 06:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124187850#Comment_124187850

Finally!!! Everyone gets to play Subnautica Below Zero! It's not as good as the first game but it's still a lot of fun, highly recommend it.

The Raging Bile Duct · 28-01-2026 07:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124187927#Comment_124187927

Thankfully XBox kept innovating to leave the PlayStation in the dust.

McFly85 · 28-01-2026 11:59PM

Decided to go through Leon’s games ahead of RE9 later this month(well, the 2 and 4 remakes. I’ve never played 6 and have no intention to!).

Started 2 this evening and I forgot just how great of a remake it is. The perfect blend of action and survival horror. I do love 4 but 2 is probably the pinnacle of the series.

CianDS · 29-01-2026 03:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124187850#Comment_124187850

I used to see see a lot of people crapping on Undisputed but if you're into boxing games it isn't bad at all, especially now that you can get it for free. Although still doesn't come close to the likes of Fight Night.

Ace Combat 7 is also a fun time

Corvo · 29-01-2026 10:01AM

Thats an excellent line up. Will certainly download Undisputed, Subnautica (even though the first one scared the living day lights out of me) and Ultros.

Never heard of the last one so I'll give it a miss…

Retr0gamer · 29-01-2026 11:05AM

https://bsky.app/profile/obsoletesony.com/post/3mdkdem3u322j

Penn · 29-01-2026 11:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189397#Comment_124189397

First console I ever bought day one, because I was old enough to buy it with my own money.

…old enough…

…old…

…so very old…

Zero-Cool · 29-01-2026 11:25AM

For anyone trying Subnautica, i highly recommend choosing the mode that disables hunger and thirst. I like survival games but found the hunger/thirst was getting in the way of enjoying exploring the incredible world and story. Some people enjoy it and fair enough but definitely don't let it get in the way of enjoying the game. There's plenty of more things that can kill you and there's so much to explore, collect and build. Completely changed experience with the game for the better.

Retr0gamer · 29-01-2026 11:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189442#Comment_124189442

I got mine a year after launch and it was such a bad console for months. I only picked it up as I was in America and it was cheaper and they hadn't stopped selling the backwards compatible systems yet. The US versions also had much better backwards compatibility.

It slowly got better and then Demon's Souls happened.

RoyalCelt · 29-01-2026 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124173752#Comment_124173752

I think if it's heading that way Sony will just push back the PS6 a year or two. They could even do three.

I'm not seeing any complaints like there was with the PS4. The store, friends list, messages, party's on ps5 are still very snappy. Especially the Pro. Games are loading super fast still thanks to the SSD. I don't think the average owner would start asking for a PS6 until 2028 tbh. And with Xbox out of the picture there's no pressure on Sony to press ahead.

Penn · 29-01-2026 11:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189484#Comment_124189484

Add to that the diminishing returns from higher graphics and fidelity to the point that most people opt for performance modes rather than quality modes because the difference in graphics is nearly indistinguishable compared to the difference between playing at 30fps or 60fps. The PS5 Pro does a great job at accomplishing both, but even a PS6 with that as its base just isn't going to move a lot of people from the PS5 to a PS6.

The SSD was the big factor in the improvement between the PS4 and the PS5, but given the likely lack of competition from Xbox, costs of hardware, and likelihood that there'll be little real improvement in performance distinguishable to most people, yeah I'd say Sony could afford to take a bit of extra time with the PS6 in the hopes the AI bubble bursts and prices for hardware fall back a bit.

Oh god… the next consoles are going to be jammed with AI bullsh*t, aren't they…

Zero-Cool · 29-01-2026 12:22PM

Witcher 3 expansion rumoured to release in May, cave wait for a new excuse to dive back in.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2016817184454963576

JimBurnley · 29-01-2026 12:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189595#Comment_124189595

Never got round to playing Witcher 3. Does it still hold up today?

Penn · 29-01-2026 12:39PM

Never actually played the DLCs for TW3. Was kind of burned out on the game by the end. I wouldn't say no to maybe giving the game another shot (having the foreknowledge of what to not get too sidetracked on and the bits of the story I just need to power through, as the main story quests in Novigrad almost made me quit the game altogether) along with the DLCs.

Plus Gwent. I needs me more Gwent.

johnny_ultimate · 29-01-2026 12:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189642#Comment_124189642

Yep, far superior to Cyberpunk 2077 IMO. Always had a few weaknesses like some dodgy combat at times and fiddly inventory management, but very playable overall and has been very well supported over the years.

Finished the main game but never got around to Blood & Wine - a new expansion would be a good excuse to give that a go.

Zero-Cool · 29-01-2026 12:46PM

Blood and Wine was better than full released games that year, one of the greatest dlc's ever released, just incredible amount of work CDPR put into it. Witcher 3 next Gen update was such a nice bonus but i didn't play much. Think i might go back to blood and Wine now (think you can start a fresh level 30 save with it).

Penn · 29-01-2026 12:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189642#Comment_124189642

Yeah like JU said, the combat was never that great and the inventory management could be a pain (so many books and junk, and ingredients for potions/buffs you'll likely never bother using). A lot of side missions could feel somewhat repetitive too (scan the area for three clues, follow the trail of blood/scent/footprints, kill monsters/enemies, collect gear/reward).

But CDPR have continuously buffed the game with better graphics and performance, and the core game itself is a really great experience which would still hold up today.

Personally I had a far better time with Cyberpunk 2077 as I just enjoyed that world, combat and story a lot more, but can't deny that The Witcher 3 is a really great game.

MikeRyan87 · 29-01-2026 12:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189653#Comment_124189653

I havent played TW3 since it was released but I assume it still holds up today with it getting a next gen patch recently enough. Hearts of Stone and especially Blood and Wine were both incredible when they came out as well.

Never went down the Gwent rabbit hole thankfully.

Can't wait for the new DLC if it does indeed come out this year(hope it does for the fantasy critic). Will be there day 1.

awec · 29-01-2026 01:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189642#Comment_124189642

IMO it's ok. The movement and combat are fairly janky by modern standards, I am not sure if they've remastered it but I found the framerate to be really annoying.

The first 1/3 of the game is crap in my opinion. Until you get past a certain quest, and get to leave the first area (well the second area really but the first area is tiny and very short), I found the game a bit of a slog. The last 2/3 are very interesting story wise.

Penn · 29-01-2026 01:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189697#Comment_124189697

"Never went down the Gwent rabbit hole thankfully."

I've mentioned before about how the only reason I finished the game was because of Gwent. Never got too involved in it at the start, but I eventually reached a point in the main story where I was losing interest in the game as it really felt like it was starting to drag. Said I'd do a few side missions while deciding whether or not to continue on with the game.

One side mission was a Gwent tournament, and I started to get the hang of it and a better understanding of it. Then I started going back to places to play Gwent with characters I might have skipped, gaining more cards in the process. Then I got to the point where the only way to play more Gwent and get better cards was to progress the main story. Brute forced my way through the bit that was dragging, regained interest in the story, and started enjoying the game as a whole again. And also got to play more Gwent.

Even ended up buying and playing Thronebreaker, a standalone Gwent game, which I also really enjoyed (well, until the end where it seems like unless you use a very specific set of cards and strategy you'll almost certainly be beaten, meaning I had to rebuild my entire deck and use an unfamiliar strategy just to finish the game).

johnny_ultimate · 29-01-2026 01:09PM

While I thoroughly enjoyed Gwent in the main game, I think the standalone versions miss what makes it special. What's great about Gwent in TW3 is that it's pretty unbalanced and tipped in the player's favour - it's not designed to be played by two real people in a properly competitive environment. There's a strong narrative impetus behind it, that only grows stronger as you engage with it more. Playing Gwent is an arc and story in itself, embedded into the world. It's sort of broken and not great when it comes to properly balanced game design, and that's why it works so well. Same as King's Blood, or Triple Triad back in the day.

There's a recent physical release of Gwent which seems to just be a straight adaptation of the game without all the fluff the standalone versions added. Would be tempted to buy it as much as a nice little thing to have on the shelf as much as a game you'd actually play!

Penn · 29-01-2026 01:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189735#Comment_124189735

Yeah Thronebreaker was a very different animal altogther. There was a small RPG element to it in terms of narrative, collecting resources, talking with NPCs, making decisions, building up your camp etc (which is what I was more looking for compared to the competitive multiplayer Gwent game they released), but ultimately it was more of a general deck-building game and required far more planning and strategy than Gwent in TW3.

dulpit · 29-01-2026 01:57PM

Currently playing Vampire Survivors on my ROG Ally for those in-between work meeting times, and I'm playing Spider-man 2 on my big boy PC. Suggestions on next big game to play? I am a fan of 3rd person open world games (GTA, Spider-man games, RDR2 is the best of all time), but I'm not adverse to other genres too.

What'll I do?

recyclops · 29-01-2026 02:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189735#Comment_124189735

I picked up a real life Gwent deck when the games came out it was a promo CDPR did, great little card game.

Mr. CooL ICE · 29-01-2026 02:43PM

Put 200+ hours into TW3 across two playthroughs including both expansions. Agree with the above; combat is basic and B&W is amazing. I liked the inventory management but admit that yes, fiddly as hell.

Roach is the true MVP of that universe.

Zero-Cool · 29-01-2026 05:19PM

I loved the Cairn demo and full game releases today at 5pm our time i think. Getting great reviews, currently 87 on open critic. Might have to climb on the hype train.

https://youtu.be/ubafbH5JZ2Y?si=CpIaJyMN_McbHj62

Anois_ · 29-01-2026 05:25PM

I loved The Witcher 3. But I played the GOTY edition that included both DLC's and played from main game to the first DLC and then Blood and Wine last and kinda rushed through it. Not because I wasn't enjoying it but just after putting so many hours into the game I just wanted to finish it. I never got into Gwent. I even got someone

killed in one mission where you play a game of gwent with his life on the line.

I was just so bad at it as I never put any time into learning it.

edit: F**king site acting up with spoiler tags.

The Raging Bile Duct · 29-01-2026 05:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189696#Comment_124189696

I enjoyed both the TW3 and Cyberpunk, which I played after everything got cleaned up. I played the expansion packs for TW3 straight after finishing the main game and thought they were fantastic. Played Phantom Liberty recently about a year and a half after playing the main game and found it a chore after taking such a big break from it. Trying to remember all the different progression trees and dealing with the inventory management was a pain in the hole.

Anois_ · 29-01-2026 05:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124190493#Comment_124190493

I loved Cyberpunk too but haven't started Phantom Liberty. I said I will give myself a break before playing it. I played the W3 and DLC straight from one to the other and for what ever reason I rushed what is suppose to be the best DLC which was B and W as I just wanted to finish it from putting so many hours into the game and first DLC without a break.

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