Forget the next gen hype smoke screen, the console market is a wounded animal right now.
In the midst of the leanest period anyone can ever recall, traditional retailers are looking at the new release schedule for the next five months with nervous disbelief.
In previous years, the second and third tier releases could always tide over the industry during quieter periods, but not any more. It's blockbuster or nothing, and that not only hurts retailers, but the wider gaming media.
In short, if products aren't being released, they're not being advertised, and if the marketing money well is dry, the knock-on effect to those who rely on it is easy to predict.
From Software parent company Kadokawa has released its financials for the year, and while profits are down, Armored Core has performed surprisingly well.
Capcom has announced that Resident Evil 4 remake sales are now at over 7 million units, Street Fighter 6 is at 3.3 million and more.
Fallout 76 players have dropped the big one on Phil Spencer in response to Xbox's closures of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks this week.
No summer drought for me this year.
Project X Zone
Shadow Runs Returns
Time and Eternity
Shin Megami Tensei 4
Tales of Xillia
Grim Dawn .
So overall great Summer for me on various platforms. Pondering about Saints Row 4 ... but the series has gone so far off the rails now.
After Last of Us nothing until August for me.
I can finally clear my backlog before my next gen backlog begins.
Last of Us
June 14th
Summer drought? I still want to platinum Bioshock Infinite and Ni no Kuni!?
add Muramasa and Dragons Crown to that...summer drought? what console/handheld do you own buddy?
The Last of Us - June,
New Splinter Cell - August,
Not as bad as last summers game drought! Plus I still have yet to play the new Tomb raider or Dead Island: Riptide, so my gaming needs are fulfilled for the summer!
Obviously this author isnt talking about the PS3 unless said author hasn't been looking at the PS3's release schedule.