![\"PlayStation](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_261287716-db09.jpg\")
\n\t\tHow much trouble are they really in? (Metro)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tHow much trouble are they really in? (Metro)<\/p>\n
Following Xbox<\/a>\u2019s mass layoffs and PlayStation\u2019s perplexing physical media annoucement, a reader argues that both formats are ill-equipped to survive the next 10 years.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve all seen the news this week about Xbox: 1,200 developers laid off already<\/a>, another 1,200 within 12 months, and 9,000+ in total over the last three years. Five studios sold off or going independent and all the ones that are left losing people. Thanks to the rumours we knew it was going to happen, so unlike the Sony<\/a> bomb drop last week, about no more physical media<\/a>, you had time to get used to the idea, but it\u2019s still horrible.<\/p>\n What\u2019s just as bad, in my view, is how much Microsoft<\/a> obviously don\u2019t care and how random the layoffs are (I agree that it was probably organised via AI), with veterans being cut<\/a> as if they were expendable interns. I bet the exec salaries for one year could pay for all the people they let go, but of course they\u2019d never do that.<\/p>\n The other thing that disturbs me is how little many of my fellow gamers seem to care. They\u2019re much more upset that The Elder Scrolls 6 might be delayed some more, or that Blade game from Arkane might not happen, than they are about the livelihood of the people that make the games they love. And no, they can\u2019t just get another job easily, not in the games industry anyway, because Microsoft is far from the only one going crazy with layoffs at the moment.<\/p>\n A year or two ago anyone who suggested that Xbox was on the edge of total collapse would\u2019ve been shouted down as a fanboy and being part of the console wars. Even though it was obvious the direction things were going it\u2019s really only now that people are beginning to accept that Xbox is on the ropes.<\/p>\n But still there\u2019s fans saying that they can make a comeback, but by doing what? Releasing a new Halo<\/a>? A new Gears Of War<\/a>? It\u2019s not 2005 anymore, nobody cares about those franchises anymore, or at least not enough people to make any difference. Yes, it\u2019s possible that some new sequel could have some amazing new change of direction, like God Of War or Zelda, but Gears Of War: E-Day is obviously not that and I have extreme doubts that the next Halo will be either.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n Fans need to accept that Xbox\u2019s situation is terminal. There\u2019s a good chance Microsoft already does, and this is just them trying to do a graceful exit or performing for investors or whatever, but there\u2019s no saving Xbox as anything other than just a third party publisher, in my opinion<\/a>.<\/p>\n At this point I don\u2019t feel that\u2019s too controversial a thing to say, but I also feel PlayStation is in terminal decline too. It\u2019s got further to go than Xbox but it\u2019s still suffering from the same kind of bone-headed execs and a complete disconnect from the fans. All we want is more first party games and that sense of excitement back, of PlayStation leading gaming into a healthy future.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t get that anymore though. No exec ever appears in public \u2013 I have literally no idea who\u2019s in charge at the moment \u2013 and new games get announced at a snail\u2019s pace. There\u2019s no excitement and no sense of interaction with fans, as every important annoucement is made with just a bland tweet or blog post.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n PlayStation 5<\/a> is the only choice now for high-end games, but it doesn\u2019t feel like it\u2019s leading anything, it\u2019s just the default, the only option, and Sony are taking that as a reason to do as little as possible, while constantly increasing prices.<\/p>\n The increasing prices is nobody\u2019s fault, even if the idea of making less profit doesn\u2019t seem to have even occurred to Microsoft and Sony, but I feel this is going to be the death of traditional console gaming (baring Nintendo<\/a>, who I\u2019ve not mentioned as they always do their own thing \u2013 and usually know to keep prices low, because they have said they\u2019re taking more of a hit on the Switch 2<\/a> now).<\/p>\n Nobody\u2019s going to buy a \u00a31,000+ PlayStation 6 or whatever Project Helix turns out to be. Nobody\u2019s going to pay \u00a380 or more for next gen games either, if they do the obvious thing and increase the price for them and PS Plus\/Game Pass. Gaming is just too expensive now and while Sony and Microsoft could\u2019ve survived that if they were at the top of their game, with amazing new exclusives and plenty of communication from the people in charge, explaining what they\u2019re doing \u2013 but that\u2019s not how they\u2019ve played it at all.<\/p>\n In 10 years\u2019 time I would be surprised if gaming was anything other than PCs and Nintendo consoles, with Xbox and PlayStation either gone completely or only third party publishers. It\u2019ll be a miserable end for them, but they\u2019ve only brought it on themselves with their arrogance and greed.<\/p>\n By reader Wotan<\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t The reader\u2019s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.<\/p>\n You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.<\/p>\n Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a> or use our Submit Stuff page<\/a> and you won\u2019t need to send an email.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"PS5](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_272565505-f395.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt\u2019s certainly not been a good couple of weeks for either company (Metro)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Choo-Choo Charles reader review \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Video games need an expiry date if they\u2019re going to be digital only – Reader’s Feature<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: What on earth is happening to the video games industry? – Reader’s Feature<\/a><\/p>\n