That's a wrap on 2025

-
The end of 2025 draws near. So I thought I'd reflect on my gaming this year and ponder on what awaits in 2026.

I looked at my Steam and PS5 play history to see what I played this year and was surprised to see at least 13 games were played for the first time. At least 4 of them were AAA titles released this year. As someone that usually waits for a year or two for fully patched GOTY editions or sales I'm pretty sure that's a new personal record.

The big change in my gaming habits started in May when my girlfriend got me a PlayStation Portal for my birthday. The PS5 had moved into my office the year before so I could stream Elden Ring. This meant if I wanted to play any of my games on console or PC, I could only do so in the office.

I joke that she got me the Portal to get me out of the office and back on the couch to keep her company while she watches K-dramas but there might actually be something to that.
Obligatory dog photo


Either way, it's been a game changer. It only streams from the console so it's not like I can take it out to the park and play games as you could on say a SteamDeck. But I don't need it to. I'm happy enough just being able to jump into a game immediately after watching a tv show and not having to get off the couch.

It was a great way to play through Star Wars Outlaws, which I have previously sung the praises of in this blog. I played majority of Ghost of Yotei on it. Working my way to the one Platinum I was 100% committed to getting this year no matter how long it took.

I'm usually late to the party on most things gaming and remote play is no different. The industry is leaning towards handheld hardware capable of running games themselves like the Deck or ROG Ally but I think remote streamers like the Portal still have something to offer. 

Testing the Gamesir X5s with Untitled Goose Game
I wanted a way to access my PC games in a similar way so I recently bought a Gamesir mobile controller and an Android tablet. After setting that up I decided to test it on a game in my library I had never played. Ironically I went with Valve's 2007 release, Portal. (Take a drink every time Portal is mentioned)

I can't believe I missed the boat on that game when it came out. My brain nearly melted while working my way through those puzzles.

A friend said I should have streamed it and I can see why. It would have been a great game to play on the channel. Which brings to my next topic.

Things have been busier than ever and I've struggled to find time to stream, let alone record and edit down videos for the channel. The handhelds haven't helped in that sense as I find myself wanting to play more games just for myself when I do have free time.

I'm contemplating focusing less on edited playthroughs. It took me 5 months after finishing the story for Monster Hunter Wilds on stream before I finally uploaded the last edited video. I decided for Indiana Jones that I would just stream it and leave the full vods up on the channel. The same method I have done for my Elden Ring playthrough. It was much less stressful to be able to just focus on the game without the thought of having to edit in the back of my mind.

There's a big list of games I still want to play on the channel. However it's starting to become like the same problem when you open Netflix. You don't know what to put on so you just watch re-watch something you've already seen before.

So I'm not sure what I'll be playing next or when I'll even start to stream it. The transition to the new year is always a busy one. But when I do have something in mind I'll be sure to let everyone know on the socials.

I'll wrap things up here with my top 5 games on PlayStation for 2025:

1. Ghost of Yotei
2. Star Wars Outlaws
3. Monster Hunter Wilds
4. Elden Ring
5. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

As determined by Sony

Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to watch any of my silliness throughout the year. I look forward to doing it again in 2026.
It took forever to time this shot

Popular posts from this blog

The Devil is in the detail

-
Image
  There is a famous quote in Jurassic Park from Jeff Goldblum's Dr Ian Malcolm. "Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." Last week Rockstar released a new trailer for the much hyped GTA 6. Viewers were amazed by the technical marvel that Rockstar had delivered. Many reviewers and gaming sites were picking their jaws up off the floor in reaction to the brightly lit and colourful display of Vice City it's various attractions and activities. One thing that stood out to me was everyone reacting to a clip of a customer walking out of a store with a six-pack of beer. They zoomed in and watched in disbelief as the individual bottles all had liquid that had been rendered to realistically move and splash as if in the real world. I might be showing my age as someone that grew up with a SEGA MegaDrive and looking like Abe Simpson yelling at a cloud, but when did we get to this point in gaming? Don't get me...
Read more

A Wretched Blog of Scum and Villainy

-
Image
It's the 48th anniversary of the premier of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. So what better way to celebrate than by giving a brief rundown of my relationship with the fandom over the years. Let me set the table for you. I grew up in the 90s. Endlessly watching the Original Trilogy on VHS. Return of the Jedi is my favourite of the franchise, fuelled mostly by being the first one I saw on the big screen during the Special Edition release. I saw Phantom Menace opening night and loved it. I played the tie in PlayStation game religiously. Attack of the Clones was just as thrilling. I was excited to see so many lightsabres in one setting and Yoda being an absolute badass. When Revenge of the Sith came out I thought it was one of the greatest send offs to a film franchise we would ever get. Fast forward some 20 years and now there are numerous tv shows, spinoff movies, books, comics, video games and also, sadly, a great deal of "fans" that will tell you everything they make no...
Read more