Is the PlayStation 6 really only two years away? (Credits: Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/Shu)The Thursday letters page pits Steam Deck vs. Asus ROG Ally vs. Lenevo Legion Go, as a reader loses faith in the developers of Battlefield 6.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukSkipping aheadWell, I guess we know what 2025 is going to be all about now; not just Switch 2 and GTA 6 but PlayStation 6 and probably next gen Xbox too. I dont know anyone that wants the last two but already weve got leaked specs for Sonys new machine and even if theyre not real it wont be long before we know for sure.The question after that is when will Sony announce it officially? The PS5 Pro was leaked years before it was announced, so I dont think Sony like to be rushed. But if specs are being leaked now, I dont see it coming out any later than 2027.Looking back Sony started talking about the PlayStation 5 in spring 2019 and then released the specs in October just over a year before it was released. If they follow that same pattern for a 2026 launch then theyd start talking about it early next year, but that really seems too early to me. So, Im going to bet on a 2027 release.If we do start getting announcements early next year though, perhaps in an attempt to counter the Switch 2, I dont think theyre going to go down as well as Sony thinks. If PS5 Pro got a backlash just imagine how its going to be when people who havent even upgraded from a PlayStation 4 yet realise theres yet another console coming out. Theyll end up skipping a whole generation.BarnsleyReading the signsSounds like Nintendo is not messing about with the Switch 2, if the story about how much stock theyre getting ready is true. Theres not much you can draw from that except that theyre confident and its probably not that expensive as a console. You dont start stockpiling something thats going to be super expensive.Nintendo are many things, but they know when theyve got a hit on their hands and they know when theyve got a flop. They dropped the Wii U like a rock when they realised it wasnt working out (which Im sure they knew from the start really) and didnt waste any extra resources on it, as they immediately focused on something else.If Nintendo wasnt sure about the Switch 2 wed be able to tell, not just in terms of the stock but the advertising and the launch games. If all that is looking good when it is finally announced then theyre probably right to be confident about it.GoldacheFootery ExtremeRegarding Chris portable PC pickle, there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, Id say to pay attention to the processors in the ROG Ally and Legion Go. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme is the current top of the line and offers real performance boosts compared to the Steam Deck, but the non-extreme versions dont seem to be well reviewed compared to Steam Deck.Some earlier ROG Ally devices also had issues with the micro SD cards being damaged (melted in the slot I believe) so look out for that. The safest option is probably the newer ROG Ally X but that comes at a premium.I can say that the Steam Deck has been great for me and given I mostly use it to play PlayStation 3/4 era games Ive never been disappointed with it. If your son is looking to play more modern games at anything other than low quality settings/~30fps the more powerful Ally or Legion Go is the way to go (but also dont expect high-end gaming PC equivalent performance).One area of consensus is that Steam Deck benefits from better support from Valve and a nice console lite interface, whereas the Windows-based devices can be more footery. Let us know what you decide!MagnumstacheEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThird optionIn regards to the Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally debate, I have a fair bit of first hand knowledge in regards to this, as I was fortunate enough to own a Steam Deck, which I have since traded in for a Lenevo Legion Go.Firstly, theres a number of options in regards to the Steam Deck. Firstly, the OLED vs LCD. The OLED is the better option, as it comes with a better battery and more storage and the screen is said to be considerably more vibrant. In this respect the OLED Steam Deck also beats the Rog Ally, which has a shorter battery life and an LCD screen, which is much less bright.The Steam Deck has an interface that is easier to use than most other handheld devices and a little more in keeping with a console experience. The ROG Ally, on the other hand, is said to be a little less so. However, do be aware that even on the Steam Deck you will need to alter the graphical settings for certain games to run well.The advantages of the Rog Ally are that it is more powerful and therefore theoretically more demanding AAA games will run better. It may also have a longer shelf life for this reason. The ROG Ally will also play games from storefronts other than Steam, such as Epic Games, as well as Games Pass and Windows games. This is technically possible on Steam Deck but requires some slightly advanced tinkering.If you are considering the ROG Ally may I slightly complicate matters and suggest the Legion Go; it has the same processor as the Rog Ally, so performance is similar and can also play Windows games, etc. However, it has a bigger 8.8 inch screen capable of higher resolutions, so games look great. Also, you can detach the controllers like a switch and also it has a controller than can function as a mouse.The RRP was more at launch but these days it seems to be around the same price as the Rog Ally.Worth keeping in mind with both the Rog Ally and the Legion Go, is that the battery will only last around two hours when playing very demanding games, whereas the Steam Deck OLED version is said to be much improved over the Rog Ally and even the LCD Steam Deck. This doesnt matter too much if, like me, you intend to play in bed where you have easy access to a plug but will be a factor if you will play for more extended sessions on the move.In summary, the Steam Deck is slightly more user friendly, a better screen and battery (In the OLED version). The ROG Ally and Legion Go have better performance and can play Game Pass games, etc. and the Legion Go also has a bigger, higher resolution screen, detachable controllers, and one that will work as a mouse.matc7884 Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree game of the year material, again (Bandai Namco)Out of contentionI dont think Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree deserves a Game of the Year nomination, never mind win.I love Elden Ring as much as anyone. And Bloodborne is easily my greatest of all time. So Im not a FromSoftware hater.I actually think Hidetaka Miyazaki Is the heir apparent to Shigeru Miyamoto.Obviously, the games they directed/lead the design on are very different, except for in one very important way. They both have made a name for putting out games of exceptional quality.With that said, I dont think Shadow Of The Erdtree is all that great. I think it was released before it was ready.Thats a very different thing to saying a Ubisoft or EA game released too early, but no cut scene when you enter the Lands of Shadow or for Renalla support this. As does the base game talismans not working on incants, spells, and wot not from the DLC.The map verticality is just plain confusing. Im on my third playthrough and I still have to google how to get to the Hinterlands and deal with Shadow Keep, just from a Where the eff am I? kind of deal.The map also has a lot of absolutely nothing. No items or enemies. Areas that only exist for the purpose of making the map larger.Comparing Shadow Of The Erdtree to The Old Hunters puts it into an interesting perspective. FromSoftware are a safe pair of hands for expansions but their DLC is not all created equally.The Old Hunters isnt just a really tight gameplay experience, which adds some of gamings most iconic bosses and weapons pizza cutter go brr it also expands on the lore built in the base game.You cant say any of that about Shadow of The Erdtree. Im not saying the expansion is bad. I am saying it isnt worthy of Game of the Year. Not by a long way.P.EllaProblems with PortalsSince getting a PlayStation 5 with a PlayStation Portal, Ive used the Portal a lot. I have to say its streaming quality is really, really good. Its also got a really nice screen that is a decent size.However, everything else about the thing aint that great! Nothing to the extent that you wouldnt use the thing, its just possibly the worst designed device out there.I know some people didnt like what it looks like, but I actually did. That was until I realised its the most impractical thing to keep anywhere. Its not going to fit in cases of any description and the shape seems designed to get caught on stuff.Next is the controls. Theres a reason no other handheld device has the thumbsticks there and while you get used to it, its just not as nice to hold as the others. It is essentially just a regular PlayStation 5 controller, but the extra length and weight make a big difference when youre trying to hold the thing in one hand and keep your thumb on the thumbstick.Lastly, and this is trivial but annoying. It feels like they purposefully tried to hide the power and volume buttons along the top. Unlike the Switch or Logitech GCloud, which have them on the top edge, theyre recessed behind the screen. The white back panel is also slightly higher than them so when you press over the screen it blocks your finger from actually pressing the buttons.Id still recommend the device, but only really because its got a decent screen and is cheaper than all the others. If PlayStation 6 really is a handheld (which I would welcome) I hope they up their game with hardware design, because this really does feel like just accepting a lot of negatives just for a good screen.TimSecond opinionsPlaytesting Battlefield 6 for a year, or whatever theyre doing, is all well and good, but is no one else worried that the developers themselves dont know whether the game is good or not without asking fans? Why couldnt they work out that Battlefield 2045 was a dud themselves? And why do they need a year of asking everyone they can think of to know if the new one is good or not?I dont know whos left that used to work on the original games but Im going to guess its very few if anyone. In my opinion, the new game should have either been farmed out to a completely different developer or the franchise just laid to rest for a while. If Battlefield 6 doesnt work out, are they going to do two years of testing for Battlefield 7?GoremanEnd of the lineWith just over a month to go before 2024 comes to end, weve had the release of two games that, in some gamers eyes, have ruined the two series going forward forever.Those games are Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown and Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. Games that had been years in the making, after fans had wished to see a new entry in each series.In fact, I was one of those who was about to buy an Xbox Series X just so I could play one of those games but after an extremely poor launch with connection issues and content that made Test Drive Unlimited a Test Drive Unlimited game left out, I decided to put my saved pounds towards the Swiitch TwU.Then a month later, a new Life Is Strange game is released.Fans of that series had been wanting a new game set in that universe for sometime, including me, with some of them wanting two characters bought back.Not me though!Bringing back a character already beloved by many is always a risk due to ruining what made people like them in the first place.And now, here we are post-launch of both games, with fans unhappy with either game. I know its hard to please everyone, especially gamers, but their grievances are genuine.Why do so many developers/publishers run this risk?The obvious answer is to make money off of nostalgia.But is the negativity worth it?As regards Solar Crown, gamers have said that this release has killed the Test Drive Unlimited franchise off forever.In fact, the only benefit from Solar Crowns bad start is that all the Test Drive fans have started talking about and sharing the love they had/have about its predecessor, Test Drive Unlimited 2, which is not what you want when you have a brand spanking new product just released.LeighDappaInbox also-ransRE: DS games. You forgot Bangai-O Spirits. Amazing game.RaveGC: It was on our short list, but we still think of it as a Dreamcast franchise especially as Spirits doesnt make any particular use of the DSs unusual set-up.RE: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Was really looking forward to playing it, but once again Microsoft fluffed it with the release. Such a shame that it mostly runs off the cloud, with wait times of up to two hours just to access the servers. Dont think Ill be playing it unless they let me download the entire of the game.SeismicbowMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: Is Half-Life 2 a bad game nowadays?GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy