What videogames are you playing in 2026?

[TwoSix]

The following clearly shows I don't game (much) anymore, but: don't most/all AAA titles released these days require servers to run ?

Not all of them, but far too many, yes.

Now, a fair number of them are just doing basic authentication, which doesn't cost very much to maintain, so as long as the company is solvent, they can usually stay on. It's games with heavy multiplayer components that are generally the most vulnerable (although there are plenty of exceptions).

 

[Reynard]

I miss longer seasons sometimes. It allowed for more than one character to have development, and for things in the setting that weren't connected to the main plot to occur. Made the world feel more real.

I definitely think there is a place for a more episodic television show. And the networks still make procedurals, as I understand it. But many of those 20+ episode seasons had some real stinker filler episodes and I am not sad to see those go.

 

[Reynard]

Not all of them, but far too many, yes.

Now, a fair number of them are just doing basic authentication, which doesn't cost very much to maintain, so as long as the company is solvent, they can usually stay on. It's games with heavy multiplayer components that are generally the most vulnerable (although there are plenty of exceptions).

What is an example of a relatively recent single player game that you can't play anymore?

 

[TwoSix]

What is an example of a relatively recent single player game that you can't play anymore?

Can't think of any off the top of my head, although I don't play a ton of games anymore.

 

[Reynard]

Can't think of any off the top of my head, although I don't play a ton of games anymore.

Some googling suggests there are a couple, but the big issues are a) multiplayer games that have strong single player campaigns that become unplayable, and b) games that require authentication from the publisher's servers to open (it looks like -- SHOCKED -- EA is guilty here).

 

[Micah Sweet]

I definitely think there is a place for a more episodic television show. And the networks still make procedurals, as I understand it. But many of those 20+ episode seasons had some real stinker filler episodes and I am not sad to see those go.

I think it's a baby with the bathwater situation more often than I'd like.

 

[TwoSix]

I think it's a baby with the bathwater situation more often than I'd like.

Yea, the downside to the more focused shows is you often don't get some of the weird experiments that can then turn into iconic episodes.

 

[SkidAce]

Probably. The older ES games were typically steps forward in terms of looks and graphics. I remember I had to update my graphics hardware to run both Morrowind and Oblivion.

Plus Bethesda's games are all looking rather dated graphically these days, from Skyrim right up to Starfield. I think a lot of gamers are looking to see a more up to date look for their games in general, and a new Elder Scrolls game would be a good place to establish that.

Graphics has gone far enough for me.

Start focusing on gameplay.

 

[MarkB]

Graphics has gone far enough for me.

Start focusing on gameplay.

Gameplay in the Elder Scrolls games has never been particularly problematic. There's a reason they're enduring, replayable classics. Whether the present-day Bethesda can recapture that magic after fumbling the ball a couple of times recently is another matter, of course.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Assuming you already have a PC and/or console, (if you don't, not a great time to get one!) gaming is a surprisingly cheap hobby as long as you don't prioritize playing the latest and greatest.

If a game was amazing in 2018, it's still probably pretty good now, and way cheaper.

I still semi-regularly play Master of Orion 2. I'm trying to some year work my way through my backlog, but given how big that backlog is, I'm avoiding buying anything further on my wishlist.