This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
In this video, I highlight some distressing trends in the gaming industry, specifically for consoles. And I explain why I may never buy another console again.
Tag Archives: PlayStation
Why I May NEVER Buy Another Gaming Console
Filed under AI Art, Artificial Intelligence, Jack's World, YouTube
It’s Official: Cancel All Plans For May 26, 2026 (Because Of Grand Theft Auto VI)
I’m usually very reluctant to make predictions about the future. Even though I try every year with the upcoming NFL season, I always disclose that my track record is not great. So, it’s exceedingly rare that I ever predict anything with confidence.
Today, I’m making an exception. Because I’ve never been more confident in predicting what will happen on May 26, 2026.
On that day, Grand Theft Auto VI is set to be released. And if, by chance, you had any plans that day, expect them to be impacted significantly. If you need to understand why, just take a moment to appreciate the trailer that Rockstar Games dropped for this game.
Even if you don’t play video games or aren’t a fan of games like Grand Theft Auto, there’s a very high likelihood you know someone who already has this date marked. I’ve highlighted before just how big this franchise is. It’s more than just a string of video games. Grand Theft Auto is one of the most valuable and lucrative franchises in all of entertainment.
Just look at the number of views for this and the previous trailer.
Look at just how much revenue the previous Grand Theft Auto game generated.
There are entire film and TV franchises that can’t even compare to Grand Theft Auto. Even if you find that annoying, thinking this game will only occupy a certain male video game playing demographic, you’re wrong. This game is going to completely overtake the entertainment landscape when it comes out.
So, between now and May 26, 2026 (assuming no delays), plan accordingly. Because it’s a near certainty that this date, as well as the entire week that ensues, will be the least productive week of the year. Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the biggest video game of the decade, if not of all time. In terms of predictions, I’m as confident as anyone can be on this.
Filed under video games
Mass Effect Andromeda: A Good Game That Deserved Better
This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
In this video, I recount Mass Effect Andromeda, a game that had so much going for it, but ultimately fell short in terms of sales and reception. But personally, I think this game deserved better. And I make the case that, despite its flaws, Mass Effect Andromeda is a good game.
Filed under Jack's World, Mass Effect, YouTube
Putting The Excitement (And Controversies) Over “Grand Theft Auto VI” Into Perspective
It’s relatively common these days for someone to claim certain news or announcements will “break the internet.” The fact you’re reading this and the internet is still intact demonstrates how much that sentiment has become cliché. And given how many dumb things end up trending for dumber reasons, it’s perfectly reasonable to roll your eyes at the very concept.
But with the recent release of the trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, I think an exception is warranted.
This event might not have “broken” the internet, but it has perfectly demonstrated how the internet can reflect the hype and excitement for something. Whether it’s a game, a movie, a TV show, or a big moment in sports, there’s something powerful about how it reveals the interest and popularity of something. It’s just as powerful at highlighting the controversies surrounding it, even when those controversies are dumb.
In case you missed it or just want to watch it again for the hundredth time, here’s the trailer to Grand Theft Auto VI.
Unless you’re familiar with video games and the gaming industry, as a whole, you probably can’t appreciate just what a big deal this trailer is. Even if you’ve never played a video game in your life, you’ve probably heard about the Grand Theft Auto games, but not for the reasons you’ve also probably heard of Mario.
Grand Theft Auto is one of those gaming franchises that has always been in the news for the right and wrong reasons. This is the franchise that helped popularize the concept of open world games. You’re not restricted to just going from one point to another, completing objectives in a mostly linear manner. You’re free to explore an entire virtual world. And the Grand Theft Auto games are among the best at creating those worlds while also putting a unique twist on them.
But it’s that freedom to explore unique worlds that has also led to the many controversies surrounding this franchise, going all the way back to the early 1990s. As the title suggests, one of the major activities in these games often involve committing crimes and following stories that involve any number of criminal activities. From robbing banks to doing heists to assassination plots, there’s all sorts of devious activities to be had in these games.
Naturally, that has always drawn the ire of the anti-fun puritanical whiners from all ends of the political spectrum. Grant Theft Auto was among the franchises singled out by some of the industry’s most vocal critics. And it’s still often cited as the embodiment of the worst elements of modern video games, from how it glorifies violence to how it presents female characters to how it satirizes American politics.
But despite all these controversies and crusades, there’s no denying one critical detail. This franchise is insanely popular. It is one of these most successful franchises in the history of gaming. And its developer, Rockstar Games, is one of these most successful and respected video game publishers in the world. They may not be iconic in the same way as Nintendo, but make no mistake. This series and this company are among the greatest success stories in the history of video games and media, in general.
To understand the breadth of that success, you need to look beyond the simple sales figures of those games. Granted, Grand Theft Auto games tend to be among the highest-selling video games of all time. Both Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas sold over 20 million copies in the early 2000s. And they put up those numbers, despite some controversies that threatened to pull them from store shelves.
But even these sales figures pale in comparison to the success of Grand Theft Auto V, the current gold standard of the series. This game, which was originally released in 2013, has sold 190 million copies worldwide across multiple platforms. For any game or any media product of any kind, that is not a trivial figure.
But it’s the revenue generated by Grand Theft Auto V that’s truly worth noting. As of December 2023, this game has generated approximately $8.3 billion in revenue. This includes both sales of the game and the money generated by its online features. That’s not just a lot of money by most measures. That kind of revenue makes this one Grand Theft Auto game one of the most successful media products of all time.
It made more money than every Avatar movie.
It made more money than nearly every TV show or series.
It made more money than any musician, band, or artist.
Unless the franchise involves Star Wars or Marvel, this one game probably out-grossed it all. Even with it being the biggest target among anti-gaming critics, it has become one of the biggest success stories in the history of modern media.
And now, Rockstar is preparing to give us a sequel. It’s been in the work for many years, even while Grand Theft Auto V was still generating plenty of revenue. It’s also expected to be one of the most expensive games to develop of all time, with costs expected to range between $1 billion and $2 billion. But to anyone who has watched the trailer and knows Rockstar’s track record, it’s clear they’re putting that money to good use.
I don’t claim to know how much money this game will make. But it’s worth noting that, when the trailer released, it generated over 100 million views within the first 36 hours. To put that into perspective, that’s more than the trailer for Grand Theft Auto V has generated over 12 years. These are figures that rival that of the Avengers: Infinity War trailer or a Taylor Swift music video.
With all these numbers and perspectives in mind, what does this ultimately mean for this game and the millions of gamers looking forward to playing it? Nobody can say for certain. While Grand Theft Auto might not be my favorite gaming franchise, I have played these games. I understand why they’re so popular and why they’re so controversial.
The popularity of these games may not be as obvious as packed concerts or crowded movie theaters. But the reaction to this trailer, both in terms of raw figures and the discourse surrounding it, should offer some insights into just how popular this series is. And if it’s even as remotely successful as its predecessor, it’s certain to generate more reactions and controversies for the right and wrong reasons.
Filed under video games
Jack Quick Reacts: The Last Of Us Season One Finale
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is my quick reaction to the season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us. Like my other quick reacts, I didn’t script this or structure it like a video essay. As a result, I stutter and stammer a lot. I also make a few errors here and there. But I still try to get my point across.
Also, I do mention some heavy spoilers from both the show and the games. So do keep that in mind. Enjoy!
Filed under Current Events, HBO Max, Jack's World, technology, video games, YouTube
It’s Official: Video Game Adaptations No Longer Have To Suck
When it comes to general rules in entertainment and pop culture, the rule always works until it doesn’t. What I mean by that is trends are fickle. What seems certain, logical, and even unavoidable one day for a particular genre might be shrouded with doubt the next.
In decades past, there was a general rule that there would always be a prominent place for western movies. Granted, there’s still a place for them, but it’s not nearly as prominent.
Just a few decades ago, there was a general rule that if you put someone like Nicholas Cage and Arnold Schwarzenegger in any movie, it would easily gross over $100 million. That’s no longer the case, either. It’s been quite a while since either actor achieved that level of success at the box office consistently.
I’m also old enough to remember a time when superhero movies were seen as extremely niche with limited appeal. I even remember the reaction to “Batman and Robin,” which for a time felt like a massive setback for the genre that would last a generation.
These rules were once general assumptions in the entertainment world. And they were assumed to always apply, but then they didn’t. We should never assume a rule or trend will always apply, especially when it comes to pop culture. And I say that as someone who never wants to see superhero movies go out of style.
With that in mind, I think it’s time we finally change our rules and assumptions about video game adaptations.
Now, I’m not just saying that because I’ve been watching “The Last of Us” on HBO and have been repeatedly blown away by how great it has been. One good movie or show is a fluke. That’s why there are so many forgettable “Die Hard” knock-offs from the 1990s. The reason I think the time has come to adjust our attitudes is because “The Last of Us” feels like the last critical part of a new trend that has been unfolding for a while now.
And as someone who loves video games and wants to see more successful adaptations, I welcome this. In fact, I think it was overdue. I’d been hoping for something like this for years and have been burned by one too many “Resident Evil” movies along the way.
Even if it has taken way too long, I think “The Last of Us” has finished what “Sonic: The Hedgehog” and “Castlevania” started. It helped further distance audiences from the old mentality that video game adaptations tend to suck by default. It made the case that a video adaptation can be done and done well. There’s even a proven process to it, which has become more and more refined, going back to the days of the first “Tomb Raider” movies with Angelina Jolie.
A big part of what makes “The Last of Us” work so well is that it stays remarkably true to the source material in terms of ambience and theme. It doesn’t completely retell the story of the game. It nicely supplements it. The game is the foundation and the scaffolding. The show is the meat and the substance.
Even a movie like “Sonic: The Hedgehog,” which doesn’t closely mirror any of the games, still captures the heart and tone of character. The Sonic you see in the movie feels like a natural extension of the one you play in the game.
A show like “Arcane” takes it even further than that. It actually uses that foundation to build new, more compelling lore for every character involved. Even elements not covered in the game can get fleshed out, but in a way that doesn’t involve reinventing or reshaping the characters or world. More importantly, it doesn’t just rely entirely on the built-in audience to fill in the blanks. There’s a real, concerted effort to tell a cohesive story beyond the action.
This all seems obvious now, but it wasn’t that long ago that it was deemed impossible or incompatible with video game adaptations. I think we need to ditch that mentality once and for all. That’s not to say that video adaptations will stop sucking entirely. Even with their current popularity, superhero movies can still be awful. Just look at “Moribus.”
I’m also not convinced the upcoming “Super Mario Bros” movie will be great, but that might just be because I still cringe at the 1990s adaptation that had Dennis Hopper playing Bowser.
But the precedent has already been set.
The standards have already been raised.
A show like “The Last of Us” and a movie like “Sonic: The Hedgehog” is no longer a fluke or a one-off. They are now part of a tangible, verifiable trend that video game adaptations can be great in their own right. And personally, I hope to see more in the future. There’s definitely a place for them in popular culture.
Video games have come a long way since the days of Tetris and Pong. Players today expect more story and depth than ever before. That sort of thing can definitely translate into blockbuster franchises or shows and they should. Because regardless of the medium or source, there will always been an audience for great stories with memorable characters.
Filed under HBO Max, television, video games
Quick Reacts: The Last Of Us Premier
This video is my quick reaction to the series premier of HBO’s The Last of Us. Please note I didn’t script this like I usually do. So it’s a little messy and I do stutter quite a bit. But if you’d like to see more of these kinds of reaction videos, please let me know.
Filed under Jack's World, television, YouTube
I’m Officially On Twitch!
Every now and then, I feel compelled to try something new in hopes that it’ll become a new passion or at least help me connect with other like-minded people. For much of my early life, right up until I was in my mid-20s, I was generally reluctant. I spent a good chunk of my life dealing with crippling anxiety, shyness, and sub-par social skills. I like to think I’ve gotten better. But when it comes to trying new things, I’m still behind the curve compared to most.
So, when I do attempt something new, it’s noteworthy and exciting. For the most part, those attempts have been successful. I consider this site and my YouTube channel a success in that regard. Now, I’m hoping to add a new endeavor to the mix.
To that end, I’d like to officially announce that I’ve joined Twitch. I now have my own channel and I just recently began streaming on it.
https://www.twitch.tv/marvelmaster6616
Now, I’ve been aware of Twitch for quite some time. Some of my friends regularly use it. But for the most part, I didn’t really get into it. I just know that whenever I explain Twitch to older people, their reactions are often funny.
I tell them that it’s largely a channel where people stream themselves playing video games and other people join in to watch. When they ask why anyone would want to do that, I often counter with why anyone would want to watch other people play sports. I also point out that a lot of people my age have fond memories of getting together with friends, hanging out, and watching one another play our favorite video games.
I’m one of them. I can’t count how many hours I spent with my friends just watching them play games like Goldeneye or Mario Kart.
Twitch is just a bigger manifestation of that. And recently, I’ve caught up with some old friends of mine who are now active on Twitch. That inspired me to start a channel of my own. I’ve already made a number of YouTube videos showing me playing games like Marvel Strike Force and Cyberpunk 2077. This is just me expanding on that.
Like my YouTube channel, I don’t expect to get a lot of followers at first. But I’ve already found that it’s a fun way to interact with people and to share some personal thoughts here and there. In my first few streams, I even dropped some hints about upcoming YouTube videos. So, if you ever want to interact with me directly, this is another way to do it.
I also hope that, when I get a Playstation 5, it’ll be easier to use Twitch to share my gameplay. That could be another way to interact with friends and build an audience. Time will tell. But I just wanted to announce this for anyone interested in a different kind of interaction.
Jack Plays Cyberpunk 2077: Final Mission (With Multiple Endings)
The following are a series of videos from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. I’m finally at the endgame with Cyberpunk 2077. I’ve made it to the last mission. However, Cyberpunk 2077 is unique in that the ending depends heavily on the choices you’ve made throughout the game.
Some are good.
Some are awful.
Some are a little in between.
In these videos, I play through three endings. One of them is the worst, by most measures. The other is the best, in my opinion. The other is solid, but not the best. Enjoy!
The worst possible ending.
The best possible ending in my opinion.
This is a good ending, but not the best.
Jack Plays Cyberpunk 2077: Four New Videos (Judy Alvarez Side Missions)
The following is a collection of four videos that I posted to my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. They are more gameplay from me playing Cyberpunk 2077 on my Playstation 4. These videos focus on a series of side-missions focusing on fan favorite, Judy Alvarez. Enjoy!
This video is of the mission, “Both Sides, Now.”
This video is of the mission, “Ex Factor.”
This video is of the mission, “Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution.”
This video is of the mission, “Pisces.”
Filed under Cyberpunk2077, Jack's World, Marvel, video games, YouTube
Jack Fisher's Official Publishing Blog 