All reports indicate that we’re going to get our first look at the net generation of video game consoles in 2019. Once that happens, a lot of gamers are going to have to decide which console to invest in.

How can each company capture the attention of the most gamers? That’s going to depend on a number of factors, but we ultimately think there are a few things each console manufacturer can do to win the upcoming war.

PlayStation 5

Find the Perfect Price Point

One of Sony’s greatest advantages in previous console wars has been the price of the PlayStation. Right from the start, Sony has generally emphasized undercutting the competition. It’s part of the reason why the PlayStation brand is so prominent and strong.

It’s hard to imagine Sony deviating from that strategy. The PS5 will likely be cheaper than the Xbox 2, but that might depend on something we’ll talk about later.

Don’t Rely on the Same Exclusives

Yes, the PlayStation 4 had some brilliant exclusives. Bloodborne, God of War, Spider-Man, Until Dawn…the list goes on. However, it’s important that Sony not catch a case of “sequel-itis.”

We expect to see sequels to some PS4 exclusives, but Sony needs to prove that they can continue to encourage the development of new and exciting properties. After all, their exclusive lineup isn’t quite a legendary as Nintendo’s.

Continue Supporting PlayStation Now

By the end of the next console generation, video game subscription services are going to be system sellers. It’s hard to imagine the path that leads us away from that future.

Quite frankly, PlayStation Now is just not on the same level as Xbox Game Pass in terms of price, features, support, and selection. It’s vital that Sony continues to grow and improve this service as we enter the PS5 era.

Xbox 2

Release Multiple Consoles

Microsoft is in a bit of a bind when it comes to pricing their next console. While it make sense to release a cheaper console, they’re also a company that has become known for emphasizing console power. Clearly, it’s difficult to release a more powerful console that’s also cheaper.

The solution seems to be to release multiple consoles at launch. Microsoft has done this before with the Xbox 360, and by taking this approach again, they can appeal to both their fans and a broader market.

Don’t Stop Buying Studios

Look, Microsoft’s war chest is absurd. We’re not saying they are going to give all that money to the Xbox team, but Microsoft can beat the competition through cash alone. That’s why they’ve purchased some exciting studios in recent weeks.

Microsoft needs to continue aggressively purchasing studios. They’re still slightly behind Sony in terms of big-name exclusive developers, and they’re way behind in terms of Japanese studio support. It’s not time to close that checkbook just yet.

Lean on Xbox Game Pass

Game Pass is quickly becoming essential. As an affordable subscription service that is technically sound and loaded with recent exclusives, it’s by far the most aggressive and impressive digital delivery program of its kind.

In the coming years, Microsoft needs to turn Game Pass into something that every Xbox owner will feel compelled to subscribe to. By doing so, they might just be able to change the game in terms of how console gamers access new titles.

Nintendo Switch

Leave No Franchise Behind

When Nintendo released a new Mario and Zelda in the Switch’s first year, they sent a message regarding their faith in the Switch and their desire to bring fans back. Now is not the time to deviate from the message.

We’ve already got a new Metroid, Pokemon, and Animal Crossing game on the horizon, but Nintendo needs to continue reviving and revisiting their biggest franchises. The biggest name on that list is probably F-Zero, but honestly, they need to wake up just about every dormant series.

Add More Classic Games to Nintendo Switch Online 

Nintendo has suggested that they’re not interested in releasing more classic consoles or a Virtual Console service for Switch. As such, people are starting to wonder how they’re going to (legally) get their classic game fix.

We think they ultimately decide to expand Nintendo Switch Online’s classic game selection beyond the limited roster of NES titles currently available. By adding more games from more consoles to the service, Nintendo could make it a must-have.

Keep Chasing Third-Party Games

Nintendo has done an excellent job when it comes to attracting third-party developers to the Switch. Diablo III, Dark Souls, Skyrim…we’re seeing a lot of games on the Switch that we wouldn’t have seen on previous Nintendo consoles.

Simply put, they need to keep chasing these games. Such titles have really helped fill in the months between major Nintendo releases and should continue to do so moving forward.

25 years later, MTG still dominates trading card sales while other companies attempt to replicate its success.

Why Magic The Gathering Is Still Relevant 

Riding off the lessons learned from Magic: The Gathering Online (2017), MTG Arena (open beta launch September 2018) is taking the online trading card experience to a whole new level. Available only on PC for the moment, MTG Arena is an FTP (free-to-play) game without the usual cash grabs and poorly designed mechanics gamers are used to dealing with.

Those who have never played Magic, or are returning after a couple decade hiatus, will find the systems easy to understand and the visuals stunning. Even the gameplay mechanics are smooth and adaptable, helping newbies play complicated symbiotic decks without having to memorize steps.

MTG Arena also makes sure new players have an abundance of pre-made mono and dual color decks to play with, allowing them to compete with others immediately. Five recent sets make up these pre-made decks (and booster pack purchases) which include Ixalan, Rivals of Ixalan, Dominaria, M19 Core Set, and the most recently released Guilds of Ravnica.

Patch Update To MTG Arena Open Beta  

Wizards released an updated patch for MTG Arena on November 15, allowing for players to challenge their friends to an online match for the first time. While far from perfect (needing to coordinate with friend IRL first), developers are hoping to smooth out the kinks prior to its official 2019 release.

Other additions to MTG Arena beta online include links to an event calendar, video tutorials, along with articles on deck building and basic gameplay.  Events include draft competitions and pre-constructed deck competitions, rewarding players with plenty of gold/gems, booster packs, and a variety of single cards (common, uncommon, and rare). Players can even unlock cards they don’t own through special wildcards awarded through booster packs, allowing for precise customization of decks.

MTG For A New Generation 

MTG Arena is the flagship trading card game that’ll take Wizards of the Coast into the digital age, allowing for a whole new generation of gamers to experience what many have been for over two decades. It’s also for old guys like me, allowing for intense gameplay (without tapping into my retirement fund) after displacing my cards many moons ago. Grant it, there are a few minor bugs which need to be tweaked, but overall the entire experience is — dare I say, equal to playing IRL — making it relevant to everyone, no matter age, financial status, or skill.

The open beta of MTG Arena is currently available for PC. It’s free to download and free-to-play, with the option of spending money (but not necessary).

Fallout 76 is a lot like Destiny when it was first released. People are playing it, but even the people who play it feel the need to justify doing so.

The long and short of it is that Fallout 76 isn’t a good game. At least it isn’t a good game a the moment. It’s buggy to the point where people simply aren’t able to complete certain objectives or even play the game regularly for an extended period of time. Its interface is absolutely atrocious. Key features are missing on PC and other platforms. The game’s inventory system is one of the worst I’ve ever seen, and it’s player vs. player options are confusing and nearly worthless.

But here’s the thing: all of those issues can be fixed. A few of them can be fixed by changing some numbers in the game’s code, and some of them are going to take a little more effort. However, most of Fallout 76‘s technical problems are fixable within a reasonable timeframe so long as developer Bethesda puts the work in.

However, the question worth asking isn’t whether Fallout 76 can be fixed. It’s whether Fallout 76 can be saved.

That’s a much more complicated question that can’t be answered quite so easily. The thing about Fallout 76 is that it is incredibly limited in the scope of its gameplay. The main appeal of the experience involves navigating the various corners of the game’s worlds and scrounging for supplies. These supplies will help you build better items, weapons, and even construct a fort/home to call your own. Once you have better equipment, you can take on bigger enemies and unlock even more resources.

And so it goes on. We’ve seen many other games employ a similar, grindy form of gameplay, but those games featured something that Fallout 76 does not: a point to all of your efforts.

What happens when you’ve got the best equipment and biggest house? Not much. You can launch a nuclear missile and change the game’s map slightly. You can go after other players, but there’s not much point to it. For the most part, you’re still going to be collecting items, completing simple missions (90% of which involve collecting or killing enough things), and wandering around the map.

This is where some people argue that the game is really about the experiences you and your friends make for yourselves, but even that already thin argument falls short when you realize that there’s not much you can actually do with your friends besides collect resources,  build things, and take on bigger enemies.

On the surface, the problem with Fallout 76 seems to be a lack of things to do. That’s part of it, but the bigger issue is that the game is suffering from an identity crisis. It kind of wants to be an RPG, but it lacks story, compelling character building options, and a proper progression system. It kind of wants to be a multiplayer survival game, but it’s a bit scared of making the players desperate enough to feel like they have to work together to survive.

Fallout 76‘s repetitious gameplay and large world can turn it into a fairly effective time sink, but it’s not clear what exactly all of this is leading up to. It’s hard to imagine the significant number of content drops that would have to happen before this feels like a fully-fledged game. Even if such a thing is possible, the fact of the matter is that Fallout 76 is a game that needs to be saved in the long-term and nobody seems entirely sure how such a thing is possible.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is critically-acclaimed and incredibly successful, but that doesn’t mean it’s universally beloved.

Try not to be shocked, but Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t a perfect game that every single person in the world loves. Some people think it’s too slow, some people don’t like some of the side missions, and some just straight up don’t like the game. All of those opinions are certainly valid.

However, there is one group of gamers who feel that some of Red Dead 2‘s problems are more than an opinion. In fact, they are making the compelling argument that Red Dead Redemption 2 should be fixed via a patch.

It’s an interesting argument that is based on the idea of what Rockstar intended to do with the game and which problems are unintentional.

For instance, gunfights in Red Dead feel…off. The game is clearly trying to encourage a slower style of action, but the problem is that the process of aiming and moving your gun in Red Dead feels clunky. Even adjusting the game’s settings doesn’t really alleviate the problem.

There are more, similar problems. The skinning animation takes forever and is unskippable. There’s no way to fast travel to your camp (which you must return to quite often). Some interfaces require unnecessary extra steps. The joy of horse riding can be greatly affected by the average speed of animals, how easy it is to run into objects, and other pathfinding issues.

Also Read: Red Dead Redemption 2: Side Quest, Upgrade, and Combat Tips

Many of these problems aren’t necessarily bugs, glitches, and other things that will often be fixed via updates. Instead, a lot of these problems are issues with the design of the game. Normally, such things aren’t really fixed in this style of game. In any case, Rockstar hasn’t usually “fixed” these issues via a single-player update.

However, you really have to wonder if they’re willing to make an exception in this instance. First off, a lot of these problems are (theoretically) easily fixed via a series of updates. You can add a skip button for certain animations (including looting which really needs a kind of “take all” option), certain menus can be trimmed down, and various little problems can be ironed out.

The question is whether or not Rockstar is going to bother with any of this. Some will argue that some of these issues are design decisions that Rockstar shouldn’t feel forced to patch just because they got a negative reception. Others state that the fact we have technology that allows a creator to perfect their work post-release means that creators shouldn’t hesitate to do so.

What it might come down to is whether or not there is enough of a negative reception to some of these problems. Sadly, it might also be a matter of whether or not some of these issues impact the game’s multiplayer (which, if it’s anything like GTA V, will be regularly updated). That last argument might be why the game’s combat eventually gets smoothed a bit.

As for issues like having to walk super slow through camp for apparently no reason…well, it’s not clear whether Rockstar is going to bother to fix these “issues” or call them “features.”

Sony has finally revealed the PlayStation Classic’s game lineup, and it’s about as great as we expected it to be. This retro console might be missing a few games, but the overall quality of the 20 titles included on this device is certainly high.

So which PlayStation Classic title is the greatest of them all? Here are our rankings.

20. Destruction Derby

We’re not entirely sure why this game is on here. There are far better PlayStation racing games, and there are far better PlayStation vehicular combat games. You probably won’t be spending much time with this one.

19. Battle Arena Toshinden

This one is a bit of a mixed bag. Battle Arena Toshinden isn’t awful, but it has the great misfortune of being bundled with Tekken 3. Considering that Tekken 3 improves upon the basics of Battle Arena Toshinden in nearly every way…well, we think this one is more of a curiosity.

18. Rayman

Most Rayman games are actually great, but this title isn’t nearly as impressive as it used to be. It’s a decent 2D platformer that won’t make you forget about Mario. There are better options out there.

17. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six

This one is a bit of a mixed bag. The game itself is pretty good, but these early Rainbow Six games never felt great on a console. We think some people might be surprised by this game, but some just won’t be able to deal with it.

16. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo is fine…but it’s just fine. It’s a pretty standard puzzle game with a little more personality and a couple fresh mechanics. It will kill some time, but that’s about it.

15. Grand Theft Auto

Let’s be honest: the Grand Theft Auto series wasn’t really interesting before GTA: III. The original Grand Theft Auto games are historically important, but we doubt that many people are going to actually play much of this.

14. Cool Boarders 2

Cool Boarders 2 is no Tony Hawk, but at a time when such extreme sports games are almost non-existent, we think it might have some appeal. It’s still a solid snowboarding title that’s worth a look.

13. I.Q.: Intelligent Qube

I.Q.: Intelligent Qube is like if a 3D version of Tetris married a game of Sodoku. It’s a neat puzzle title, but it’s not necessarily something you’ll want to spend hours in front of a TV playing. Great concept, iffy format.

12. Twisted Metal

Our biggest knock against Twisted Metal is that Twisted Metal 2 is superior in nearly every way. That being said, this game’s dark premise, fun gameplay, and appealing name do justify its spot in this lineup.

11. Syphon Filter

Sure, Syphon Filter is showing its age, but this game should absolutely be a part of this collection. This spy thriller is a pretty decent action title in its own right, and its historical significance as a notable PlayStation exclusive puts it over the top.

10. Jumping Flash

The once-revolutionary technology that fuelled this game is going to drive some people crazy, but Jumping Flash remains a surprisingly solid 3D title. Its simple gameplay is surprisingly addictive, and it’s certainly an important PlayStation game.

9. Revelations: Persona

This isn’t the PlayStation’s best JRPG (not even close), but it’s a mostly underrated gem that we didn’t think would make this collection. There are other games that probably deserve this spot, but Persona has aged gracefully.

8. Mr. Driller

Mr. Driller is a clever, addictive, and colorful puzzle game that has been tragically forgotten. What this game lacks in name appeal, though, it will make up for in pure fun.

7. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee won’t be for everyone, but it’s a genuinely clever game. Somewhere between an action title and a puzzle game, Oddysee is a dark and challenging title for the thinking gamer.

6. Resident Evil Director’s Cut

Yes, the GameCube Resident Evil remake is far superior to the original, but Resident Evil is worth playing regardless of which version you play. The game that changed horror gaming forever remains a classic.

5. Wild Arms

Wild Arms blend of the sci-fi and western genres results in an utterly JRPG world. Obviously, not every great PlayStation JRPG could be included on this console, but we’re thrilled that Wild Arms made the cut.

4. Ridge Racer Type 4

One of the most underrated racing games ever will finally get the second shot it deserves. Ridge Racer‘s incredible soundtrack, excellent courses, and silky-smooth gameplay haven’t aged a day.

3. Tekken 3

You could honestly argue that Tekken 3 is the finest 3D fighting game ever made. This sequel is loaded with gameplay options, sports a great roster of fighters, and is just as fun to play as it ever was.

2. Final Fantasy VII

Many regularly refer to Final Fantasy VII as the greatest game ever made. Even if you’re not willing to go that far, it does belong in the discussion. This true epic remains one of the true “must-play” games of its era.

1. Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear Solid‘s use of elaborate cutscenes and complex storytelling forever changed the video game industry. Remarkably, though, this game feels about as special now as it did when it was released 20 years ago.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar’s masterpiece.

The studio that brought us such hits as the Grand Theft Auto franchise may be known for great games, but Red Dead Redemption 2 is something truly special. The game’s massive world harbors incredible characters, unbelievable moments, and over a hundred hours of gameplay.

Honestly, it’s all a little overwhelming. However, since RDR 2 doesn’t tell you everything you need to know to get by, here are some tips for surviving Rockstar’s wild west masterpiece.

Don’t Stress About Cash If You Just Want to See the Story

There are actually a lot of things to buy in Red Dead Redemption 2, and most people in the game won’t just give them to you. However, cash isn’t that important in the long-run.

What we mean is that everyone who just wants to see the story can see it without going out of their way to get cash. Everything “essential” can be earned through the natural course of play. Everything else is fairly cheap.

Upgrade The Tents To Get Fast Travel

Upgrading your camp in Red Dead Redemption 2 is generally valuable, but the most value upgrades in terms of convenience are the tent upgrades.

They may seem superfluous and expensive, but it’s worth the money to upgrade Arthur and Dutch’s tents. Why? Well, the Arthur upgrade lets you fast travel from camp. This saves you a ton of time throughout the game.

Get The Leather Working Tools Camp Upgrade

The other “must-have” camp upgrade (at least at the start) are the Leather Working Tools.

This upgrade allows you to easily purchase satchel upgrades which let you carry more stuff. Considering how easy it is to overload your initially small satchel, this upgrade just makes your life so much easier.

Don’t Bother With The Legendary Animals Early On

Despite being (probably) one of the first side-quests you encounter, the hunt for legendary animals isn’t that important.

Most legendary animal kills just allow you to eventually make rare items and outfits. They’re very cool items and outfits, but don’t believe that you have to do these quests just because the game presents them prominently.

Get (Kind of) Fat

Unlike Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, getting fat in Red Dead Redemption 2 is actually kind of valuable.

While you don’t want to be very fat, it’s helpful to be somewhat fatter in the game. That extra fat helps you keep your strength and have a stronger health core. Just always be sure to eat past full health when you sit to eat, and you’ should be set.

Don’t Buy Guns (But do Upgrade Them)

Most every gun you could ever want in Red Dead Redemption 2 can be earned just by playing the game. However, you should buy gun customizations.

Upgrades which actually improve your guns stats (non-cosmetic upgrades) are actually very valuable for their cost. Don’t spend too much on early weapons, but do always buy an upgrade or two.

Focus on Shotguns and Dual Revolvers

RDR 2′s rifles are very effective, but generally speaking, it’s best to focus on shotguns and dual revolvers.

Shotgun’s usual drawback (their short range) can be fixed via upgrades, which makes them dangerous close-to-mid range weapons. As for dual revolvers, you’ll unlock the ability to dual-wield following the completion of a very early story mission. Take advantage of the ability as soon as you get it.

Hunt For Deadeye Upgrades

Even if you’re not interested in hunting for skins, food, and other upgrades (which you should do anyway), you’ll want to regularly hunt animals in order to improve your deadeye ability.

There are other ways to improve deadeye, but the easiest (and most law-abiding) is to hunt animals. Considering how much easier deadeye makes the game’s toughest battles, you’ll want to upgrade that ability ASAP.

 Don’t Be Afraid to Use Items

Some games force you to play conservatively and use items sparingly. Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t one of those games.

Some consumable items are rare, but most consumables in the game can be easily replaced. Don’t be afraid to down a few tonics before a fight to boost your stats.

Don’t Let Your Horse Die

Losing horses in Red Ded Redemption 2 is a big deal because losing one means losing all of the skill upgrades you’ve acquired with your trusted steed.

You should always aim to keep your horse alive, but if it isn’t possible, then make sure you have a horse revival kit with you. These kits let you save your horse from the brink of death if you can use them quickly enough.

Use Your Bandana to Hide Your Identity

Bounties can be really bad in RDR 2. In fact, it’s possible to make some entire towns hostile towards you. The only way to safely enter them in those instances is to pay your (rather large) bounty.

This is why you carry a bandana. While this piece of cloth won’t let you commit crimes without consequence, it can ensure that you’re able to still safely wander through towns even with a bounty on your head.

Also Read: Red Dead Redemption 2: Does it Need to be “Fixed?”

Fallout 76 is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest and strangest games.

On the surface, it’s something quite special. A brand-new Fallout game that you can play with your friends? It should be one of the most-anticipated games of the year.

Yet, there’s a surprising amount of anger and hate surrounding Fallout 76. In fact, we’re willing to bet that Bethesda never expected a modern Fallout game to attract such mixed reactions.

So why is Fallout 76 hated by a seemingly growing amount of people who haven’t even got to play the game? Here are just a few of the reasons Fallout 76 is so controversial.

1. It’s Very Similar to Fallout 4

Granted, Fallout 76 isn’t meant to be the next mainline Fallout game. It’s kind of an elaborate side project. However, it’s reasonable to expect the game to look somewhat different than Fallout 4 (which came out in 2015). Instead, the game looks like it could have come out three years ago.

We’re not just talking about the graphics. The bigger problem with Fallout 76′s familiarity is that Fallout 4 wasn’t exactly a universally beloved Fallout game. In fact, some fans hated its simplified action, lack of role-playing, awful dialog system, and the way it emphasized crafting and building.

Those who didn’t like the changes Fallout 4 introduced are having a hard time getting excited about more of the same. That brings us to our next point…

2. The Game Probably Won’t Be Fun to Play by Yourself

Even those who really weren’t fans of Fallout 4 will probably admit that the game’s story, diverse missions, and (mostly) interesting characters were enough to convince them to keep playing.

It’s only natural, then, that Fallout 76 abandons nearly all of those things.

Fallout 4 won’t have NPCs. Its story seems to feature little more than the bare minimum. Most of the missions revealed so far involve finding a certain number of items or killing a certain number of enemies and then collecting your reward.

Bethesda has spent so much time insisting that Fallout 76 is a fun game to play by yourself that we’re starting to get a little worried. At the very least, we’ve seen little of the game that looks like something we’d get lost in like with previous Fallout games.

3. It’s Not Clear How You and Your Friends Will Have Fun

Generally speaking, things are better with friends. Even bad times can be made better with friends. This is why some games base the majority of their appeal on being able to hang out with your buddies.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s still not clear what you and your friends will be doing in Fallout 76. You can go on missions together, build settlements, and hunt down other players…but that’s about it.

It reminds us of the recent game Sea of Thieves, which isn’t really a compliment. The appeal of that game dropped dramatically once the novelty wore off and people realized there wasn’t much to actually do.

Fallout 76 looks like it features a little more content, but the game’s small player count and lack of group activities are worrisome.

4. It Looks Like a Technical Mess

Simply put, the initial footage of Fallout 76‘s gameplay is rough. Lots of slowdown, faded visuals, awkward animations, and more have fans concerned that Fallout 76 is going to be technically rough.

It certainly doesn’t help that Bethesda has a history of releasing technically rough games. It also doesn’t inspire us with confidence when we see that Bethesda actually published a letter warning fans that there are going to be a number of technical problems in this game when it’s first released.

That’s not unusual, but when a company warns you of problems in advance of problems, you should probably take that warning seriously.

5. Fallout 76’s Nuclear Missle System Sounds Like a Bad Idea

You can launch a nuclear missile in Fallout 76. Bethesda says that it will be a long time before you can do this and that it shouldn’t happen that often. However, history has proven that people will find a way to exploit this as soon as possible to ruin other people’s fun.

Fallout 76 is supposedly loaded with safeguards that prevent other players from just running all over you, but again, we’ve heard all of this before. Even if it’s more fun to run around with your friends in Fallout 76 than it appears to be, the title’s player vs. player elements look problematic.

Just when we thought the battle royale genre was growing stale and that the competition had no chance of encroaching upon the genre’s biggest names, along comes Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Blackout mode.

Blackout is a lot like every other battle royale game. It sees you and 87 or 99 other players (depending on the mode) occupy a single map. That map is filled with weapons, supplies, and vehicles that you will need as you compete to become the last man (or squad) standing.

Blackout will be especially familiar to those who played the genre innovator, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. That is to say that it favors a more militaristic approach, emphasizes weapon modifications, utilizes vehicles, and is more about tactical combat. However, because this is Call of Duty, the mode also features quite a few ridiculous weapons, roaming zombies, and a much greater emphasis on fast combat.

The result is something quite special. Blackout is one of the smoothest, deepest, and most engaging battle royale experiences out there. It’s easy to learn, tough to master, and consistently provides exciting matchups. It may not have the widespread appeal of Fortnite, but it figures to become a phenomenon in and of itself.

Well…at least until next year.

For quite some time, Call of Duty games have been “replaced” by next year’s game. They may not all share the same name, game modes, settings, or developers, but the name “Call of Duty” has typically been enough to inspire fans to pick up the latest game on the market.

It’s an approach that has made publisher Activision quite a bit of money over the years, but it’s an approach that creates a fascinating predicament. See, Blackout shouldn’t go anywhere but up. It certainly shouldn’t be replaced or ignored when the next Call of Duty game comes out.

However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be replaced or ignored. The popular fear is that Activision will simply put a new Blackout mode in the next Call of Duty game and ask everyone to just buy that one to keep playing.

That makes a little sense – and many people may do just that – but titles like Fortnite have become the money machines they are because they are constantly updated experiences that require little (or even no) money from the players. Instead, they encourage people to spend money by virtue of being great games with hundreds of hours of gameplay.

In theory, Activision could just ask developer Treyarch to keep updating the current Blackout mode. However, we don’t know if they will. At present, there’s not much incentive to spend additional money on Blackout. Even if there was, we wonder if enough people who already purchased a $60 game are going to feel like spending more and more money on the mode. Besides, Activision is going to want them to work on Black Ops V at some point.

Worst of all, Activision might simply ignore Blackout by the time the next Call of Duty game roles around. That’s not a very likely option, but it wouldn’t be entirely unheard of either.

No matter how you look at it, Activision has to make a tough decision when it comes to Blackout. If they make the wrong one, they risk ruining one of the best things to come out of the Call of Duty franchise in years. The problem is that nobody can seem to agree what the right decision is.