If devs have to actively maintain software to support new versions, I would argue that is not better than how consoles handle backwards compatibility. Especially since games tend to be tend to be treated as finished products that devs stop updating once they move on to their next project.
compare that to game consoles where the last gen could be cut off from new games at any given time, and next gen is a crapshoot whether the manufacturer will support backwards compatibility.
But that isn't the case anymore, and I expect it never will be again. This generation's transition period has been so heavily reliant on backwards compatibility. Hell, plenty of titles still just launch on PS4 since PS5 can run it anyway.
The only exception has been the Switch, and that's because it was necessary just this once to break away for a new architecture. I can almost guarantee Switch 2 will be an evolution of Switch 1.
At this point the big three are locked into their current architecture. They need backwards compatibility, if a new console ever tries to break from that it will flop as a result.
I figure we're coming to the end of discrete generations sooner or later. We're 4 years into the PS5's lifespan and plenty of games still launch on PS4 because they don't need PS5 hardware, and PS5 will run them anyway.
It doesn't make sense to upgrade to a PS5 Pro if you've already got a base PS5, just as it doesn't make sense to buy a new smartphone every year. But I can see the idea being that whenever you feel due for an upgrade, you buy whatever the current model is.
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike - Friend came to visit from out of town, played some casual 3S for a little while. Also managed to rope him into trying out Waku Waku 7 and Twinkle Star Sprites as I wanted to show off some fun hidden gems in my collection.
Splatoon 3 - Haven't touched Salmon Run since the last Big Run and I'm clearly rusty. Put up a 173, which is gold, but I know that gold target isn't actually much, especially on this map. Still can't kill a damn Triumvirate, which is what I really wanted.
Games that are in the business of selling anime girls end up attracting a certain demographic. And as the developers know who their audience is and double down on catering to that crowd, this kind of behavior becomes increasingly normalized over time.
It's not like gamers are rejecting live services as a whole, because there are still quite a lot of successful live service games. And when a live service is successful, it's really successful. So much so that it's worth it to investors to keep gambling on them, one hit can compensate for a dozen flops.
Viable? No. It's pretty much impossible for any new service to compete with the big juggernauts. Video streaming takes a ton of bandwidth so it's one of the most expensive kinds of services to run, and it's pretty much impossible to convince anyone to switch over from the established platforms. Streamers won't move because viewers aren't there, and viewers won't move because streamers aren't there.
Every now and then a new competitor pops up because some venture capitalist thought they'd be special enough to succeed where everyone else failed, and promptly dies. No one stands a chance of taking on Google or Amazon.
People will point out that PeerTube exists on the Fediverse, but all that can really be said about PeerTube is that it is a thing that exists. If it's viability you want, PeerTube isn't there and I don't think it ever will be.
For fighting games, my own custom built stick. Put this together last year to replace the Hori RAP4 that had served me well for seven years until a button cap broke off. Super happy with how this turned out. It's much lighter, I like having a detachable cable. GP2040-CE supports Switch natively so I no longer need an adapter (and I can feel the difference in latency now), and Sanwa silents mean I can practice late at night without keeping anyone awake. And it just looks good, it's on brand for me.
For everything else that is not fighting games, 8BitDo Pro 2.
I also have a soft spot for the Wii Classic Controller Pro, I miss having gates on the analog sticks. I'd kill for a modern refresh of that with L3/R3, gyro, and USB instead of having to plug it into a Wiimote.
I just won a five-man local bracket for I play a lot of Riichi Mahjong at the local club as well, but haven't been able to make it out to a proper tournament yet.
I also play Skullgirls and Them's Fightin' Herds online, and have been to a few tournaments in the past, but they don't have local scenes around here anymore. One trip a year traveling out to Combo Breaker is the extent of my offline play for those games.
Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes] - I WON A FIVE MAN BRACKET WOOOOO Also played some Skullgirls casuals for a little while after the bracket ended.
Mahjong Soul/Riichi City/IRL mahjong - Ever since Balatro blew up, people have been joking about when we're gonna see the mahjong roguelike next. Then four different ones went into development. Then Mahjong Soul surprised dropped a fifth one as a limited time event, and it might be the most promising of all of them. Then I broke the hell out of it.
Splatoon 3 - Team practice. Don't have any cool clips to share rn, maybe next week.