YoVideogames!

So, what do we think the next twelve months looks like for gaming?

Nintendo has a SOLID 2027 coming, but not necessarily any BIG games. Sony and Microsoft have potentially new consoles AND handhelds to show off, but does that mean they are finally locking in? Let's make a couple calls - see what we get right!

A couple things inspired this week's episode. First: an incredible 66 post thread from a Capcom developer who worked on RE7. It's since been deleted, but in it he goes over all sorts of BTS that shows how the game came together. The three way tug of war between the producer, the writer, and the developers actually building the game exemplifies the best and worst aspects of all creative work. You can in depth discussions on Reddit that have screen shots or transcripts of his posts.

Second: Microsoft says next year their portable will launch, and then a year later (2028) Helix is due to release. Btw: Helix looks like it'll cost between $1200 and $1800.

Uh, wut?

Yep. We're staring down the barrel of game consoles hitting two grand next generation. This is due to hardware costs that will likely only increase over the next two years. Oh, and if you're hoping that Playstation will come in clutch with a cheaper console: Sony says the RAM alone will cost $600!

All this to say that the industry is maybe a little out of touch. Matt thinks talent will be key to solving the problem, and the industry is sorely lacking in the talent of yore. Personally I like to phrase this as craftsmanship. Because that can be developed rather than some innate talent. The problem is businesses haven't put resources into developing their teams in decades. They just lay them off instead.

Well, unless you're Nintendo...

No. It's still a mixed bag.

But it's nice to see the dirtbags in tech suddenly realize they've opened Pandora's box for themselves too. Decompiling is going to be basically impossible to prosecute with any consistency. Matt is still staunchly anti-AI, but he's come around to my thinking: AI is great for drudge-work. Do I think that is what tech is hoping to kill with it? No. Is it as powerful as they claim? No. Is it ever going to be as profitable as it needs to be, in order to justify the money they've spent to date? No.

But there is cool stuff that it does and decompiling is a perfect example.

So, let's talk about the internet hero of the hour, and new age piracy enabler: AI.

We cover a few things this episode. Asha soft confirming Xbox Portable. Gamestop price gouging their customers on PS5pro. The main topic, though, is the Paramount WB merger into SKYDANCE. Will anything good come of this? It's possible, but as we saw with Activision being acquired by Microsoft - it doesn't mean beloved IP making a return, and almost definitely means a lot of devs losing their jobs. It's hard not to be cynical and downer about it, but we do try to name possible good things.

Microsoft filed a patent for in-game advertising. Examples include: before or after a multiplayer match, after a major boss fight or story beat, or as a way to earn game time on cloud services.

Suffice to say Xbox will not be recovering its reputation any time soon. And if this idea makes them money? Sony will follow soon after. In this one instance though, we may have a hero... Nintendo.

Let's talk about why.

Technically the term is "sunsetting" but sundowning seems more appropriate given the confusion, anxiety, and madness of Xbox's behavior. In this week's episode we talk Capcom, PS5 cultural relevance and the biggest topic is Xbox's recent layoffs and consolidations. Consolidations that seem to point at Microsoft gearing up to sell or close Xbox game studios.

As an aside, in the episode we are talking about Onimusha and I mention that I am doing the issikai maneuver (spelling?). I played some more after recording - and that is definitely not what I am doing the most of. Mostly I dodge - but for whatever reason: I pull off that move more reliably than the parry. My confusing adventures into being sh*t at action games continues lmao

For the third week in a row, I have been caught unawares. As with every Blizzcon - I have to acknowledge most of this is not for me. WoW, Overwatch, even Diablo are all games I enjoy here and there, but I am by no means a major fan. So, maybe it's not a surprise that I didn't see a StarCraft FPS coming. The trailer was HYPE. And then it shows the release... 2030? And probably late 2030... So, 4 years from now?

Why do companies do this? Announcing something so early is a surefire way to wear out the audience's enthusiasm by release time. Is it job security? A way to keep the execs off their back and the finger off the layoff button?

We got a two-parter Nintendo Direct for the first time ever. One part dedicated entirely to Zelda 40 year anniversary and a second more traditional direct the very next day. Put together, we feel it's a solid direct. A couple surprises in Metroid Revenant and Kirby Forgotten World and a whole load of anticipated ports.

Playstation's State of Play Fall 2026 is in the books. Sony has been a bit mired in consumer hate lately and really needed a big win here. Did they get it? Matt says no. For him this is a D minus show that it's hard to even care about. Personally, I thought there were a couple fun, dare I say, even exciting updates. But I'd still probably give this show a C, C-. One thing that the show did solidify for me is that Japanese developers have something their western kindred sorely lack right now: whimsy. How do we get more whimsy in western games? I think gritty, realistic, apocalyptic and piss filter are all cool too, but we have too much of that right now.

What did you doods think? Anything in this show make you overlook Sony's recent screw ups?

We are rolling toward the holiday shopping season and that means Gamescom is here with one last pop of surprises (hopefully). Every year, Gamescom takes me by surprise. I have no idea why, but for some reason the end of summer sneaks up on me and the show catches me off guard. This year is no different. We had updates on exciting games I had forgotten about, and surprises for a beloved game of the past.

In this episode we talk about our personal highlights, confusions and disappointments. Also, I learn maybe the most shocking, downright disgusting, out right insane detail about Matt.

He pronounces a legendary French actor's name in such a way that I almost had to disown him.

Then... To make it worse... It turns out that's how most people in the US pronounce the name.

Also, there's plenty of tangents in this one. I left them in, but if you'd like me to cut more out - let me know.

Rockstar got hacked again, and GTA6 gameplay got leaked.

But this time? The hacker has an activist agenda. They want to punish Rockstar for not having a physical release. Will it work? Will this change the way the industry is moving?

No. Probably not. Will we see more hactivism like this? Is there any type of activism that will change industry behavior? Maybe.

Have you thought about Halo lately? About where it started and where it's at now? Is it indicative of a brand that has been left to rot, or worse, beaten to death and then propped up to rot while shambling onward?

How do we avoid brand rot? Is it expanding the media, like with a TV show, or books, or theme parks? Maybe. But then, those things have to be GOOD to avoid the rot. Is there a secret? Or do we just need people with savoir faire? Maybe this is a "you can't necessarily learn it, but you gotta know it" kinda thing.

What's a brand you wish hadn't been left to rot, but clearly IS rotting? (And why is it Final Fantasy?)

Did I make the title a joke about a game from 2005? Yes. Will anyone get it/see it/care? No. But you gotta do what brings you joy. Sometimes that's about making a little joke for you. Sometimes it's about rippin' lines in a grungy club bathroom while kids in bad fashion call you chopped.

You do you. I'm not here to judge.

I am here to tell you that the industry continues its march through rough times. In this week's episode we talk about EA going private. We wonder if that will lead to a bigger trend of publishers taking themselves private, or perhaps new publishers staying private. Matt seems to think so. I'm not so sure. The temptations and benefits of going public are too great for the corporate stooge.

What does it mean for gamers if there are more private publishers?

Smaller games. Less triple A hyper realism. Maybe cheaper games. Definitely more digital releases and less physical releases moving forward (and that is a good thing for smaller companies). A future populated with private companies also means more competition, and thus more effort to grab our attention and dollars.

Hell, we could even see a return of E3 or similar events. Though likely smaller in scale.

For me? Nothing, honestly. Well, okay... A launch line up of epic proportions would be hard to deny, but I can't honestly tell you what that would be at this point. Sony specifically? Is there any one franchise that makes it a lock? Any three? Hard to say.

Given that this generation has been underwhelming (in terms of hardware performance), would we feel the upgrade to a new console anyway?

Why would Nintendo be the safest bet in that world? Will Xbox continue to exist as we know it by then?

This episode is mostly about EVO, and what we expect coming for fighting games. There is a furry/waifu subplot though and you should be prepared for it.

So, we didn't hit EVO this year and it sounds like we weren't alone. Do we think this is linked to there being multiple EVOs on multiple continents now? And... Wait... Are they already walking back how many countries that will have tournaments? And wait, did they already drop Invincible VS from future events?

We got questions!

This episode is a discussion inspired by Mystic on Youtube. He recently made a video about why Sony can't/won't delay the release of the PS6. You can watch that video, here.

What's it boil down to? Sunk cost. They already spent all the time and money to bring it to market, stopping now won't actually save them anything and can only cost them more. Personally, I think that's a fallacy, but Matt sees the logic of the argument. Additionally, we talk the steam machine, Xbox next gen, and more!

More layoffs. The pendulum always swings.

We just had maybe the best not-E3 in close to a decade. Excitement is in the air for anyone that is a fan of games. So, naturally, Microsoft would go ahead and try to scuttle any good will by closing multiple studios. Including one that had a game announced at their event.

So, who's getting the axe? Why? And what does it mean for the industry at large? Because while we had an incredible summer announcement season, the industry itself is still contracting. Not because it isn't profitable. It very much still is.

Ok. Maybe that's hyperbolic, but this really was a solid gaming Christmas. Is anyone mad? Of course, there are people who didn't get the exact thing they wanted, and so they are mad as hell. But this might be the first year in a decade or close to where there's not only something for everyone, but there's MULTIPLE big somethings for most people.

I am already thinking about what I will pick up in September, and what I'll budget for over the following months.

And really, that might be the only mark against this... So many things are coming out in September that I have to wonder how the rest of the next year will feel.

What about you guys? How do you grade summer announcement season?

Sony kicked off gaming summer with an hour long State of Play. Naturally, expectations were high. Did they deliver? I'd argue, yes. They bookended the SoP by opening with extended Wolverine gameplay and then ended with 20 minutes of God of War: Laufey cinematic gameplay. In between was a mix of promising titles, and a couple small surprises, like Kemuri.

It felt very safe. Even the release dates: all of them pointedly avoiding GTA6 release.

That's not really a mark against Sony in my opinion, but it does mean nothing will absolutely melt your face or blow your mind.

Still, this was a solid State of Play!

I love James Bond movies. I grew up with them. I just talked about having gone through every Bond film a few weeks ago (there's 28, if you include The Rock, and you should!). When I watched the marketing for First Light, it looked like a Hitman game. A very well done, excellently made, Hitman game. And that meant I was out.

I'm not hating on Hitman. Blood Money is a classic, and as far as I'm concerned the peak of the series because after that I never got into it again. World of Assassination is supposed to be incredible - if you love Hitman and haven't played it - get after it. This is by no means trying to talk you out of anything Hitman.

But... Is James Bond right for a Hitman game? It didn't land for me. For whatever reason, James Bond means car chases, fast action, gun fights. In game form, that screams shooter to us. First or Third person, but shooter. Not stealth, not sandbox, not puzzles. None of those things are bad, and judging by the reviews IO interactive did a fantastic job. So, why is the game tracking low sales?

Well, who is this game for? Hitman fans? James Bond fans? Uhhh... Uncharted fans??