Gamers Week Podcast

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In this episode...
--> Hollow Knight: Silksong’s reviews are slowly eroding as players find it “too difficult.”
--> Nintendo now has a US patent on summoning characters and making them battle for you.
-->  Grand Theft Auto 6 could potentially be the first "AAAAA game."
--> The new Street Fighter movie, which has been in the works since 2023, now has a cast and a release date.
--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Nostalgia 101

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In this episode...
--> IO Interactive, developers of the much-beloved Hitman series, showed off its latest title, 007 First Light, during a special September State of Play.
--> The Call of Duty video game series is finally getting a Hollywood movie, thanks to a deal between Activision and Paramount.
-->  Hollow Knight: Silksong's $20 price tag is making some indie developers believe the game is so cheap that it will hurt the pricing options of other indie games.
--> One of the most bizarre but charming cultural crossovers has officially come t...

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In this episode...
--> A fresh report has detailed the difficulties faced by some developers keen to launch games for Switch 2 — but who remain unable to do so due to a lack of Nintendo support.
--> PlayStation boss Herman Hulst has said that live service failures are good for the development of their future attempts. 
--> The announcement of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s release date has created a ripple effect in the indie game community with several titles that were slated to release on or near that date now collectively jumpi...

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In this episode...
--> Gamescom Opening Night Live marks the start of the gaming convention in Cologne, and it’s always packed full of announcements, trailers and gameplay reveals. We're discussing all the highlights from the show.
--> Animal rights organisation Peta has urged Nintendo to redesign the popular Cow character in Mario Kart World.
--> David Hayter — who for many years gave Snake his signature gruff voice — has finally "forgiven" series creator Hideo Kojima for not casting him in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
--> Also...

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In this episode...
--> EA is calling the Battlefield 6 open beta its biggest ever, and Weekend 1 just wrapped up with a peak of 521,079 players, which is also an all-time peak for the entire Battlefield series.
--> Nintendo has contacted the organizers of RTA, one of Japan's largest speedrunning charity events, to put a stop to the event's "unauthorized use" of Nintendo IP. 
--> Nintendo's wading into the baby and toddler market with a new toy, clothing, and general goods range it's pulling together under the My Mario banner.
--> "S...

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In this episode...
--> Visa and Mastercard are refuting censorship allegations after forcing storefronts to remove adult video games. Valve says otherwise.
--> The BioShock remake has been cancelled as BioShock 4 has reportedly failed to meet review standards.
--> A short-lived Nintendo fan survey asked for your opinions on buying digital games instead of boxed copies, and offered a chance for you to provide feedback on the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards.
--> According to Larian Studios, it turns out that 250,000 Baldur’s Gate 3 players like their Withers with Big Na...

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In this episode...
--> The Roblox CEO has officially horrified every parent alive by announcing his ambition that the platform become a dating hub, despite the fact that roughly 40% of its users are under the age of 13.
--> Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Tencent over its upcoming game Light of Motiram, with Sony saying it is a "slavish clone" of the Horizon series.
-->  It only took 24 hours after the UK's Online Safety Act went into full effect for someone to get past the age requirement on D...

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In this episode...
--> Just weeks after confirming The Outer Worlds 2 will be the first Microsoft game to retail for $80, Microsoft has reversed the decision, revealing the highly-anticipated sequel will now launch for $69.99 in keeping with typical AAA pricing.
--> Despite donning a hat proclaiming "Make FPS Great Again" at Summer Game Fest earlier this year, studio founder Ian Proulx and 1047 Games are putting Splitgate 2 back into the beta box.
--> Hellraiser is finally getting a videogame after 40 years.
--> The dairy industry would like Gen Z to drink...

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--> Valve has introduced new - and worryingly vague - guidelines aimed at the adult-only game development community, and some are worried they could be used to target LGBTQIA+ content as corporations buckle to appease the US government's continuing attack on queer rights.
--> Following the Federal Bureau of Investigation's widely reported seizure of pirate ROM site Nsw2u.com last week, the US government agency has confirmed the move was part of an operation that impacted "multiple" targets.
--> The director of the upcoming Resident Evil...

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In this episode...
--> Among the waves of fallout from Microsoft’s layoff of 9,000 employees last week, Xbox Game Pass has now come under fire for its “unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade.”
--> Last week, Stop Killing Games - the consumer-driven initiative demanding games publishers leave their titles in a playable state once support is terminated - surpassed 1m signatures. But now, EU industry body Video Games Europe has weighed in, insisting the initiative's proposals would make games "prohibitively expensive to create".
--> Ninten...

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In this episode...
--> Microsoft began its fiscal year Wednesday by laying off thousands of employees, expanding one of the largest runs of layoffs in the company’s history.
--> Video game spending has taken a nose dive among Gen Z, according to data from American research group Circana.
--> The AI startup Runway, which recently partnered with AMC Networks, is now trying to break into the gaming industry.
--> Nintendo's ability to ban Switch 2 consoles from accessing all online features has come under fire from Brazil's consumer rights wa...

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In this episode...
--> Third-party games have reportedly struggled to sell on Nintendo Switch 2 at launch, with one publisher claiming that its game has sold “below our lowest estimates”.
--> Fan-favorite rhythm game Beat Saber is ending support for PlayStation consoles, and for many players, this feels very much like the final nail in the coffin for PlayStation's VR aspirations.
--> The limited-edition, Xbox-branded Meta Quest 3S headset has arrived.
--> A man has been arrested after police say he stole more than $10,000 worth of Nintendo Switch games from mult...

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In this episode...
--> Microsoft has confirmed a “strategic multi-year partnership” with AMD for the next generation of Xbox.
--> Borderlands 4 preorders are finally live, and the base game is priced at $70, not $80 as previously feared.
--> The Silent Hill remake is officially in development at Bloober Team.
--> A bizarre butt-controlled fighting game has received an unexpected buff on Switch 2.
--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Trivia

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In this episode...
--> Summer Game Fest 2025 included 15 individual events running from June 3-9. Here are the biggest announcements, including Resident Evil Requiem, Scott Pilgrim EX, the ROG Xbox Ally, and more.
--> Reports have surfaced of GameStop stores carelessly stapling receipts right through the packaging of brand new Switch 2s and into the console's screen.
--> Zotac is making good on it's April Fool's joke this year and announced that it is actually releasing its F5 esports perfume.
--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Very Important Poll

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In this episode...
--> The summer gaming reveal season is upon us, with PlayStation swooping in at the last second with a new State of Play livestream and introducing us to titles like Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, Nioh 3, and Marvel Tokou: Fighting Souls
--> Nintendo has reportedly begun shipping Switch 2 branded 'Out of Stock' signs to retailers before the console has even gone on sale
--> Someone donated a Concord commemorative plaque to Goodwill — and now it’s going for over $3,000. 
--> The Witcher 3 devs debated for so long over...

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In this episode...
--> In its third round of layoffs this year alone, EA has canceled its single-player Black Panther game and shut down developer Cliffhanger Games.
--> A24 is doubling down on its foray into video game adaptations with live-action productions of Elden Ring and Death Stranding.
--> Microsoft has announced Retro Classics with Game Pass, a collaboration with Antstream Arcade to bring a collection of over 50 classic Activision games from the 80s and 90s to Game Pass members.
--> GameStop just bought half a billion dollars’ worth of...

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In this episode...
--> Last week, when a Twitter user expressed concern over the upcoming Borderlands 4 potentially being $80 (a price point hasn't been set just yet), Gearbox head Randy Pitchford responded, "If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen."
--> Star Wars’ infamous villain Darth Vader has been turned into an AI in Fortnite, and users have already got it saying racial slurs.
--> Sony has announced an end to its PlayStation Stars loyalty program, less than three years after its launch.
--> Sm...

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In this episode...
--> Nintendo has revised its Account Agreement and Account Privacy Policy to tighten the rules on emulation and piracy, and the company now says it has the right to brick your console if it thinks you’ve broken the agreement.
--> The video game companies negotiating a new contract with SAG-AFTRA have issued a “best, last and final” offer to the actors union, which removes some key sticking points regarding Generative AI.
--> GameStop Canada has been acquired by Stephan Tetrault, an entrepreneur and "longtime leader in the co...

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In this episode...
--> Microsoft has announced that it is raising the prices of its Xbox consoles globally and has also announced that it will charge $80 for games starting later this year.
--> Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed out of 2025 as Rockstar confirms a May 26, 2026 release date, but what does that mean for the games industry this year?
--> Just a few months after reportedly cancelling two unannounced live service games in the wake of the Concord catastrophe, Sony has unveiled a brand-new internal studio called TeamLFG, and yup...

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In this episode...
--> Nintendo’s delayed Switch 2 preorders finally kicked off in the US at 12AM ET on Thursday, April 24th, and everything went to hell almost immediately.
--> The founder of Discord has announced that he will be stepping down as CEO and will be replaced by Humam Sakhnini, who was previously Chief Strategy Officer at Activision Blizzard.
--> Layoff Fest 2K25 continues as EA announced that it is cutting 300-400 jobs “in service of driving future growth.”
--> Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 3 is continuing its li...

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In this episode...
--> Bethesda has finally revealed the worst-kept secret in video games... The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.
--> Pocketpair has presented a comprehensive, multi-argument defense against Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit with a response that references a variety of games, ranging from Octopath Traveler to Far Cry 5.
--> Tragedy strikes as Hollywood has run out of video games to adapt and is now forced to make an OutRun movie fronted by Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay.
--> 34 years later, Paul Rudd is reprising the SNES role that got him...

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In this episode...
--> Ubisoft has now filed a response to the lawsuit over the shut down of online game The Crew and makes multiple claims as to why the suit should be dismissed, including that the plaintiffs knew what they were getting into because of "the explicit warnings on The Crew's packaging that plaintiffs were obtaining a limited license to access the game."
--> Discord has added a new age verification system for some users that requires them to scan their face or ID to access sensitive material.
-->...

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In this episode...
--> Following an uproar after last week's Direct, Nintendo execs have acknowledged the cost of its upcoming Switch 2 console and games and explained the reason behind the higher price point.
--> A Minecraft Movie is shattering expectations at the box office.
--> Microsoft has created a playable "interactive space inspired" by Quake II using AI, and pretty much everyone hates it.
--> GoldenEye 007 for the N64 has inspired the next colorway of Nike's retro-modded Air Max 1 sneakers.
--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Very Important Poll<...

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In this episode...
--> Nintendo finally unveiled so much of what we've been waiting for about the Nintendo Switch 2. We breakdown all the big reveals in the Switch 2 Direct, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the price controversy.
--> An Australian court has ordered YouTuber Karl Jobst to pay damages to celebrity arcade gamer Billy Mitchell, relating to defamatory comments made by Jobst in a video published in 2021.
--> Its no April Fool's joke -- Palworld developer Pocketpair is absolutely making a visual novel.
--> Also: Top 3...

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In this episode...
--> Game Informer is now backed by blockchain developer Gunzilla Games, the studio behind the upcoming NFT battle royale Off The Grid.
--> New rumors state Nintendo is planning to launch the Switch 2 in June and that the company will supposedly implement a three-phase plan for its Switch 2 software, with first-party titles getting top priority.
--> After copying Smash Bros' homework for Multiverses, its recently axed platform brawler, Warner Bros Games was apparently turning to Mario Kart next.
--> Shadow of Mordor's revolutionary Nemesis system was...

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In this episode...
--> “Don't let your kids be on Roblox,” said the Roblox CEO, speaking to BBC News, before comparing himself to Walt Disney and declaring the platform “the future of communication.”
--> Konami aired its latest Silent Hill Transmission broadcast just last week, sharing more details about the upcoming Silent Hill f.
--> A team of researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a way to replicate realistic flavors for virtual reality experiences.
--> Jonah Hill's Superbad character was so “reprehensible” that Sony insisted he not touch a Play...

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In this episode...
--> A new leak from an anonymous tipster has revealed PlayStation maker Sony is working on AI-driven characters, including Aloy from the Horizon series.
--> A new report claims that the next console from Xbox might not be a traditional console at all, and that it might be targeting a 2027 launch.
--> The World Video Game Hall of Fame has revealed this year’s 12 finalists up for induction, including Quake, Mattel Football, and Tamagotchi.
--> Coperni staged a fashion runway show conjoined with a 200-person LAN pa...

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In this episode...
--> After plenty of rumors, Activision finally confirmed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 are back and getting remade from the ground up.
--> Acclaim, the US game publisher that enjoyed success in the 1990s, is being resurrected.
--> Walmart is going all-in on "gamified shopping" — starting with its own video game.
--> Palworld dev Pocketpair gave employees the day off to play Monster Hunter Wilds after receiving "mysterious" notes from staff who said they’d probably be too unwell to work on launch day.
--> Also: Top...

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In this episode...
--> Warner Bros. has announced that it is shutting down three studios and that development of the Wonder Woman game “will not move forward.”
--> Twitch has announced plans to implement a 100-hour storage limit for all highlights and uploads for all users.
--> The Street Fighter movie has found its director in Kitao Sakurai, perhaps best known for writing, directing, and exec producing The Eric Andre Show.
--> There was an official Dodge Caliber video game, and it’s weirder than you’d ever guess.
-->...

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In this episode...
--> GameStop announced Tuesday that it plans to sell its operations in France and Canada, and the company's CEO is pointing a finger at the “wokeness” of the two countries.
--> A little over two months after its hugely successful launch, the US-based developers behind Marvel Rivals, including its game director, have reportedly been hit with layoffs.
--> Microsoft has debuted a generative AI model, named Muse, that it says can create “game visuals, controller actions, or both.”
--> We can now pinpoint the exact year video ga...

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In this episode...
--> A brand-new State of Play arrived this week, giving us an exciting look at the future of PS5 with a ton of games, including Saros, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Directive 8020, and more.
--> The Entertainment Software Association, the trade group that represents the video games industry, is making a new conference after the collapse of E3.
--> The good news out of Warner Bros. Games is that Rocksteady Studios is looking to make a new single player Batman game. The bad news, however, is pretty much...

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In this episode...
--> MultiVersus, the Warner Bros. IP platform fighter from Player First Games, is coming to an end on May 30.
--> Meta chief technology officer Andrew "Boz" Bosworth said in an internal memo that the company's Reality Labs division needs to turn things around in a big way in 2025, or else its whole venture into mixed and virtual reality could go down as a "legendary misadventure."
--> Steam now warns you if that early access game you're eyeing up has been abandoned by its devs.
--> Banks...

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In this episode...
--> Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said its brand identity is "evolving" now that keeping first-party games exclusive to its own platform is no longer "a path" for the company.
--> PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst appears to have gotten a slight demotion as he is no longer the co-CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
--> Tickets for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Experience hands-on event are being listed on eBay, even though the tickets are non-transferrable.
--> Four studios are battling it out to once again reboot...

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In this episode...
--> Following the spectacular flameout of Concord in September 2024, Sony has now confirmed the cancelation of two more of its planned live-service games. 
--> Arrowhead boss Shams Jorjani wants to get as many A-listers as possible for the Helldivers 2 film “as long as they all get killed violently.”
--> Balatro has passed 5 million copies sold as the developer implores fans to play more indie games.
--> Director and writer David Lynch, known for his surreal work across film and television (as well as several iconic PS2 ads...

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In this episode...
--> FINALLY! Nintendo officially revealed the Switch 2 in a brief trailer on January 16. 
--> Veteran investment analyst and researcher Matthew Ball said "there is hope" that Take-Two will price GTA 6 at "$80 or even $100," which could prove to be a turning point for the video game industry.
--> Razer has released a backseat gaming AI bot called Project AVA.
--> A group of designers have created a video game controller that is made from bacteria and yeast rather than plastic.
--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Gaming H...

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In this episode...
--> Sony has unveiled its new conceptual technology designed to ramp up immersion by sticking players inside a TV box and squirting smells into the room.
--> During Sony's CES 2025 press conference, the company announced film adaptations of both Helldivers 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn, while Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is becoming an anime.
--> Nintendo Switch players are reporting their new games have been replaced with… googly eyes.
--> Gaming industry predictions for 2025
--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Very Important Poll

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In this episode...
--> Sega is considering launching its own Netflix-like subscription service for video games.
--> Take-Two Interactive still hasn't revealed the GTA 6 release date, and other publishers are reportedly refusing to commit to 2025 until they know they can avoid it.
--> Grand Theft Hamlet (a machinima movie that takes place entirely within the world of Grand Theft Auto) will stream globally on MUBI in early 2025.
--> Reviewing 2024's best and worst video game releases
--> Also: Celebrating 3 years of Gamers Week, Top 3 New Releases, Gaming History 101<...

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For the last episode of 2024, we're going all out! Join us as we meet Santa Clause at the North Pole and help him remember the true meaning of the Naughty List. 

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In this episode...
--> 2024 has almost gone, taking with it the year's major storylines, game releases, and trends. We're looking back at the year that was and remembering the biggest gaming headlines of 2024.
--> Balatro's creator is speaking out against European rating agency PEGI after it handed the game an 18+ rating because it could teach players how to dabble in real-world poker.
--> The Borderlands 4 narrative director doesn't want skibidi or hawk tuah jokes in the game.
--> The Pokémon Trading Card Game has grown so valuable that J...

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In this episode...
--> The 2024 Game Awards have concluded, bringing with them a new list of winners -- including this year's GOTY Astro Bot.
--> A new article from NBC News about Luigi Mangione (the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson) points the finger at Among Us as a possible influence to Mangione's actions.
--> Microsoft’s portfolio is now "quite a bit stronger" than Sony’s, says analyst, thanks to the Dec. 9 launch of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
--> Beer company Heineken has...