The Midnight Release

Before digital downloads and massive hard drives, some of the greatest gaming experiences required one simple instruction:

Please insert Disc Two.

In Episode 17 of The Midnight Release Podcast, we revisit the era of multi-disc gaming — from the early days of floppy disks to the unforgettable PlayStation era RPG epics and beyond.

Joined by Howie, we explore the legendary titles that demanded disc swaps, why so many JRPGs lived on multiple discs, and how the trend carried into future console generations.

We also dive into gaming ne...

In Episode 16 of The Midnight Release Podcast, we’re joined again by Howie and Wayne as we revisit the characters, franchises, and brands that became larger than the games they came from.

Who is the true face of PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo? Which franchises became so iconic they transcended gaming into film, television, and pop culture dominance? And are we losing the era of the true “movie star”?

We explore the evolution of gaming icons, legendary franchises, and unforgettable characters — then shift into Co-op Mode for a discussion on iconic a...

Anime didn’t just entertain us — it raised us.

In Episode 15 of The Midnight Release Podcast, we’re diving deep into the worlds, characters, and stories that shaped a generation. Joined by Howie and Wayne, this episode blends nostalgia, culture, and real-life reflection as we explore how anime went from “not cool” to fully mainstream — and why its lessons still hit hard today.

From our first exposure through Toonami blocks to debating power levels, favorite series, and the life lessons hidden beneath the action, this is a full-on celebration of anime’s impact on wh...

In this episode of Midnight Release, we crack open the binders and relive the heartbreak.

From Pokémon, Magic, Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto trading cards to modern TCGs like Fusion World, Gundam, and Riftbound, we dive headfirst into the world of trading cards — the ones we loved, the ones we ruined, and the collections we absolutely should not have sold.

We talk OG card shop culture, Toys “R” Us memories, card sleeves we definitely didn’t use, and how today’s market has been reshaped by scalpers, collabs, and chase culture.

Plus:

In this special .5 collaboration episode of The Midnight Release, Chase sits down with Morgan from The Gaming Caffe to revisit one of gaming’s most defining eras: The Console Wars.

From heated playground debates to unforgettable midnight launches, we dive deep into the rivalries that shaped us — PlayStation vs Xbox vs Nintendo — and the games and consoles that defined entire generations. Morgan shares his personal experiences, favorite systems, and the titles that left a lasting impact, with a heavy focus on the PS2 / Xbox / GameCube era and the le...

 A nostalgic deep dive into the early internet — before algorithms, feeds, and infinite scroll. From Newgrounds to old YouTube, MySpace to Limewire, we explore how browsing used to feel… and what’s changed. 

In Episode 13 of The Midnight Release, we dive headfirst into The Lost Art of Browsing: a time when the internet felt wild, personal, and endlessly discoverable. From Newgrounds animations and Ebaumsworld rabbit holes to early YouTube, Limewire downloads, fan sites, and waiting forever for anime dubs — this episode is a full nostalgia run.

We talk about how the internet u...

Retro is back — and it’s everywhere.

In Episode 12 of The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin dig into Retro Resurrections, exploring why old-school games, hardware, music, and tech are making such a massive comeback in 2026. From TikTok Shop emulation devices and retro mini consoles to vinyl records, remasters, and reboots, nostalgia is having a moment — but does it actually hold up?

The guys break down the difference between nostalgia and quality, debate whether older games are still good or just comforting, and talk about how modern gaming has reintroduced retro vibes through filters, remast...

Chase from The Midnight Release sits down with Tim from The Small Time Arcade for a special Episode 1.5 video discussion, spinning off from our original episode “Midnight at GameStop.”

Together, we dive into midnight launch memories, GameStop culture, and what it was really like being part of those late-night releases that felt bigger than just buying a game. Tim shares his personal experiences, favorite memories, and — in true Midnight Release fashion — we go down a few unexpected nostalgia rabbit holes along the way.

This episode is all about the memories, the vibes, and the moments that mad...

 From trade-ins and promo cards to midnight launches and penny-out merch, this week we dive headfirst into the used-game economy and the GameStop culture that shaped a generation. Nostalgia, chaos, and a little emotional damage included. 

In Episode 11 of The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin go full GameStop nostalgia mode with “Used and Sometimes Abused.”

This week’s Story Mode focuses on the wild, wonderful, and sometimes unhinged world of used games and trade-ins — from questionable customer trades and brutal trade values to Edge cards, PowerUp Rewards, midnight l...

 The way we consume movies, games, and media has fundamentally changed. In this episode of The Midnight Release, we dive into the end of physical media and the rise of digital, unpacking what we gained, what we lost, and why nostalgia still hits harder when something can sit on a shelf. 

From VHS tapes and DVD binders to digital storefronts and streaming libraries, media has gone through a massive transformation over the last few decades.

In Episode 10: End of an Era, Chase and Austin kick off 2026 by breaking down th...

 Growing up doesn’t mean putting the controller down.
 In Episode 9 of The Midnight Release, we reflect on what adulthood looks like through a gamer’s lens — the memories that shaped us, the media that stayed with us, and how we balance nostalgia with real-life responsibilities as we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026. 

This week, Chase and Austin take a step back to talk about what growing up actually feels like — how childhood dreams compare to adult realities, how gaming and media still play a meaningful role in their lives, and why “feeling like an adult” is oft...

 We rewind to mall culture at its peak — food courts, arcades, forgotten stores, and the era when the mall was the place to be. 

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin take a nostalgic walk through one of the most iconic parts of growing up in the 90s and 2000s with Episode 8: “Meet Me at the Mall.”

From Jefferson Mall’s golden days to arcades like Aladdin’s Castle, fountains full of coins, and food courts that somehow fed an entire generation, we dive deep into mall culture at its peak. We revisit f...

 From Game Boy and PSP to Switch and Steam Deck, we rewind through handheld gaming history. Plus: Game Awards reactions, reveals we loved (and hated), and a handheld-themed quiz. 

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin jump back into gaming with Episode 7: “Pocket Power”, a full rewind through the history of handheld gaming — from the original Game Boy all the way to modern handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and the Switch 2.

We talk about where we each started, our favorite handheld consoles and games, unforgettable Pokémon memories, funny (and painful...

 Blockbuster nights, VHS nostalgia, Netflix’s mail-in era, midnight movie releases, and the rise (and fall) of physical media. Plus: GOTY predictions, upcoming movie hype, and deep-pull memories from the video rental days. 

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin jump out of the gaming lane and back into another core part of 90s–2000s childhood: Friday nights at Blockbuster. From VHS tapes and late fees to catching that one copy of a new release before anyone else, this episode dives into movie culture, video rental rituals, and how physical media shaped an entire...

Before Xbox Live and Discord, there were basements full of CRTs, ethernet cables running like spiderwebs, and hands covered in Dorito dust. This week, Chase and Austin are joined by Wayne and Howie to relive the glory days of LAN parties, couch co-op, early multiplayer memories, and the snacks that fueled them. 

Grab your controllers, fire up the ethernet hub, and keep your hands clean (or don’t) — because Episode 5 is all about LAN Parties and Doritos Dust.

This week, Austin and Chase are joined by two very special guests: Howie (aka Scott...