Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams: A Video Game Podcast

I sit down with Mark Grigsby, co-studio head of Infinity Ward, and Geoff Smith, studio multiplayer creative director, for an EXCLUSIVE conversation on Modern Warfare 4. I've been trying to track these brothers down forever and I finally got them in the room.We get into why MW4 is the best Call of Duty in years, the DMZ nod inside the campaign, Price's "hero to zero" arc, the brotherhood between U.S. and South Korean Marines, why Wu-Tang HAD to be in that cold open, and the Batman Arkham-inspired first-person brawler mechanic.On the DMZ side: what Geoff wanted to...

I'm back after nearly a month off and joined by my man, my mellow, the smoothest kind of fellow — Cam Hawkins of the Party Chat JRPG Podcast — to unpack a HEAVY few weeks in gaming.We open with the news that broke our hearts: BioWare is closing. After more than 30 years and franchises like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem, EA is shutting the studio down and ending development on the next Mass Effect project. We read through BioWare's farewell statement, talk about how this one hit different than...

Luc Bernard has been trying to make The Light in the Darkness for nearly 20 years. It's a graphic novel-style narrative game set in occupied France during World War II — where you play as a Jewish family, experiencing the Holocaust not through combat, but through helplessness, fear, and the slow erosion of safety. It's the first game of its kind. And on Episode 591 of Spawn On Me, I sat down with Luke to find out how it got made, what it cost him emotionally, and why the Director's Cut is the version the world actually needs to see right now.

Go behind the scenes of Marvel's Wolverine with Insomniac's Head of Technology, Mike Fitzgerald. Learn how the team tackles complex development challenges. In this episode of Spawn on Me, we sit down with Mike Fitzgerald to discuss the realities of game development at Insomniac Games. We explore the technical constraints of bringing a major title to market, the intricate process of building character deformation tech, and what it takes to create high-end visuals in modern gaming. This conversation offers a unique look at the engineering hurdles faced by one of the industry's most prominent studios.

I've waited on a Wolverine game like this my whole life as an X-Men fan, and after 20+ hours with Insomniac's take, I'm breaking down whether it earns a place next to Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 as one of their best.This is a spoiler-free review, but I get into the big-picture stuff: how Insomniac reimagines Logan's origin through Team X and gives him a more grounded, human throughline than we usually get from this character; how the combat carves out its own identity — close-quarters and brutal rather than the aerial mobility Spider-Man built its reputation on — and where that comparison help...

I've been wanting to have this conversation for a long time, and it did not disappoint. This week on Spawn On Me, I sat down with Mara Junot — the voice of Ikora Rey in Destiny, Storm across multiple Marvel games, and Queen Sindel in Mortal Kombat — and we went deep on everything from their origin story to what it actually takes to build a lasting career as a voice actor.

Mara gets real about starting out with zero voiceover resources in their area, teaching themselves through YouTube and podcasts, and spending nearly 8 years as a country radio DJ b...

I got a chance to go hands-on with Silent Hill: Townfall at a private preview event in LA, and I have to say — this one is something special. Three hours with the game, a decorated hotel setup themed around the Scottish town of Saint Amelia, and a live Q&A with writer/director Jon McLennan from ScreenBurn and series producer Akimoto-san from Konami. Yeah, it was that kind of event.

This episode is my full breakdown of what I saw, what surprised me, and why I think this might be one of the most important Silent Hill ga...

3,200 Xbox jobs. Studios sold, studios cut loose, studios just gone. And PlayStation is telling us physical discs will be done by 2028. I sat down this week and gave you my honest, unfiltered take on all of it — not just the business moves, but what this means for the actual human beings living through this. As somebody who is currently laid off himself, this one hits close to home, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.This episode covers:- 📌 The Xbox Reset — Asha Sharma's "most significant restructure in Xbox history," the 3,200 jobs being cut, and the real-world chaos that's followe...

It's Day 3 of Summer Game Fest 2026, and I sat down with content creator Cam Hawkins to break down the best games of the show.

We get into Cam's game of the show — Phantom Blade Zero and its razor-sharp parry combat — a stunning hands-off Onimusha demo (and how the two release just a month apart), the absolutely stacked fall release calendar around GTA VI, the Resident Evil Code Veronica remake, and Forever Ago, an emotional Annapurna indie about an old man grieving his wife on a road trip. Plus the games we missed (Clutch, Bub), the show's big horr...

I got to sit down with Sean Krankel — GM of Narrative Games at Netflix and the co-founder of Night School Studio — to talk about *Unhinged*, the new immersive horror experience that drops June 30 and uses your actual phone as the controller. This one hit me hard as a horror fan, and after playing it, I had questions — and Sean had all the answers.We go deep on how Night School made the move to Netflix, why Unhinged was designed to feel more like living inside a thriller than playing a video game, and how they assembled one of the most s...

On episode 585 of the Spawn On Me podcast, Kahlief Adams is joined by content creator Cam Hawkins for a full post-Summer Game Fest 2026 debrief — the games that flew under the radar, and a candid conversation about where the industry is heading.

We dig into the overlooked games of the show — Erosion (an open-world roguelike with a wild mechanic where dyingages your kidnapped daughter), Valor Mortis (a first-person Souls-like from the Ghostrunner devs), Out of Words (a gorgeous stop-motion co-op game), and ProbablyMonsters' Crimson Moon and Nokomi: Nazi Hunter — then get into Xbox's rough week (layoffs, studio closures, the ne...

At Summer Game Fest 2026 I got a first look at Saw: Genesis — and it's Bloober Team's first-ever multiplayer game.

It's a 3v1 asymmetrical horror game set just after World War I: one Judge (a brand-new villain, not Jigsaw) traps three Accused players in escape-room-style torture chambers. There's a constant co-op push-and-pull, brutal sacrifice mechanics — lose an eyeball, a hand, or a foot, and it changes how you move and what you can do — a “vulnerable killer” players can actually take down, and a ping system forcommunication. It's Bloober rethinking both multiplayer and the Saw IP, and I'm hyped.

At Summer Game Fest 2026 I stopped by Saber Interactive's booth and went hands-on with a stacked lineup — and it might be the most fun I had on the floor.

First up, Hellraiser — gory, gritty, and exactly what horror fans want. Then Stuntman, a genuinely fun revival of the classic arcade stunt-driving game with big set-piece energy(think Knight Rider and Back to the Future). And Turok is back, with co-op, a third/first-person blend, and class options (healer, melee, run-and-gun) that make it a blast to jump into. Fast, pick-up-and-play fun across the board.

At Summer Game Fest 2026 I caught up with Fallout 76's John Rush (Creative Director) and Bill LaCoste (Production Director) to talk about where the game is now — and thelong-requested feature that's finally coming.

We get into the boom the Fallout TV show created (bringing new and lapsed players back to a game that's had 68 ee updates), Fallout becoming a full-on cultural phenomenon, the new Infestations expansion that's out now, and how the team balances veterans and newcomers. Then the future: current-gen Xbox Series X|S and PS5/PS5 Pro buildsPlus PTS access for console players — and camp pets...

Day 2 of Summer Game Fest 2026 was all about Xbox — and I got behind closed doors. In this recap I break down the Xbox showcase and the hands-off demos, including the game that stole the show for me: Fable.

Playground Games' Fable looks staggering — 1,000 individually crafted NPCs with their own motivations, deep reputation and relationship systems, and a lived-in world unlike anything I've seen. Plus Minecraft Dungeons 2 rebuilt on Unreal 5 with 4-player co-op, the hilarious cult-survival surprise Join Us (Cult of the Lamb meets Midsommar), Gears of War: E-Day, Crazy Taxi, new Senua/Hellblade, and the 25th-anniversary translucent gree...

At Summer Game Fest 2026 I went hands-on with Annapurna's lineup, and there's a lot to be excited about — starting with my most anticipated of the show, Silent Hill: Townfall.Townfall makes a bold move from third-person to first-person horror on Unreal Engine 5, with one-to-one scale, a CRT-style signal device, and a no-HUD design where your character's thoughts surface as on-screen text — and it looks gorgeous. Then The Lost Wild from Giant Ape flips the script on dinosaur games with an “anti-kill,” stealth-survival approach that treats dinosaurs as creatures rather than enemies, plus a supernatural twist. And Demi rounds it out as a...

At Summer Game Fest 2026, I sat down with Véronique Lallier, Chief Development Officer at IO Interactive, to talk about the explosive launch of 007 First Light — 2.7 million copies sold in its first week — and what's next for both James Bond and Hitman.We get into the 7-year journey to build the new 007, why First Light plays nothing like Hitman, reimagining Bond for a new generation while staying authentic, the star-studded cast (Patrick Gibson as the young Bond, plus Lenny Kravitz), launching across 14 platforms, Hitman crossing 1 billion eliminations, and the Wiz Khalifa Elusive Target coming to Hitman.Enjoying the channel? Hit t...

At Summer Game Fest 2026 I got about 90 minutes hands-on with Control: Resonant — Remedy's return to the Control universe —, and I'm hyped.The big shift: it moves from gunplay to fast, melee-focused combat with real weapon variety, DMC-style combos and combo-enders, and traversal that feels great as you move through Remedy's eerie, atmospheric spaces. The enemies are no pushovers, the world-building is classic Remedy, there's a tease of the story, and the replayability looks ridiculous. Easily one of my most anticipated games.

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At Summer Game Fest 2026, I sat down with IO Interactive's Matias (Principal Level Designer) and Hilde Sunde (Lead Environment Artist) to break down 007 First Light — the new James Bond game from the studio behind Hitman.We get into how IOI reimagined Bond for a new era, why First Light plays nothing like Hitman, the ammo-scarce combat that forces you to keep moving, the eavesdrop spy mechanic, and the wildly contrasting worlds — from a luxury Vietnam resort to the rough Mauritania desert. Plus dream Bond locations and the team's favorite 007 films. (Sorry, Pierce.)

This week on Spawn On Me, I land an exclusive sit-down with the team behind NBA The Run, the upcoming 3v3 arcade basketball game from Play by Play Studios. If you've been waiting for a true spiritual successor to NBA Street since EA Sports BIG went quiet, you're going to want to hear this one.

I talk with the team about how a small, passionate studio went from building a fictional streetball game called The Run: Got Next to landing an official NBA license — and how a single LinkedIn message changed the trajectory of the entire project. We...

I sit down with Casey Baron, Senior Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival's Games Program, for an exciting conversation about the newly announced 2026 Tribeca Festival Games Program.

Casey shares his vision for the festival's 25th anniversary edition, running June 3-14, 2026, and we discuss how the games program has become an early champion of titles that go on to critical acclaim and deeply resonate with players. We dive into this year's selections that showcase the incredible breadth and ambition of storytelling in games today, including immersive projects like "Escape The Internet: Part 2."

With over a decade...

This week, the internet did what it always does: took something good, something that clearly resonated with real people, and turned it into a battlefield. We're talking about Mixtape — the new game from Beethoven & Dinosaur and Annapurna — and why the so-called "controversy" surrounding it tells you more about gaming culture than it does about the actual game.

Because let's be honest: a 2-to-3 hour game with a 95 Metascore on Xbox, thousands of positive Steam reviews, and music from Devo, Joy Division, and the Smashing Pumpkins doesn't NEED the internet's permission to be good. But here we are. We'r...

On this episode, we talk about Xbox's Matt Booty's appearance on the Xbox Wire podcast — his discussion on the current state of their June showcase, Project Helix, and how teams are working together. I share my thoughts on how the Rockstar hack gives new insight into microtransactions, and I give my Pragmata review.

We close out the episode with an interview with the team from ballandgun.com to talk about their new game.

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The PS5 Pro just hit $900 and I've got a lot to say about it. This week I'm pulling the best clips from Kind of Funny's Xbox future breakdown and GamerTag Radio's conversation with industry analyst Mat Piscatella — then giving you my unfiltered take on what the industry is actually telling us right now about affordability, access, and who gaming is really being built for. Plus, I sat down with Whitson Gordon from ASUS ROG for a real behind-the-scenes look at how gaming hardware collaborations like the Xbox ROG Ally X and the Kojima Productions laptop actually get made.

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I got to check out Sound System at GDC and immediately knew I had to get the team back on the show. This conversation with Echo Foundry's Lennon Lange, who worked on the original Guitar Hero, breaks down exactly why this could be the rhythm game revival we've been waiting for. We're talking about real innovation, not just nostalgia.• How Classic Mode and Pro Mode balance accessibility with hardcore challenge• The creator-focused tools that could transform how rhythm games work• Why having a Guitar Hero veteran leading this matters for the genre's future• What Sound System gets right about multipla...

Finally got to sit down with George Krstic, the creative mind behind one of horror gaming's biggest hits right now. We're talking Poppy Playtime Chapter 5, the psychology of "weaponized nostalgia," and why this series has managed to stand out in the crowded mascot horror space when so many others fall flat.What we covered:• The origins of Poppy Playtime and what inspired the creepy-cute aesthetic• How they approach character design to maximize the creep factor • The concept of "weaponized nostalgia" and turning childhood comfort into terror• Chapter 5's development and what makes this horror series actually workIf you're not already...

We're back from GDC and I've got A LOT to unpack. This week on Spawn On Me. I'm diving deep into everything that had the internet buzzing coming out of the Game Developers Conference.

First up: Project Helix. Xbox finally confirmed the name, the hardware direction, and what their partnership with AMD really means for the future — FSR Next, machine learning integration, a custom AMD SOC, and yes… it IS a console.Then I get into the DLSS 5 controversy that has the gaming community split right down the middle. Is NVIDIA's latest AI upscaling tech a game-changer or a...

In this episode of Spawn On Me, I sit down with IGDA Foundation Executive Director Alyssa Walles for a real conversation about what it actually takes to get more game developers the funding, mentorship, and access they deserve. We dig into the Foundation’s mission to break down barriers for underrepresented and marginalized creators around the world, and how their programs help devs find the resources they need to build sustainable careers and bring their games to life.

We talk about how access to capital, professional development, and community can change everything for a developer trying to br...

What's good, y'all! Welcome back to episode 565 of Spawn On Me - we're officially back and kicking off 2026 right! I know it's been a minute since I've been in your ears consistently, but your boy has been in the trenches getting things together, and I'm excited to be back in Brookago with all of you beautiful people. This episode, we're diving deep into some real conversations about the gaming industry, from HighGuard layoffs to how we approach criticism. We need to chill with the immediate hate on everything that drops before we even give it a chance.

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We just got back from Los Angeles after spending several hours hands-on with Highguard, the new free-to-play raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, a studio led by developers with deep roots in games like Apex Legends and Titanfall.On paper, it is easy to dismiss Highguard as “another shooter,” especially in a crowded 2026 lineup. But after playing multiple full matches, sitting down with the design and product leads, and seeing how the systems work together, it is clear this game is aiming for something genuinely different.Highguard introduces a new take on competitive shooters through a multi-phase raid structure built arou...

In our latest episode, we share some of my favorite gear from 2025 and much more!

We are closing out 2025 with a double-feature episode packed with fresh tech and big game energy. First, we sit down with Napoleon Smith (CMO, Cubios) to break down the WowCube, a modern twist on the classic Rubik’s Cube that turns nostalgia into a fully loaded, interactive device, complete with games, apps, customization, and a real push into STEM learning.

Then we link up with Tom Eastman (President, Trinket Studios) to talk Battlesuit Aces, a story-rich, fully voiced, mecha-anime-inspired card battler that blends deckbuilding, visual novel storytelling, and deep customization into one cohesive ride. We dig into ho...

Hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane joins Spawn On Me for an exclusive convo about legacy, tech, and his new interactive Viverse experience. Plus Andranik Aslanyan (HTC Viverse, Head of Growth) talks about the future of fan worlds. Then we break down The Game Awards 2025 and why Bungie’s Marathon has me extra excited.

You can check out Big Daddy Kane's Viverse world here - https://worlds.viverse.com/NbuFNCa

We sit down with the head of the ESA, Stanley Pierre-Louis, to unpack the Power of Play 2025 report—what 24k+ players across 21 countries say about gaming’s impact. We also discuss their current policy mission and what it is like working with the current administration. Read the report here: https://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PoP-2025-v10-web-spreads.pdf. the ESA

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We dig into the current state of the Xbox business and ask the big question: is this a good move or not for players, partners, and the platform’s future? Then we review two premium gamepads head-to-head: the Razer Raiju V3 Wireless Pro and the Scuf Valor Pro Wireless. We cover build quality, sticks and triggers, remap options, latency, battery life, and who each controller is for. Plus, what Xbox’s strategy signals for first-party releases, Game Pass, and third-party partnerships. Stick around for our verdicts and buyer advice.

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After 13 years, Ninja Gaiden 4 is finally here... and it's both exactly what we wanted AND a massive letdown. The combat is incredible, the gore is satisfying, and the challenge will test even veteran players. But the story? The characters? Absolutely lifeless.

In this review, I break down everything you need to know about Ninja Gaiden 4 - from the revolutionary Bloodbind Ninjutsu system to the brutal Master Ninja difficulty, and why both Yakumo and Ryu feel like empty shells despite being at the center of what could've been an amazing story.

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What is Keeper, and why is it already living rent-free in our heads? 👀 Lee Petty (Double Fine) pulls up to Brookago to talk craft—how Keeper’s vibe, rules, and art style work together, and how the team keeps things fair, surprising, and fun without spoilers. We talk design pillars, those “ohhh, I get it” moments, and why this project hits different if you love discovery.Chapters below. Tap in and roll with us:• Smash that sub on YouTube (Spawn On Me)• Follow on Spotify & drop a 5★ on Apple Podcasts• We go live at Twitch.tv/spawnonme• Say hey: @SpawnOnMe (X), @spawn

Battlefield 6 Review: Best Since BF4? In this review, I dig into why BF6’s multiplayer finally feels like Battlefield again. The return to four classic classes (Assault, Engineer, Support, Recon) brings clear squad roles, while a smart movement overhaul—including the much-praised drag-revive—keeps fights tactical and team-first. Launch content is strong, with nine maps across five theaters (yes, Operation Firestorm is back) that rotate well across Conquest, Rush, and Breakthrough. On PC, performance is accessible without heavy bells and whistles, and cross-play keeps lobbies full. The campaign has highlights but can’t match the pull of “one more match.” Wi...

Acclaim is BACK! and we’re unpacking the strategy behind it. Director of Publishing and Partnerships Marc Anthony Rodriguez joins Spawn On Me to discuss how a classic brand can reintroduce itself to today’s players. We talk about the deals and partnerships that matter, what a modern publishing slate looks like, and how to honor Acclaim’s legacy while building something new.

Marc also walks through his career across the games industry, lessons learned working with developers and IP holders, and candid advice for anyone trying to break into publishing. We dig into community building, what succes...

Ghost of Yotei has been called everything from “the wokest samurai game ever” to a next-gen masterpiece. After spending 50+ hours with the game, here’s my spoiler-free review.In this episode, I’ll cover:

And yes — I’ll dig into the controv...