Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

It's mid-May, which can mean only one thing: We're at the point in the calendar when most companies release their financials for the previous fiscal year. Sony is one such organization, reporting a relatively flat year-on-year picture both generally, and with PlayStation in particular. With PS5 sales slowing down all the while the console is becoming more expensive, and with recent Housemarque exclusive Saros seemingly selling softly, does Sony have an uphill battle to keep PlayStation relevant? Or will the inevitable PlayStation 6 -- not to mention PS5's likely-strong swan song next year -- be enough to keep the ever-distracted masses engaged with the ecosystem? We discuss. Plus: Sony's second and third party lead gives a candid interview, 007: First Light goes gold, a new externally-manufactured DualSense controller has hit the market, PlayStation Plus Game Catalog receives a refresh, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why did so many people believe Game Informer was teasing a Grand Theft Auto VI cover? Do we think the rumors indicating that FromSoft is working on a pirate-themed game are true? Is Dragon Quest XII finally going to be properly revealed in a couple of weeks? Could Chris contest Brad's status as the guy who cares the most about Last Stand Media?
Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:55:19 - Stand down Jeff
0:56:27 - Daxter the pup
1:02:39 - Chris on Saint Slayer
1:03:59 - Sacred polls
1:06:07 - PSN Settlement update
1:07:28 - The "original" Uncharted 4
1:17:07 - Fiscal year financials
2:11:35 - Saros sales numbers
2:36:15 - Stellar Blade 2 goes multiplatform
2:43:42 - Playstation 3rd party lead interview
2:50:44 - 007 First Light has gone gold
2:55:40 - New Scuf controller
2:58:29 - New PS+ Plus catalog games
3:03:46 - What Are We Playing? (Saros, Vampire Survivors, Mixtape, Steam Controller)
3:26:59 - Breaking point with social media
3:46:33 - Obsessed GTA fans
3:51:31 - Fromsoft "leaks"
3:58:55 - Marathon Season 2
4:09:29 - New Dragon Quest
4:14:58 - Day and night cycle

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If the release calendar holds as currently constructed, Grand Theft Auto VI will launch into the waiting arms of millions upon millions of day-one players. And since it's likely to be the highest-grossing entertainment event in the history of mankind, it's fair to assume that the marketing push will be substantial. As we get ever-closer to the fall, Take Two's CEO has been giving revealing interviews about the insane money, expectations, and consequences behind Rockstar's much-anticipated project (and word on these digital streets is that Sony has secured the marketing rights to the game, which is absolutely massive for PlayStation 5). Are you ready to withstand a hype machine the likes of which you've never seen before? Plus: Strauss Zelnick expresses disappointment over Civilization VII and laments the lack of a new BioShock, a majority of consumers polled report never buying games at full price, Call of Duty is finally skipping PlayStation 4 moving forward, Yacht Club's Mina the Hollower gets a release date, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony reform its existing refund system on PSN? Is there an alternate reality where Sony kept the 007 film license in the '90s, thus opening up PlayStation to a series of James Bond games? Should PlayStation explore surprise reveals a la the new Star Fox? Does Colin have a potential business opportunity in the works naming other people's children?

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Timestamps:
Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:21:22 - Sacred missed connection UPDATE
0:27:12 - Naming ceremony
0:43:18 - Magnanimous Colin
0:46:21 - DRM thoughts
0:56:27 - New PSN settlement
1:18:17 - Sony seemingly has the marketing rights to GTA VI
1:45:27 - Zelnick on Bioshock and Civ VII
2:09:08 - 62% of gamers don't buy full price
2:25:56 - Call of Duty is done with PS4
2:28:36 - Sega reveals Stranger Than Heaven
2:30:55 - Mina the Hollower has a release date
2:48:45 - PSN April 2026 Sales
2:52:24 - What We’re Playing (Saros, Vampire Crawlers, Saint Slayer)
3:21:28 - Better ways for DRM
3:26:17 - Fix the refund system
3:30:51 - Alternate 007 timeline
3:37:40 - Easy modes
3:44:10 - Surprise announcements
3:50:49 - Marketing for Marathon

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Sometimes, PlayStation's userbase gets upset over nothing, and this past week was a great example of that. Rumors and uninformed conjecture rapidly circulated about Sony unleashing a stringent DRM regimen on PlayStation that would force players to check-in with the PSN every 30 days, or lose their digital licenses. That (of course) was complete nonsense, obviously so -- Sony is instead attempting to throttle dishonest people from taking advantage of a quirk in their refund system -- but it didn't stop many talking points from taking hold. And really, isn't it Sony's fault, ultimately? All they had to do was communicate, good or bad. But they didn't, and so the ne'er-do-wells filled the vacuum. Then again, maybe players should be a little more mad at the actual villains: The losers and degenerates who take advantage of loopholes, steal games, and pirate anything they can get their hands on. We discuss at length. Plus: MLB: The Show Mobile slowly expands around the world, Rebel Wolves' extremely promising vampire title The Dawn of Bloodwalker gets a release date, classic NickToon Rugrats gets a games compilation, Star Wars comes to PowerWash Simulator 2, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With Xbox's incessant will they/won't they going on, should we expect Microsoft-published games to continue to come to PS5? Is ARC Raiders and The Finals developer Embark guilty of overtuning their titles? What are the origins of "friendslop"-style games? Is Colin's wife quietly attempting to protect him from complete embarrassment by refusing to allow him to participate in the 100 Chicken Nugget Challenge?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:22:19 - Sacred missed connection
0:30:03 - Group podcast listening
0:39:24 - Last Stand gambling ring
0:47:17 - Micah saving Colin
0:49:56 - Repropoised
0:51:16 - Old IGN scores
0:59:40 - PlayStation DRM story
1:34:17 - MLB: The Show Mobile pre-register
1:42:13 - Blood of Dawnwalker gets a release date and new info
1:48:57 - Rugrats: Retro Rewind collection
1:58:46 - Star Wars DLC for Power Wash Simulator 2
2:05:19 - May PS+ games
2:09:05 - What We’re Playing
2:47:04 - Xbox's future on PlayStation
3:04:20 - Investing in video game companies
3:13:23 - Overfixing a game
3:26:55 - Halo 3 = Friendslop?
3:32:00 - Steam Controller and next gen controllers
3:41:58 - Proud dad story

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A duo of interesting stories quietly circulated around the PlayStation ecosystem over the last few days, with potential clarity shone on some lingering, years-long issues. For starters, beloved ex-Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida recently spoke at a gaming event in Australia, where he revealed more precious information on his departure from first party, noting that ex-CEO Jim Ryan ultimately fired him from his role for not acceding to his demands. Meanwhile, an ex-Naughty Dog lighting artist seemed to spill the beans on some of the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Uncharted 4, which -- as you may recall -- was a tortured project. But no one knew things were as bad as they seemingly were, until now. Plus: Age verification is coming to PlayStation hardware near you in the UK and elsewhere, Assassin's Creed IV's remake has finally officially emerged, SEGA's classic Ecco the Dolphin franchise is being revived, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With Kotaku making aggressive new hires while touting increasing traffic, can the once-storied media brand be saved? Do any of us mess with motion aiming on DualSense? Is there a feeling of melancholy when deleting an old online friend from your PSN list? Would you believe that Colin never even one time suffered from "imposter syndrome"?
Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:18:01 - Saint Slayer is here!
0:34:43 - Gaming with a new baby
0:46:30 - Imposter syndrome
0:54:21 - Colin power
0:55:07 - More details on Shuhei's exit from Sony
1:21:11 - Uncharted 4 drama
1:38:29 - PlayStation age verification
1:42:25 - Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
1:49:51 - Ecco the Dolphin returns
1:54:56 - March 2026 Circana
2:01:29 - What We’re Playing (Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege, Pragmata, Mouse PI for Hire, Tomodachi Life,Vampire Crawlers)
2:31:12 - Communism and Tetris
2:35:44 - Fired for a review?
2:48:44 - Can Kotaku be saved?
3:00:35 - Motion aiming
3:05:37 - Learning from video games
3:22:33 - Deleting PSN friends

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Things are quiet recently. It feels like we're waiting for something to pop-off; some new announcements, or tantalizing rumors, or whatever. We have a little of that this week, though -- perhaps as usual -- it's good news mixed-up with a few questionable items. Let's start with PS5 sales, which picked up substantially in the days leading up to the hardware's global price increase. We then move into the surreptitious release of once-hidden Grand Theft Auto Online numbers, which shows a game still making around $10 million a week, with around two-thirds of its playerbase on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Then, we get into first and second party fare: More details about the unannounced (but heavily rumored) Faye-driven God of War spinoff, casting and performance capture details for Hideo Kojima's PHYSINT, word of a Bloodborne animated feature in the works, and a Metal Gear Solid film, too, both being steered by Sony Pictures. And did Insomniac's Spider-Man 3 get leaked, too? Inquiries from the audience help us round things out, as always. Why is PlayStation 2 Colin's least-favorite Sony console? Is there room for the point-and-click adventure genre in modern gaming? Will Xbox really go back down the path of exclusivity? Can we act as an effective billboard for a listener's pregnancy announcement?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:35:29 - Player 3
0:39:45 - Timothy's weight loss
0:44:56 - RIP Juno
0:56:18 - Back to PSVR2?
0:57:39 - Weird Pragmata discourse
1:09:20 - Roblox on PS5
1:10:14 - PS5 sales boost due to the price increase
1:22:13 - GTA Online makes $10 million a week
1:36:28 - New Faye God of War details
1:47:42 - Physint casting details
1:56:27 - Bloodborne animated movie
2:12:37 - Metal Gear Solid movie rumors
2:21:39 - Mocap for Spider-Man 3
2:32:29 - New PS+ games
2:39:39 - What We’re Playing (Starfield, Marathon, Mouse PI For Hire)
3:00:56 - Defending capitalism
3:16:27 - "AI-free"
3:27:11 - PlayStation in Super Smash Brothers
3:38:01 - PS2, the least favorite
3:43:06 - Point and Click adventure games
3:49:05 - Xbox returning to exclusives?

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In the world of PlayStation, this past week was one of mystery. For instance, the director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy seems to be rather blatantly teasing a new Uncharted game on Instagram. But is he actually? Meanwhile, the promise of PlayStation on PC seems to have gone totally up in smoke, with the quiet removal of related iconography from the PSN. Could it be a sign of things to come? Plus, Sony's aggressive new position on the PlayStation Store continues to bear fruit, as even more games are deleted and unpublished that never belonged there to begin with. Are we finally getting the storefront we deserve? Other news this week includes intrigue surrounding an interview with Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki, changes incoming for PS5's UI, potential teases for remakes or remasters of Persona 1 and 2, the wet fart that was the Tales series' 30th anniversary, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do you have to play the original Resident Evil trilogy on PSone to be a "real" fan, or do the remakes suffice? Why is Square Enix so hesitant to do anything with Chrono Trigger? With Capcom's Pragmata right around the corner, what are our last-minute thoughts? Is Dustin hiding his PlayStation Trophies because he's a fake gamer?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:21:17 - Back to the spread
0:21:52 - Read the names
0:28:09 - How's everyone doing?
0:46:11 - Dustin's hidden trophies
0:47:51 - Tacos or burritos
0:55:03 - Colin was wrong?
0:55:33 - Uncharted tease?
1:15:52 - PC and Crossbuy icons removed from PS5 OS
1:30:43 - Hiroki Totoki interview
1:39:00 - new PS5 interface?
1:40:33 - PSN delisting continues
1:50:16 - The Playerbase
1:58:49 - Persona 1 and 2 remakes/remasters?
2:05:25 - Bandai Namco doesn't have anything for Tales 30th anniversary
2:11:38 - 007: First Light Dualsense
2:18:27 - Top PSN downloads for March
2:27:42 - What We’re Playing (SuperStation One, Returnal, Starfield)
2:51:09 - Games industry guardrails
3:11:39 - Remakes vs Originals
3:28:01 - PlayStation theme park
3:33:47 - Where is Chrono Trigger?
3:39:14 - Pragmata worries
3:44:42 - PlayStation Experience

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We're in the midst of a promising month of releases on PlayStation 5, and our patience is finally about to be rewarded. For starters, Housemarque's first party third-person shooter Saros has gone gold. So, too, has Capcom's beleaguered (yet incredibly promising) Pragmata, which was first revealed in 2020 for a 2022 release. Starfield's and Hades II's PS5 debuts, Mouse: PI For Hire's launch, the Konami-published Darwin's Paradox, the undoubtedly addictive Vampire Crawlers, and much more have us asking: When are we supposed to find the time to play all of this? It's a good problem to have! Plus: Sony purchases British machine learning firm Cinemersive Labs, Neil Druckmann teases the future of The Last of Us, Stellar Blade developer Shift Up buys Shinji Mikami's new studio outright, Disney executives are apparently interested in acquiring Epic, MindsEye's bizarre drama gets even weirder, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the status of Fairgames? Are there any Life Is Strange fans in the LSM crew? Should gaming be more accessible to the poor? Is it possible that the Artemis II astronauts will listen to this episode of the show while en route to the moon?

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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols 

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:31:27 - Never give up Krystal
0:33:51 - Ernie Anastos RIP in Peace
0:40:52 - First to platinum Saint Slayer
0:46:23 - Artemis II
0:56:09 - Nate's next career
1:01:14 - Sony spins off TV business
1:08:05 - Sony acquires cinemersive
1:14:05 - Saros goes gold
1:22:38 - Pragmata goes gold
1:27:36 - The Last of Us 3 tease?
1:38:35 - Shift Up purchases Shinji Mikami's studio
1:48:31 - Disney rumored to buy Epic
1:59:02 - MindsEye gets weirder
2:09:43 - New PS Plus games for April
2:14:02 - What We’re Playing (Returnal, Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege, Marathon, Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, Marathon, Raccoin, Croc)
2:45:49 - Is gaming really for the rich?
2:59:10 - Is this crash worse than 1983?
3:12:46 - Are we Life is Strange fans?
3:19:32 - The state of Fairgames
3:23:40 - PSSR update
3:27:27 - PlayStation Direct preorders

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It's another week of bad news for PlayStation, as PlayStation 5 -- as well as PS5 Pro and PlayStation Portal -- are getting another fresh round of global price increases. While every previous gaming generation got progressively cheaper over time, our current gen is becoming substantially more expensive, and things are clearly starting to get to a breaking point. There's much to say. Also, more bad news: Newly-minted first party shooter studio Dark Outlaw Games has been unceremoniously shuttered after only a year. Such a move speaks yet again to the uneven leadership, tastemaking ability, and decision making at the top of PlayStation Studios, and begs the question how much bloodletting we need to see before anyone takes responsibility. If this sort of thing doesn't fall on Hermen Hulst's shoulders (an idea which doesn't really make any sense in and of itself), then who or what is responsible, and when will the poor stewardship of the brand's own games and studios finally cease? Plus: PlayStation cuts down on its years-long mobile gaming investments and initiatives, Sly 4 studio Sanzaru at one time readied a pitch for a Jak & Daxter remake, we nearly got a Breaking Bad game on PSVR, Epic Games lays off 1,000 employees, Pearl Abyss owns its AI mistakes in Crimson Desert, Microsoft Flight Simulator on PS5 gets PSVR2 support, Marathon sells a purported (and somewhat soft) 1.2 million copies, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth courting older gamers on average, is Final Fantasy officially finished with the younger generations? Are platform holders and publishers intentionally underpublishing physical copies of games to drive customers to digital storefronts? Do we believe the incessant rumors that Witcher 3 will get an expansion more than a decade after it first launched? Could Colin be the undisputed typing champion of Last Stand Media?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:31:24 - Shoutout to Tyrell
0:33:44 - New York authentic experience
0:46:37 - Nitrotype
0:55:08 - PlayStation price increases
1:29:28  Dark Outlaw Games closed
2:12:51 - PlayStation moving away from mobile
2:38:52 - Sanzaru pitched Jak & Daxter remake
2:49:14 - Firesprite was working on Breaking Bad VR
2:57:33 - Epic layoffs
3:17:54 - Pearl Abyss apologizes for AI art in Crimson Desert
3:20:20 - Flight Simulator is getting PSVR 2 support
3:24:38 - Minecraft Dungeons 2 announced
3:28:22 - Marathon predicted sales at 1.2 million
3:43:29 - February sales data
3:49:07 - What We’ve Been Playing (Chronicles of the Wolf, Returnal, Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon, Crimson Desert)4:21:16  Is Final Fantasy doomed?
4:35:49 - Is Dragon Quest like Pokemon?
4:42:48 - AI flooding indie games
4:55:09 - Physical games low stock
5:01:27 - Witcher 3 DLC

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The drama around DLSS 5 has overtaken the gaming industry during the last week. Nvidia's image upscaling tech has been present in our space for years, but its newest iteration (set for a proper fall release) has many people scratching their heads. Have we gone from frame generation to art reinterpretation? Why is this technology being deployed so aggressively, anyway? And how come so many companies were so excited about it until they saw the overwhelmingly negative audience response? Let's delve headfirst into the mystery of the Yassified Grace, and all of the fallout therein. Plus: A fresh rumor indicates PlayStation Network branding will disappear later this year, Sony has apparently automatically refunded people for any spending in the now-cancelled Highguard, PSVR2 second party FPS Firewall Ultra has silently been delisted, PlayStation 3 received its random annual firmware update, legendary Tom Clancy developer Red Storm has been gutted, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Have any of us messed around with a PS3 emulator? What's going on with Street Fighter 6's creepy new storyline? With Bravely Default skipping PS4 and PS5, is it safe to assume Square Enix isn't actually done with exclusives? Did two Sacred Symbols fans miss each other by mere seconds in a Dollar Tree parking lot?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:17:29 - Sacred Symbols missed connection
0:18:46 - The Oscars Vs The Game Awards
0:27:32 - New Titans logo
0:32:29 - This is life huh?
0:35:29 - DLSS 5
1:14:13 - Sony is dropping the PlayStation Network branding
1:27:46 - Sony refunding Highguard purchases
1:34:14 - Starfield is officially coming to PS5
1:41:19 - Portal update
1:48:15 - Firewall Ultra delisted
2:02:31 - New PS3 Firmware
2:07:15 - Layoffs at Red Storm
2:13:26 - Exodus gameplay
2:18:24 - Saudi Arabia buys 5% of Capcom
2:19:50 - What We’ve Been Playing (Minishoot Adventures, Chronicles of the Wolf, Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon)
2:59:57 - PSNProfile leaderboards change
3:05:44 - Giving up on gaming
3:12:18 - PS3 emulation
3:21:05 - Bravely Default only on Xbox
3:23:33 - Flopathon website
3:29:19 - Street Fighter 6 controversy

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With Sony abandoning its chase of easy PC dollars, the megalithic Japanese company instead seems intent on maximizing its dollars at home, and reasonably so. While reporting indicates PlayStation's PC sales were stymied by staggered and unpredictable releases, that was already obvious. What's less clear is how Sony's pursuit of profit might affect the status quo, with a lawsuit in the UK over PSN monopolization and blatant A/B testing for dynamic digital pricing happening right before our eyes. What does the future hold as we begin to move towards next-gen? Plus: EA lays off members of the Battlefield team that created America's best-selling game in 2025, Nagoshi Studio and its Yakuza-like title Gang of Dragon are in big trouble, a LEGO PlayStation (1) console is seemingly en route for the holiday season, adventure classics Myst and Riven are PS5-bound, Crimson Desert finally emerges on PS5 Pro, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With id finding so much success with the revived Doom trilogy, could Quake be next? What was the deal with that cryptic Bluepoint Tweet from 2019, anyway? Are physical-only players being hurt by the underproduction of copies of big games? Is Dustin intentionally making mistakes in his edits to sabotage our entire operation?

• Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SACRED and use code SACRED and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! A special Magic City Max Discount promotion is live in the app right now. Jalen Johnson only needs 0.5 POINTS during the Hawks vs Magic game this Monday 3/16. Open the app and make it rain!
• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols
• Get 50% off and free breakfast for a year at https://www.factormeals.com/sacred50off and use code sacred50off 

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:28:57 - Ragebaiting Dustin
0:38:33 - Geno Smith
0:38:56 - Neighborhood drama
0:45:22 - Sony's issues with PC releases
0:54:22 - UK case vs Sony digital storefront begins
1:13:40 - Sony testing dynamic pricing
1:33:32 - EA layoffs
1:45:23 - Nagoshi Studio is in trouble
1:56:33 - A PS1 Lego set is coming
2:05:55 - Crimson Desert console specs
2:13:43 - Pragmata moves up release date
2:15:36 - Myst and Riven remake coming to PS5
2:19:38 - Falcom revives Dragon Slayer
2:27:09 - New PS+ game catalog titles
2:31:27 - What We’re Playing (Resident Evil Requiem, Minishoot Adventures, Marathon, Pokemon Pokopia)
3:38:42 - Preordering physical games
3:48:05 - New Quake?
3:56:13 - Can Sony pull people away from established games?
3:59:50 - Do Sony studios have too much power?
4:02:27 - What was the point of Bluepoint's old tweet?
4:05:03 - Starfield interference

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Reporting from this past week indicates Sony is abandoning its push to publish more games on PC, a reversal from a six-ish year old initiative that frankly bore little fruit outside of Helldivers 2. And let's be real: Though we were vocal advocates of this approach on the show, a vast majority of the PlayStation fanbase was decidedly not on board. Sony has apparently determined that it's a waste of time to further pursue this path, and that doing so could ultimately eat into their console ecosystem in unacceptable ways. Thus, it's time for many of you to celebrate, as we consider the reasons behind this dramatic course-correction. Plus: Rumors are circulating that Cory Barlog's next game is a God of War spin-off, Bluepoint was apparently eager to work on a Bloodborne remake before behing unceremoniously shut down, Starfield is finally coming to PlayStation 5 this April, Marathon has been mysteriously rated by the ESRB for launch on PlayStation 4, embattled free-to-play shooter Highguard is officially shutting down, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is Sony investing enough into games for kids? In such a hostile environment, could troubled products like No Man's Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 have launched and turned things around today? Why are some games' Trophies published, even if they go unreleased? Will Dustin continue to compile a collection of pictures of complete strangers on his refrigerator?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:14:34 - Preorder Allegheny Hogs shirt!
0:25:54 - Shout out Brady
0:36:51 - RIP in Peace Bozo
0:39:21 - Coming back home
0:41:35 - Dustin's polaroids
0:44:46 - Sony is done with PC ports
1:17:49 - Cory Barlog's game stars Faye
1:52:13 - Bluepoint wanted to remake Bloodborne
2:25:18 - Leaks show Starfield is coming April 7th
2:28:39 - Marathon post release plans
2:35:07 - Amazon's God of War screenshot
2:42:01 - Highguard is shutting down
2:58:30 - Physical game sales at lowest point ever
3:00:32 - PSN top downloads in February
3:01:51 - Resident Evil Requiem surpasses 5 million copies
3:02:37 - What We’re Playing (Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon)
3:42:57 - What's up with Horizon Hunters Gathering?
3:53:02 - Is PlayStation doing enough for younger audiences?
4:01:00 - The disappearing resistance games
4:08:24 - Seinfeld game
4:14:04 - Can game comebacks still happen?
4:23:09 - Unreleased games and trophies

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While the wider world continues to embrace ubiquitous access for their digital products, compelling rumors indicate Sony might opt to go in the other direction. This is particularly surprising considering their pursuit of success on PC, openness in publishing on Nintendo Switch, and the shocking move to bring Helldivers II to Xbox. Then again, the numbers speak for themselves. It appears PlayStation has grossed somewhere between one and two billion dollars in total from their PC releases dating back to 2020, a comically small sum compared to their greater gross over that time, and an amount of money that may simply not justify further jeopardizing their closed ecosystem. Are we about to snap back to the old way of doing things? Many PlayStation fans will be pleased, if so. Plus: Wolverine gets a September release date on PS5, Horizon: Hunters Gathering and Marathon revel in concurrent playtests, Death Stranding 2 is coming to PC very soon, French publisher Nacon declares its insolvency, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can Sony's first party teams truly be blamed for pitching games-as-a-service when it was clear that's what leadership wanted? Could it be possible that the secret Santa Monica Studio, Cory Barlog-directed game is Uncharted? Is Resident Evil 9's 10-12 hour runtime a selling point or a detriment? Will Sacred Symbols go another 400 episodes, or perhaps even 4,000?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at ⁠https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols ⁠and get on your way to being your best self

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:34:10 - New merch drop!
0:46:42 - Reflecting on 400 episodes
1:00:10 - Favorite part of doing the show
1:13:26 - 420 special?
1:14:25 - capspiracy
1:15:39 - USA GOLD
1:26:16 - triple space
1:27:49 - 100 chicken nuggets
1:39:16 - Chris on Bluepoint
1:56:17 - Saint Slayer release date
2:01:35 - Wolverine release date
2:09:17 - Sony walking away from PC gaming?
2:33:09 - Horizon Hunters Gathering beta this weekend
2:36:52 - Marathon cheaters will be banned permanently
2:45:08 - Death Stranding 2 PC specs revealed
2:48:01 - Nacon is insolvent
2:50:29 - Marvel Maximum Collection revealed
3:02:46 - New NieR game?
3:06:12 - Yves Guillemot interview
3:11:17 - Koei Tecmo reorganizes
3:13:08 - March PS+ Games
3:17:50 - January sales data
3:23:27 - What We’ve Been Playing
3:39:34 - Did PS Studios really choose live service games?
3:55:00 - Could Cory Barlog’s next game be Uncharted?
4:05:40 - Softball interviews
4:19:45 - 10–12 hour games
4:24:30 - How to use guides
4:28:11 - RNG in games

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We were already recording this episode when unexpected news broke: Sony is shuttering Texas-based first-party remake and port specialist studio Bluepoint. Equally shocking -- when taking into context the many first and second party failures, flubs, and misalignments in recent years -- is PlayStation Studios lead Hermen Hulst still somehow having a job. Bluepoint has an exceptional pedigree alongside untapped potential, but that's been squandered by the same machinery that allowed them to make a multiplayer game in the first place. Who is responsible for all of this first party buffonery? What's with this obsession with established teams all chasing the same exact thing? And how lucky is Sony that the going is so good for PlayStation 5 that none of this really seems to matter? Here's hoping the bloodletting begins and ends here, but we're skeptical. Other news this week includes rumors of PlayStation 6's delayed timeline, when we might expect to see Santa Monica Studios' unannounced title, McFarlane Toys picking up the Sony toy license, and more. Then, we wrap things up with listener inquiries. On the back of Silent Hill: Townfall's PS5 console exclusivity, why does Sony bother chasing these deals these days? Does Fairgame$ have an icecube's chance in hell of succeeding? Will God of War's remake be one compilation or three separate games? Is Dustin ready for his fatherly snot-sucking duties?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:29:05 - Sacred Symbol ruining lives
0:32:14 - Snot sucker
0:37:01 - Chris Chan sighting
0:43:49 - Baby's first console
0:58:13 - RIP Shuntaro Iida
1:00:54 - RIP Hideki Sato
1:08:46 - Bluepoint shutdown
1:44:05 - Will Sony delay PlayStation 6 due to RAM shortages?
2:04:44 - Shawn Layden says PS6 won’t be able to be all digital
2:18:30 - Santa Monica's next game
2:30:45 - New Helldivers and God of War toys
2:37:35 - Tencent funded Highguard
2:53:39 - Todd Howard on Starfield's return
2:55:23 - Konami removes MGS4 and Peace Walker HD from PS3
2:58:02 - What We’re Playing (God of War: Sons of Sparta, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined)
3:25:33 - Silent Hill Townfall's exclusivity to PS5
3:31:08 - God of War Remake release format
3:34:18 - The state of Fairgames
3:39:45 - Where to start with Castlevania
3:41:34 - Are we tastemakers?
3:47:46 - Where are the demos?

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Sony has accomplished a truly rare feat in this contentious era by providing players with a widely-lauded hour-plus State of Play presentation. At the top of the heap of announcements for many are a duo of God of War-related unveilings -- the long-rumored 2.5D Metroidvania game and an early-in-development ground-up remake of the original PS2 and PS3 trilogy -- with the former project stealth released at the time of its reveal. That's right: You can buy it right now! 29 other games were showcased, revealed, and otherwise shown off during the proceedings as well, like a new Castlevania called Belmont's Curse, a sequel to Kena: Bridge of Spirits called Scars of Kosmora, a AAA John Wick project, stealth title Yakoh: Shinobi Ops, the second volume of Konami's Metal Gear Collection, and much, much more. Plus, fresh looks at Saros, Resident Evil: Requiem, Marathon, Mina the Hollower, Beast of Reincarnation, Marvel Tokon, Control Resonant, Pragmata, 4LOOP, and so on. Other news rounds things out this week -- like steep layoffs at Highguard studio Wildlight and casting details for 2027' Helldivers film -- before we move onto listener inquiries. Who are some of our favorite black characters in gaming history? Why exactly doesn't Colin care about sports games anymore? Should Sony more heavily pursue Astro Bot spinoffs? Did the all-Spanish Super Bowl Halftime Show send any of us into an unspeakable rage?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:28:09 - Love to Sean
0:35:17 - Superbowl thoughts
0:52:00 - GTA regret after murder
0:57:09 - State of Play
1:05:20 - Kena: Scars of Scars of Kosmora
1:10:20 - Ghost of Yotei: Legends
1:16:04 - Death Stranding 2 PC
1:18:46 - 4:Loop
1:26:26 - Capcom updates
1:27:08 - Legacy of Kain Defiance Remastered
1:29:41 - Brigandine
1:31:45 - Dead or Alive
1:33:16 - Control Resonant
1:35:11 - Crimson Moon
1:37:28 - Beast of Reincarnation
1:39:58 - Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition
1:44:21 - Mina the Hollower
1:45:39 - Yakoh Shinobi Ops
1:48:27 - Project WIndless
1:53:36 - Star Wars Galactic Racer
1:58:15 - Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 2
2:02:42 - Konami segment
2:14:47 - John Wick
2:18:33 - Marathon
2:21:44 - Saros
2:22:18 - Tokon
2:24:18 - God of War
2:37:36 - Highguard layoffs
3:17:22 - Horizon 3 could be 3-5 years out
3:29:43 - Kojima revealed he almost worked with Respawn
3:38:21 - Build A Rocket Boy still claims they were sabotaged
3:53:22 - Helldivers movie update
3:58:15 - What We’re Playing (Lovish, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Resident Evil 5, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined)
4:22:16 - PlayStations online negativity
4:29:25 - Black History Month in gaming
4:34:24 - Returning to Madden?
4:35:49 - Women in the industry
4:41:20 - Should Sony focus on uncslop?
4:43:40 - Where are the Astrobot spinoffs?

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In the wake the reveal of the PC-only MMORPG Steel Frontiers late last year, the other long-rumored Horizon multiplayer game has finally been announced. It's called Hunters Gathering, it's in development internally at Guerrilla, and it's set to launch on both PS5 and PC at some point in the future. Excited? Well, some of you (and us!) are. But the response at this early hour has been mixed. Is Horizon being overexposed? Where's the third core game? What's with this obsession with multiplayer? From our perspective, it seems like nothing pleases anyone these days. We discuss. Plus: Sony's FY Q3 '25 financials show profit growth and strong console sales, Grand Theft Auto VI's promised November release date seems to be solidifying, The Last of Us on HBO may not go past a third season, rumors say Starfield launches on PlayStation 5 in April, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our favorite gaming-related revelations from the Epstein Files? Is Resident Evil: Requiem being overexposed? Should the industry worry about Google's Genie 3 environmental AI module? Will Colin continue to take unpredictable call-ins on Sacred Streaming?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:22:28 - Colin's superbowl plans
0:32:09 - Patreon names
0:36:54 - Colin-slop movies
0:56:45 - Horizon: Hunters Gathering announced
1:40:30 - Sony financials
1:52:24 - What is "Wallet Credit"?
1:56:54 - New Sony patents
2:07:56 - Confidence is growing that GTA VI will launch this year
2:26:31 - Rumor: Starfield coming to PS5 in April
2:28:38 - No TLOU Season 4
2:31:48 - Netflix on PS3 is shutting down
2:36:42 - January top PSN downloads
2:39:18 - What We’re Playing (Castlevania Requiem, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Jak and Daxter, Nioh 3, Neon Inferno)
3:06:38 - Gaming characters in the Epstein files
3:18:07 - Content creators playing it safe
3:27:43 - Marketing going too far
3:37:20 - First Dragon Quest game
3:42:16 - Spooked by AI
3:58:07 - Will Xbox beat PlayStation 6 to market?

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With the chase for AI obliterating affordability in computing-related markets, it should come as no surprise that Sony may be deliberating a delay for PlayStation 6's rollout and release. But recent commentary from a well-connected financial analyst suggests that PS6's purported delay may be more substantial than we thought, perhaps precipitated by more factors than we initially thought. When does the gaming world need the next PlayStation? Could we go potentially several more years on PS5 alone? We discuss. Plus: Chris has played Highguard extensively and has a lot to say, Rockstar may take our advice and forego physical copies of GTAVI at launch to avoid spoilers, Ubisoft unions are agitating for an international strike at the publisher's many offices, MLB: The Show 26 gets its cover athlete and a release date, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are mini-maps useful or distracting? How do we feel about Final Fantasy VII Remake's new "Streamlined Progression" update? Is New Game+ functionality catering to an older, diminishing audience? Did Dustin enjoy his romantic California getaway with Brad?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:18:45 - Dustin's weekend away
0:30:16 - The Persona concert
0:42:43 - 2026 snow storm
0:53:47 - Football story
1:00:25 - PlayStation 6 could be delayed
1:28:06 - PS5 Pro and Portal attach rates
1:34:00 - Real PS4 Portable
1:37:12 - Rumor that GTA VI will be digital only at launch
1:50:21 - Ubisoft strike
2:13:38 - MLB: The Show cover revealed
2:17:03 - February PS+ games
2:21:00 - What We're Playing (Front Mission 1st Remake, Castlevania Requiem, Highguard, The Exit 8, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, Code Vein II)
3:15:47 - Mini maps in games
3:23:29 - FF7 Remake update
3:29:17 - Should we support PlayStation live service?
3:36:34 - Are huge games unsustainable?
3:46:37 - Kotaku evolved?
3:54:25 - Is replaying games unc coded?

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 The Ubisoft that we knew is dead. In its place, a new structure has emerged, a federalized series of five "Creative Houses," each with its own studios, IP, revenue flow, and responsibilities. Ultimately, it's the new Ubisoft's way of giving their employees all the leeway they need to make great stuff. But then again, you know what they say about getting too much rope. Will the once-great French publisher survive and thrive again? One thing's for sure: The old way of doing things has long been a nonstarter. Other news this week includes a March 5th release date for Marathon, the spinning-off of Sony's TV business, more Xbox games en route to PS5, cumulative 2025 software sales data for the American market, and more. We then end things -- as we always do -- with six listener inquiries from our beloved audience. When should we expect word on Persona 6? Will we replay Returnal in preparation for Saros? How should Naughty Dog navigate the choppy marketing waters surrounding Intergalactic? Will Colin survive the upcoming winter storm?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:25:27 - Prayers for Gene
0:32:11 - Colin preparing for snow
0:41:07 - Isla Vanal
0:46:21 - Burrito mishap
0:54:08 - Ubisoft details their reorganization
1:45:56 -  Sony spins-off TV business
1:59:01 - Marathon has a release date
2:13:37 - Four new Xbox games coming to PlayStation
2:39:02 - ThiGames made a lot of money
2:40:40 - December 2025 Circana data
2:48:57 - Crimson Desert goes gold
2:49:16 - Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake coming
2:49:47 - What We’ve Been Playing (Mega Man 11, Front Mission 1st Remake, Jak & Daxter, Kingdom Hearts 2
3:05:59 - Naughty Dog noise
3:14:58 - Settings unexplored in gaming
3:19:46 - When will we see Persona 6?
3:23:47 - How long will Highguard last?
3:32:55 - Plans for Saros
3:35:50 - Trendy tropes

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As PlayStation's aggressive pursuit of crossmedia success continues, we have a new piece of news worth considering in the form of the casting of Kratos in Amazon's upcoming God of War series. 6'6" American actor Ryan Hurst has won the coveted role, joining notable writers, directors, and a famous showrunner to make what could very well be Sony's most promising TV property yet. We discuss. Plus: A notorious developer known for more than a thousand asset flip-slash-Trophy farming games has all of its titles removed from the PSN, compelling evidence circulates that 2016's The Division is getting a Definitive Edition on PS5 somewhat imminently, Xbox's Fable joins Avowed as yet another game slated for Sony's console, Call of Duty sales purportedly plummet 60% year-over-year, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With Colin only a few Platinums away from 200, is there any game he's specifically targeting for the milestone? Following the closure of Meta's largest VR studios, is the pursuit of virtual reality in games officially dead? Could Sea of Thieves be the actual, original extraction shooter (for lack of a better term)? Do we anticipate we'll ever win the Golden Globe for Best Podcast?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:30:04 - Rest in Peace Mojo
0:34:17 - Golden Globe's best podcast
0:37:48 - Stand down Dave
0:38:38 - Long Island lore
0:43:56 - Ryan Hurst is Kratos
0:56:57 - The Division: Definitive Edition?
1:04:21 - Is Sony doing something about Trophy slop games?
1:20:34 - Forza Horizon 5 sells over 5 million on PS5
1:26:51 - Fable is coming to PS5
1:41:15 - Is Call of Duty failing?
2:04:02 - PS+ Extra Games
2:06:58 - PSN Top games 2025
2:11:36 - What We’ve Been Playing (Mega Man 11, Destiny 1, Kingdom Hearts 2)
2:28:58 - Colin's 200ths platinum plans
2:32:39 - Lillymo DLC
2:39:40 - Forgiveness for a 4 year old's gaming skills?
2:43:56 - Fallout Season 2
2:48:49 - Meta shutting down studios
3:04:07 - Why doesn't Sea of Thieves get enough credit?

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Happy New Year! Well, maybe not so happy for Sony. That's because -- if rumors and percolations are true -- PlayStation 5's ROM keys have been leaked, meaning that the console is likely on the verge of being jailbroken. And for veterans of the PS3 era, you know precisely what that means: Chaos. Well, maybe? Let's discuss this potentially serious development. Also: Ruminations on the passing of legendary games producer Vince Zampella, new inbound DualSense and cover colors, Marathon's exiting art director, Gran Turismo 7 quietly amassing a huge player base, Kojima's plans to cast (and begin shooting) PHYSINT this year, China Hero Project title Convallaria running into serious issues, Wolfenstein 3 whispers, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! With computing component pricing and rarity skyrocketing, should we expect a much-delayed PlayStation 6 launch? With only a few weeks until launch, is Wildlight's F2P shooter Highguard in serious trouble? Following a second Ghost game, what should Sucker Punch make next? Is Dustin quietly morphing into a furry before our very eyes?

• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:34:01 - Shout out to Thomas!
0:35:25 - Post break mindset
0:43:26 - Naming rights college trust fund
0:56:34 - Dustin furry allegations
1:07:54 - Vince Zampella's passing
1:24:17 - Will PS5 be jailbroken soon?
1:41:27 - New DualSense and covers coming
1:46:19 - Marathon's art director leaves Bungie
1:54:11 - GT7 has 2 million MAU
2:05:46 - PHYSINT casting and motion capture in 2026
2:18:45 - Sony patents "AI Ghost"
2:27:13 - China Hero Project game Convallaria in trouble
2:35:51 - Machine Games is working on Wolfenstein 3
2:39:22 - New Witcher 3 DLC?
2:46:48 - 007: First Light delayed
2:48:25 - No Hundred Line on PS5
2:53:41 - January PS+ games
2:57:06 - ARC Raiders dominates PSN and PSN top downloads
3:14:26 - Games sales news
3:15:55 - What We’re Playing (Terminator 2D, Dying Light: The Beast, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, MM Legacy Collection 1-2, MM11, Mega Man X, Fallout: New Vegas, The Alters, Dragon Quest VII demo, Skate Story, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance)
3:48:22 - Is PS6 getting delayed okay?
3:59:47 - What's going on with Highguard?
4:13:26 - Gaming Merch
4:24:22 - What's next for Sucker Punch?
4:30:37 - Talking about what you like vs dislike
4:37:42 - Crunch at Naughty Dog

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If rumors about PlayStation 6 are true, then we're well into the back-half of PS5's tenure as Sony's primary console. And -- as is often the case at this point in a generation -- the releases are starting to pick up drastically, especially dramatic considering the sheer number of options on the market these days. Thus, it's time for the second of our two yearly traditions here on Sacred Symbols, as we pre-record a couple of holiday episodes for Christmas break. While we gathered last week to look back at the year that was, it's now time to look forward at the year to come. Each of us has chosen five games (for 15 total) that we're looking forward to. The only rules are that they have to be PS5-bound and either confirmed or assumed for release in '26. That's it! So let's get into it, and see if any of your personal favorites made our list.

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The holiday season is here, which means we're off for a bit. But, of course, new episodes never cease rolling out! Thus, we've arrived at the first of our two Christmastime traditions: Recounting the most consequential 'moments' in the world of PlayStation and beyond for the past calendar year. As usual, we've each selected five choices for 15 total, and they touch on topics like the first concrete rumors surrounding PlayStation 6, Helldivers 2's surprise migration to Xbox as Microsoft itself brings its whole slate of games to PS5, multiple Grand Theft Auto VI delays, the reemergence of Insomniac's Wolverine, Hermen Hulst's sudden demotion, Sony suing Tencent over the blatant Horizon ripoff Light of Motiram, and much more. Enjoy!

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Let's be honest: This whole Light of Motiram thing was shady from the get-go. A game that blatantly rips off Guerrilla's Horizon franchise, created by the publisher-and-developer combo that was later revealed to have unsuccessfully pitched Sony a Horizon spin-off beforehand? They call that 'dead to rights.' And now it's official, because Sony's lawsuit against Tencent over this facsimile has been dropped with prejudice, and the game has been delisted from Steam. That's a win for PlayStation, and an even bigger win for creativity in the AAA space. We discuss. Plus: Sucker Punch co-founder, long-time producer, and studio lead Brian Fleming is officially retiring from the team after 28 years, Bungie's Marathon is slated to come to PS5 in March, Hollow Knight: Silksong is getting a free nautical expansion in '26, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should we expect devs to lean more deeply into attractive characters? Do we think "made using AI" warnings will appear on games at some point in the near future? Who's to blame for Highguard's tepid response at The Game Awards? Is it strange if a wheelchair-bound listener wants to proudly wear a Stand Down shirt?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:37:46 - A nice note from William
0:43:47 - Andrew and Steven
0:52:25 - Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble is out in some European countries
0:53:55 - Light of Motiram case dropped
1:02:24 - Sucker Punch's co-founder is leaving
1:15:19 - Marathon gets a release month
1:28:21 - Silksong sells 7 million with an expansion on the way
1:31:05 - Ubisoft acquires an Amazon team
1:32:32 - Mega Man Star Force Legacy collection announced
1:35:14 - US sales data
1:47:35 - What We’re Playing (Terminator 2D: NO FATE, Dying Light: The Beast, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, The Outer Worlds 2, Destiny 2: Renegades (The Star Wars Expansion), Skate Story, Tomba 2, Metroid Prime 4)
2:11:17 - Featuring "attractive female characters"
2:27:14 - Game studios and AI
2:45:51 - Will the DRAM shortage effect consoles?
2:53:46 - One handed gaming
2:57:39 - Highguard
3:08:25 - Games that will never get revived

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The Game Awards have come and gone, leaving in its wake a whirlwind of game announcements, release date reveals, and fresh perspectives on our industry. Indeed, there's something for everyone, a draw for all comers. For starters, what's new? Two Star Wars offerings, Larian's secret Divinity project, Jonathan Blow's long-awaited Order of the Sinking Star, a sequel to Remedy's Control, Toshihiro Nagoshi's anticipated Yakuza rival Gang of Dragon, two Tomb Raider games in the form of a remake and something unseen, a Cyberpunk-like called NO LAW, and even Mega Man 12 -- well, Mega Man Dual Override, anyway -- to keep Colin fed, and more beyond that. And new looks, too, at PlayStation games like Saros and 4:LOOP, as well as Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Exodus, and Phantom Blade 0. And then there are the awards themselves, and the pomp and circumstance, and... well... there's a lot to discuss! Plus, we have all of the non-TGA happenings from the past week, too. PlayStation Wrap-Up is live, Deviation's cancelled second party shooter has leaked, London Studio's cancelled multiplayer game has seemingly reemerged under a new team, Call of Duty might be in trouble, and so on. Then: Listener inquiries! Could MLB: The Show succeed on PC with a Football Manager-style experience? Does Netflix really see no value in WB's gaming assets? Is a rumored $1 million for three minutes of advertising at The Game Awards too much? Remember when Dustin called DW from Arthur Double D?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:27:06 - Sacred Compliments
0:33:32 - A happy write in for once
0:45:45 - Double D
0:48:04 - Slandering the English
1:01:45 - Glass Snapple
1:09:54 - The Game Awards overall thoughts
1:25:51 - Pragmata
1:30:02 - Tank Rat
1:33:16 - Bradley the Badger
1:37:49 - Stupid Never Dies
1:42:15 - Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic
1:50:40 - Divinity
1:57:23 - 4LOOP
2:04:34 - Coven of the Chickenfoot
2:08:56 - Ontos
2:13:45 - Resident Evil Requiem
2:15:35 - Order of the Sinking Star
2:24:09 - Exodus
2:26:48 - Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons
2:27:55 - Control Resonant
2:35:28 - Gang of Dragon
2:41:22 - Street Fighter movie
2:45:11 - Lego Batman
2:47:39 - Tomb Raider
2:56:09 - Saros
2:58:32 - NO LAW
3:03:56 - DMC Season 2
3:04:20 - Ace Combat 8
3:06:40 - Star Wars: Galactic Racer
3:07:37 - Out of Words
3:10:33 - Phantom Blade 0
3:12:02 - Mega Man: Dual Override
3:20:41 - Highguard
3:34:27 - PlayStation Wrap-Up 2025
3:52:14 - PlayStation 2026
4:02:32 - Can we thank Flight Sim for Xbox on PlayStation
4:09:26 - Deviation's cancelled game has leaked
4:24:06 - Ex-London Studio's game reemerges
4:35:37 - Maybe Call of Duty isn't doing so great?
4:54:32 - Capcom wants to grow their smaller IPs
4:58:08 - New PS+ games
5:02:35 - What We’ve Been Playing (Metal Eden, Dying Light: The Beast, Skate Story, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Metroid Prime 4, YARG)
5:32:21 - Rise of actors in games
5:42:19 - Would Chris and Dustin play sports games?
5:50:22 - PlayStation making a Football Manager game
5:56:27 - Is WB games "worthless”?
6:04:28 - $1 Million for a Game Awards trailer
6:09:14 - Refunding Game Pass

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When it comes to the evolving gaming market, there's a lot for Sony to keep an eye on in the years and decades to come. To keep PlayStation the vibrant brand it is today, the company needs to spread the field, and two newly-announced projects -- an all-new co-op multiplayer game from the director of Left 4 Dead and a mobile port of mega-popular baseball franchise MLB: The Show -- fit the bill nicely. It's true that Sony has had more than its fair share of false starts (and even outright failures) in both the mobile and games-as-a-service space. Yet, there's gold in them there hills. Lots of it. Can Sony finally slay some off-platform and off-genre demons and reap some rewards? We discuss. Plus: Nixxes helps reduce Helldivers 2's PC file size by an astounding 85%, Bungie has apparently solved its dispute with the artist it purportedly stole Marathon-related art from, Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games finds itself in self-inflicted financial duress, Amazon has already renewed the God of War TV show for a second season, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Has leaking culture gone too far? Will Micron's exit from the consumer RAM business affect console manufacturing? How can people find likeminded gaming friends online? Can we please do away with adult gift-giving once and for all?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:52:36 - Juices flowing
0:54:56 - YouTube Recap
1:08:13 - Colin dying
1:11:02 - Switching to no presents
1:21:02 - PlayStation partners with Bad Robot
1:35:15 - The Show: Mobile releases
1:46:06 - Helldivers 2 PC install sized down
1:53:26 - Helldivers 2 movie has a director
2:03:31 - Amazon orders two seasons of God of War
2:08:14 - Bungie settles with artist over stolen art
2:11:45 - Yacht Club Games may be in trouble
2:27:26 - Saudi PIF will own 93.4% of EA
2:31:22 - IO confirms Hitman 4
2:36:53 - Splinter Cell Remake director returns
2:40:15 - Tomba 2 gets a release date
2:43:10 - November's top PSN downloads
2:45:16 - What We’re Playing (Ball x Pit, Metal. Eden, TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Red Dead Redemption)
3:09:22 - Arc Raiders introduces gamers to socializing
3:25:28 - Games that age well
3:31:54 - Disdain for leakers
3:41:44 - Micron leaves the consumer market
3:49:29 - Meeting new people to play games
3:56:53 - Can criticism go too far?

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Two months ago, a now-fired Sucker Punch developer lost her job due to an ill-timed social media post, and she's been fairly quiet ever since, at least until now. In a new article, artist Drew Harrison talks about what befell her, but -- truth be told -- she seems to have missed the biggest part of her own story: How much she could have (and did) harm the hundreds of other people that worked for years on Ghost of Yotei, only to disrupt the entire marketing roll-out of the game on the precipice of its hyped release. Let's revisit the situation with new context and insights, and see if we can make sense of whether her dismissal was fair, unfair, or perhaps just the product of the environment many industry professionals gleefully cheered on when the shoe was on the other foot. Plus: Death Stranding 2 gets an ESRB rating for a PC release, PlayStation 3 emulation is actively being worked on outside of Sony's walls, Stellar Blade 2 is abandoning PlayStation as its publishing partner, RAM price spikes threaten the future of console pricing, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Did Sony's recent update to PlayStation Portal ruin the functionality of the PS button? What happened to the so-called "One Sony" initiative? Could an ex-Housemarque developer's new game spark a renewed love for arcade-style romps? What's the latest on the misadventures of an entity called Young Colin?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:32:10 - Pursuing your dream
0:44:04 - Walking inspiration
0:49:29 - Young Colin
0:52:29 - Black Friday memories
1:04:24 - Colin’s Intergalactic drama
1:17:41 - Fired Sucker Punch employee speaks out
1:43:21 - Death Stranding 2 PC release leaked
1:47:39 - New info on PlayStation emulation from MysticRyan
2:00:30 - Sony's PC releases are declining
2:04:33 - Stellar Blade 2 will be multiplatform
2:13:22 - Is PS5 safe from RAM price increases?
2:26:16 - New Marathon closed beta
2:37:04 - December PS+ games
2:43:23 - Splitgate 2 returns in December
2:45:38 - Far Cry is getting a TV show
2:49:42 - What We’ve Been Playing
3:08:52 - Shoutout to Sektori
3:11:59 - Portal for Christmas
3:14:57 - Portal's PS button change
3:17:41 - What happened to One Sony?
3:25:03 - Why drives the love for retro games?
3:37:14 - PSA on getting your partner into games

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Last year, Sony launched it's service-based third-person shooter Concord, and it bombed worse than virtually any PlayStation-developed title in history. In fact, it was received so poorly that Sony disappeared it off the market in a matter of two weeks, gave everyone their money back, and snuffed the entire project out of existence while closing the studio that made it. Fast-forward more than a year, though, and Concord has kinda-sorta returned. Tech-savvy enthusiasts have revived the game on private servers, but Sony has already caught wind of it all and are working to nip it in the bud. Do we really need Concord to return? Why does Sony care if it does? And why do smart people work so diligently on things they don't own or have control over? Plus: Black Friday will be exceptionally nice for those looking for PlayStation hardware, accessories, and games, Sony dominates The Game Awards nominations with 19, Bungie prods its playerbase for ideas on how to improve Destiny 2, EA's F1 series is taking a year hiatus, possibly indicating the future of EA Sports, Peacock renews Twisted Metal for a third season, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we keep the physical boxes for our gaming hardware? Would Sony ever revive The Legend of Dragoon? How does one navigate gaming's ragebait culture? Out of all of our many choices, which type of French Fry is the absolute best?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:23:07 - Stay well Will
0:29:30 - Is Colin an actual curmudgeon?
0:36:30 - Best French Fries
0:46:01 - Thanksgiving plans
1:04:16 - PlayStation Black Friday
1:09:18 - Game Awards nominations
1:36:53 - Concord returns and dies again
1:46:08 - Horizon surpasses 40 million copies sold
1:54:16 - Major changes coming to Destiny 2
2:06:29 - EA is changing up F1
2:16:00 - Nintendo inspired PlayStation to cut prices in Japan
2:22:35 - Ghost of Yotei NG+ update
2:26:48 - Twisted Metal renewed for S3
2:27:33 - Bandai Namco is remastering Tales of Berseria
2:31:39 - Circana October data
2:37:07 - What We’re Playing (PowerWash Simulator 2, Silent Hill F, Ball x Pit, Elden Ring, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Delta, Black Ops 7)
3:23:20 - Rage bait culture
3:42:00 - When will it be time to move away from consoles?
3:54:42 - Where is Legend of Dragoon?
3:57:19 - When gaming feels like it isn't for you anymore
4:06:11 - Saving gaming packaging
4:15:16 - Half-Life 3?

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PlayStation 5 has officially turned five, giving us much to reflect upon. Has the console lived up to its potential, left folks disappointed, or fallen somewhere in between? We get into that -- alongside new Sony financials that paint an admittedly rosy picture -- before getting into the meat of our show. Two new Sony-aligned games have been revealed, but they've left many potential players puzzled, as neither offering is actually on PlayStation hardware. For starters, NCSoft's long-rumored Horizon MMO is real. It's called Steel Frontiers and it actually looks really nice. But it's only on PC and mobile. Meanwhile, a new Ratchet & Clank game has also been showcased, an online arena shooter called Ranger Rumble. But it too eschews PS5 and PS4, instead going straight to mobile platforms only. What gives? Why does Sony seem half-in on these off-platform initiatives, all the while neglecting their core audience that could give these respective titles the boost they need? Is it time for them to break old habits and embrace a more cogent multiplatform direction that centers PlayStation first and foremost? Plus: Sony's new 27" gaming monitor has people intrigued, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Spirits is getting another closed test, Elden Ring: Nightreign is receiving some much-needed DLC, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What do we think of Valve's new Steam Machine PC-console hybrid? In any given game's menus, where should subtitle options be nestled: General, Audio, or Graphics? Does ARC Raiders success potentially benefit Marathon? Is Dustin wielding his power over Brad in unsavory ways?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:28:20 - Keep your head up Cam
0:33:46 - Is this marriage destined for failure?
0:38:06 - Depressed?
0:46:26 - LSM power dynamics
0:53:35 - Ubisoft halts trading
0:57:08 - PlayStation 5 turns 5
1:13:41 - Red Dead Redemption is coming to PS5
1:16:41 - Horizon: Steel Frontiers revealed
1:34:24 - Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble comes to mobile
1:52:17 - Sony Q2 financials
2:14:31 - New PlayStation PC monitor
2:23:34 - Cheaper PS5 coming to Japan
2:28:15 - New Marvel Tokon beta
2:31:17 - New Elden Ring: Nightreign expansion
2:33:52 - Todd Howard interview
2:37:27 - Mass Effect is still in development
2:37:56 - New PS+ game catalog games
2:41:21 - What We’ve Been Playing (Ghost of Yotei, PowerWash Simulator 2, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, Arc Raiders, Lumines Arise, Dispatch)
3:00:54 - Valve's new hardware
3:29:09 - Will Sony change their PC strategy?
3:34:44 - Gran Turismo 7
3:44:04 - Where should the subtitles option go?
3:46:53 - Will Marathon benefit from Arc Raiders?
3:58:46 - Eurogamer’s 2/5 review of Arc Raiders

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For those with specific use cases, the PlayStation Portal has always been awesome. But Sony has been quietly bolstering the device over the last two years, and with its newest update, it's become more powerful than ever. Those with a PS+ Essential subscription can now purchase and stream nearly 3,000 games directly to the device without any sort of console tether, a major step-up for a peripheral once reliant on PS5. What's it all mean for the future of PlayStation? We discuss! Plus: New cross-buy tags on PSN indicate Sony is preparing some sort of PC launcher, dynamic pricing on the PlayStation Store has some customers in a tizzy, Dan Houser spills the beans on Rockstar's cancelled PS3-exclusive spy thriller Agent, Marvel looks to stick with Sony-owned Insomniac for a long time to come, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does Colin have any reflections on GameFAQs as it turns 30? What constitutes a good in-game map? How has our gaming behavior changed over the years? Who's most likely to want to blow into the DualSense microphone to light fires in Ghost of Yotei, even if they don't have to?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:19:05 - Coffee Swamp
0:21:55 - Sacred Sighting at Cedar Point
0:29:58 - YouTube Premium is great
0:36:54 - Tanvi
0:38:40 - Alucard
0:45:33 - Reesees
0:47:28 - GTA VI delayed again
0:51:18 - PlayStation Cloud streaming leave beta
1:09:20 - "Cross-Buy" appears on PSN
1:30:50 - PlayStation plays around with dynamic pricing
1:46:45 - Dan Houser on Lex Fridman
1:58:06 - Marvel will continue to work in Insomniac
2:16:44 - Top PSN games in October
2:25:20 - Physical games are 100x worse for the environment
2:33:55 - What We’re Playing
3:05:11 - What advancements do we want to see in games?
3:17:04 - The shift to quick hit games
3:27:20 - GameFAQs turns 30
3:33:54 - Blowing into the controller
3:37:37 - Good video game maps
3:41:56 - Genre preference changes

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An old piece of games industry lore has recently reemerged, and it has people wondering about a tantalizing what-if. Back in 1999, The Matrix hit theaters, and the co-creators of the film happened to have been huge fans of Hideo Kojima, himself a year removed from the launch of Metal Gear Solid. And, as was reported at the time, there was potential that Konami would allow Kojima to pursue a licensed Matrix game post-MGS. A lot of new information has since emerged about what did and didn't happen here, and it makes for a great conversation starter. So let's lean into it, shall we? Our conclusion: Perhaps Kojima doing MGS2 instead of a Matrix game means he likely dodged a bullet (pardon the pun). Other news this week includes some quiet updates seemingly being made to PlayStation Portal's functionality, leaks from Bluepoint's cancelled God of War game, the most recent China Hero Project title in the form of Loulan: The Cursed Sand, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Following Freedom Wars, Patapon, and Everybody's Golf, what should Sony's and Bandai Namco's next collaborative re-release be? Do PC players have any reason to invest in the modern PlayStation ecosystem? Will the culture war consume Naughty Dog's Intergalactic? Does Colin type so fast that his keyboard smokes?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:43:10 - RIP Nick Mangold
0:44:13 - stand down non-traditional candy
0:50:45 - Chris wills glass Snapple back
0:55:36 - New York location lore
0:59:19 - PS+ Premium streaming to Portal leaked
1:12:23 - Bluepoint's cancelled God of War game leaks
1:22:33 - Sony isn't interested in buying WB
1:30:51 - Konami turned down a Kojima Matrix game
1:48:20 - Loulan: The Cursed Sand is the next China Hero Project game
1:58:19 - Square Enix is cracking down on Dragon Quest spoilers
2:11:02 - November PS+ Games
2:13:51 - What We’ve Been Playing (Ghost of Yotei, PowerWash Simulator 2, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, Battlefield 6, Vampire Survivors)
2:41:13 - What Japan Studio game will get released by Bandai Namco?
2:45:10 - Halo and the US government
2:54:17 - Gaming ads on Sacred
3:11:04 - Wait for PS6?
3:20:24 - The console war lives in on services
3:38:25 - Is Intergalactic the next target?

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With Xbox's famous ringworld officially arriving on PlayStation 5 in 2026, we can rest assured that Sony's longtime rival has finally conceded the console space for good. Halo: Campaign Evolved -- clever! -- is a ground-up remake of the smash-hit 2001 Xbox launch title, and it comes with some new bells and whistles, including fresh content and a four-player online-enabled campaign. Microsoft even trotted Halo's community manager out in a PlayStation shirt, promised all upcoming Halo content is Sony-bound, and yielded perhaps their last meaningful franchise to the competition. This gives us much to discuss! Plus: Helldivers 2 dev Arrowhead begins work on its next project, Horizon's live-action movie is slated to film next year and launch in '27, Resident Evil 0 Remake rumors are percolating, we may be waiting a while longer for Starfield's PS5 debut, Electronic Arts scores a renewed deal with the NFL to continue the Madden franchise, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why does anyone care about Photo Mode? What's our dream PowerWash Simulator 2 DLC? Is it okay to play a game without delving into its greater meaning and themes? Will Chris ever return from New York?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:42:57 - RIP Sam Rivers
0:44:41 - buttrock and rap metal
0:54:36 - Couple vs few
0:58:55 - Keep on keeping on Thomas
1:03:48 - PSN Profiles issuers?
1:12:16 - Halo is coming to PS5
1:54:28 - Arrowhead is hiring for a new game?
2:01:24 - Updates on the Horizon film
2:09:25 - Resident Evil 0 remake rumors
2:14:37 - Starfield announcement for PS5 next year
2:23:12 - EA NFL renewal
2:28:25 - Ex-AC lead claims he didn't step down
2:33:46 - Remedy CEO steps down
2:37:22 - New sales data
3:07:02 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Yotei, Ninja Gaiden 4, Ball x Pit)
3:21:03 - How's our media literacy?
3:29:03 - Dream DLC for Power Wash Simulator?
3:32:17 - Updates with trophies
3:36:11 - Photo mode is free marketing?
3:40:06 - Sony's PC strategy with Xbox's PC push
3:45:59 - Soundbar recommendations

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Time sure is moving, but has a sufficient amount of it passed for us to start considering the next generation of PlayStation console? According to two reliable leakers, the answer is yes: Sony is very much aiming to get PS6 out in 2027. This makes sense by historical standards -- seven years between consoles is fairly normal, if not even a little slow -- but it really doesn't feel like we need this thing. Or do we? By 2027, who knows what our ecosystem might look like. Let's discuss! Plus: Legendary Tecmo director and producer Tomonobu Itagakai has sadly passed away, Sony-owned studio Bluepoint is hiring for a mysterious third-person action project, San Diego Studio appears primed to finally bring its smash-hit MLB: The Show series to PC, Ghost of Yotei is selling at parity with Ghost of Tsushima, we could have very easily gotten a mobile The Last of Us game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we like to partake in New Game+, when applicable? With Xbox's displacement as a hardware competitor, is Sony and Nintendo's long-standing rivalry primed to be reignited? Why don't we talk more about the fighting scene? Will Dustin regale us with some of his Japanese language skills?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:38:55 - Shoutout Saxon
0:43:38 - Eloping in Vegas
0:54:26 - Dagster check in?
0:55:44 - 今週何個の瓶を埋めたか教えてください
0:57:31 - RIP Tomonobu Itagaki
1:07:17 - PlayStation 6 in 2027
1:44:10 - Bluepoint hiring for a 3rd person melee action game
1:53:40 - Ghost of Yotei sales similar to Tsushima , Suckerpunch can only do one game at a time
2:05:41 - MLB: The Show coming to PC?
2:12:13 - Tencent pitched a mobile Last of Us
2:24:34 - PSVR2 controller for sale
2:32:23 - Fans revive ModNation Racers
2:36:49 - Quantic Dream reveals multiplayer game
2:48:20 - Remedy's FBC Firebreak is in the red
2:57:15 - Build A Rocket Boy in trouble
3:01:13 - New PS+ games
3:08:23 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, Battlefield 6, Lumines Arise)
3:53:35 - Why is New Game+ late?
3:58:58 - Why isn't Nintendo competition?
4:06:34 - Video game betting
4:14:01 - What do we want from a PlayStation handheld?
4:19:03 - Why aren't we into fighting games?

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If you're a regular purchaser of games, you're a stark minority within the very industry you know and love. We've known all about the revenue-related trends directing games as of late, but recent data indicates things are far more dire than they seem, particularly if you're a single player purist. For instance, a third of gaming consumers purchase less than one game a year; 12% buy one game a year; 18% buy two games a year. Only 14% of players buy at least one game a month! Yet, there's more money flowing than ever. Like, lots more. What gives? A migration of customers and their habits, of course! We discuss. Other news this week includes a brief Mark Cerny video celebrating Sony's collaboration with AMD for PlayStation 6, the reemergence of Marathon with invites to an NDA'd closed test, the bluest DualSense controller you could possibly imagine, rumors of a cancelled Reconstruction-era Assassin's Creed, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Could Sony be on the precipice of adding to its family of first party studios? Is there a potential unfilled niche for medical-themed titles? Does PlayStation need to spin-up a new loyalty program? Forget about your favorite color. What's your favorite shape?

Download the PrizePicks app and use code SACRED to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:37:16 - Strange places to listen to Sacred
0:41:27 - Ben Debate
0:52:43 - Favorite shape
0:58:31 - Mark Cerny appears!
1:09:26 - New player purchasing data
1:29:11 - New Marathon technical test coming
1:49:59 - New early PlayStation lore
1:58:37 - New blue Dualsense
2:03:38 - PlayStation Concert cancelled
2:10:25 - Cancelled Assassin's creed leaked
2:33:10 - Expedition 33 sells over 5 million, new content coming
2:35:40 - New Circana data
2:43:33 - Top PSN downloads
2:47:34 - PowerWash Simulator 2 release date and Mina the Hollower delayed
2:54:28 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, Baby Steps, Mario Galaxy)
3:27:58 - SIE and Sword of the Sea?
3:31:39 - Will Rockstar innovate gameplay in GTA VI
3:37:38 - What's the end point of live service?
3:42:44 - What do "fans" want?
3:55:38 - PlayStation Stars still floating around
3:59:19 - Where are the medical games?

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All anyone wants to talk about right now is Electronic Arts, and reasonably so. The American publishing titan is on the verge of being purchased by external interests for $55 billion, and when we say external, we mean it. The major player in reverting EA to a private corporation is Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, muddying this already complex deal that also happens to be the largest leveraged buyout in human history. Perhaps not surprisingly, this gives us much to pontificate on. Other news this week includes rumblings of a DualSense revision with a removable battery, the very real potential that a Prototype remaster is imminent, the wisdom (or perhaps lack thereof) in Forza Horizon 6 skipping PlayStation 5 at launch, and more. We then get into listener inquiries to wrap up the show, as we always do. What are our thoughts on Xbox's staggering Game Pass price hike? How do we feel about Magic: The Gathering's stylish new collaboration with PlayStation? Is Destiny officially on death's door? Will Dustin have a coffee named after him at a cafe in Texas?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:27:35 - Sacred Sweaters! Preorder starts Monday!
0:30:44 - Sacred Coffee specials
0:38:06 - Salary for a henchman
0:44:03 - EA sells to a consortium for $55 billion
1:31:33 - Is Sony a "terrible company"?
1:46:24 - New DualSense revision
1:53:25 - Revisions to the PS5 Slim
1:54:51 - Prototype remaster incoming?
2:05:22 - Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PS5, but delayed
2:14:03 - Ubisoft and Tecent's collaboration is called Vantage Studios
2:17:13 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, BioShock 2, Baby Steps, Silent Hill f, Megabonk)
2:46:17 - Xbox's price hike
3:23:32 - What's next for Halo?
3:40:36 - Direct sequels or spiritual successors
3:47:29 - Sony/Magic the Gathering
3:57:56 - Is Destiny 2 dead?
4:04:54 - Series prime for AA sequels

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The "where are the games?!" crowd is having a bad week, because PlayStation's most recent State of Play showed that plenty is indeed incoming for your PS5. For starters, Insomniac's long-dormant Wolverine has reemerged. Revealed four years ago and having clearly gone through some tribulations behind-the-scenes, Wolverine is slated for PlayStation 5 next fall, and it looks violent and grisly in all the right ways. Coming sooner from first party, however, is Housemarque's Returnal sequel Saros, launching in March of '26. It looks awesome, and we're to get back to shootin'. But as if these two games didn't give us enough to talk about, there's more: Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next Xbox-aligned game PS5-bound (with Forza Horizon 6 somewhere behind it), the original Deus Ex is getting the remaster treatment, a God of War DualSense has been revealed in recognition of the franchise's 20th anniversary, Kojima both revealed a Physint poster and showed off his new horror title OD, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's going on with the PS5 Pro's many technical issues? Will NetEase's F2P game Ananta be as insane as it seems? Why do we have such a problem with the premise of licensed games? Is Boar's Head's fine deli meat becoming too expensive for the average consumer?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:21:17 - Sony mascots owning a gentlemen's club
0:26:19 - Boar's Head prices
0:32:22 - Colin in wedding vows
0:34:04 - Ghost of Yotei hype low?
0:40:21 - State of Play - Wolverine
1:05:31 - Saros
1:16:39 - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
1:31:35 - PlayStation Pulse elevate speakers
1:39:34 - Smaller SoP announcements
2:11:18 - Kojima announcements
2:29:25 - Forza Horizon 6 announced, coming to PS5
2:32:57 - PlayStation Franchise Rewards
2:40:27 - Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 2
2:46:46 - Yakuza announcements
2:48:24 - A new Mafia game has been greenlit
2:50:04 - New player habits data from Ampere Analysis
2:51:48 - What We’ve Been Playing (Cronos: The New Dawn, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, Baby Steps, Borderlands 4, Hitman 1-3, Silent Hill f)
3:23:52 - Current feelings on PS5 Pro
3:36:00 - Ananta copying Spider-man, GTA etc
3:44:24 - Negative outlook on licensed games
4:00:09 - Best gamer at LSM
4:07:37 - Top 5 genres

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The internet is alight with word that a State of Play (or perhaps even a proper so-called Showcase) is right around the corner, and with it the purported reemergence of Insomniac's Wolverine, first revealed way back in 2021 alongside Spider-Man 2 (which itself came out two years ago). Is our clawed, self-healing, and somewhat short friend about to reemerge from the shadows, perhaps with a 2026 release on PlayStation 5 in tow? We're about to find out, along with -- perhaps! -- confirmation of a Venom title, too (and presumably much more). Plus: Ghost of Yotei and Helldivers 2 find themselves sucked into recent social events, Tencent hits back at Sony over its Horizon-based lawsuit, Borderlands 4 is a technical mess for many (and Randy Pitchford won't shut up about it), Hell Is Us' director calls Silksong's surprise release "callous," and so much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Would we ever attempt something as challenging as a company Top 100 Games of All-Time list? What are some potential launch games for PlayStation 6? How does one display their physical games collection when there isn't enough room for all of it? Is Dustin about to move into the poorhouse?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:19:41 - Following up on last week
0:33:18 - Sacred Mad Libs
0:43:44 - Result of mad libs
0:49:34 - Dustin's YouTube channel
1:01:12 - This Week's Situation
1:10:51 - Is or Are
1:13:38 - Sony PR is having a bad time
1:44:13 - Insomniac rumors
1:58:25 - Tencent responds to Sony's lawsuit
2:06:15 - Borderlands performance issues
2:23:18 - Hell is Us director comments on SIlksong
2:34:51 - Sega leaks Kiwami 3
2:38:13 - AC Black Flag remake is coming
2:46:40 - Dragon Quest VII Reimagined announced
2:54:41 - Mega Man Star Force collection
3:04:22 - TV adaptations drive sales
3:18:23 - Flight Simulator coming to PlayStation?
3:22:36 - What We’re Playing (Cronos: The New Dawn, Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots, Skate, Borderlands 4, Hell is Us)
3:56:47 - 100 greatest video games of all time
4:04:29 - PS6 cartridge based?
4:08:18 - PS6 launch titles
4:19:09 - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound enemies
4:21:42 - Managing a physical game collection

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Name any random PlayStation IP from the days of yore, and people will claim to want it back. One such franchise is Sucker Punch's long-dormant Sly Cooper trilogy, the third game of which is now 20 years old. (And yes, we got a fourth Sly game from Sanzaru in 2013, but it's not like many of you played it.) A recent interview indicates there are very few people at Sony's Washington-based studio interested in returning to the Thievius Raccoonus, and perhaps for good reason. After all, they want to sell actual units. We discuss! Plus: New PlayStation 6 rumors percolate in the wild, Bend is apparently hiring for a multiplayer title, precious details about Naughty Dog's Intergalactic emerge, and deep sales information has been released about PlayStation's historic software sales here in the US over the last 30 years. Then: Listener inquiries! Will the Hollow Knight: Silksong pricing drama ever end? Should Media Molecule invest in the 'cozy game' revolution? Is Marathon even worth being excited over at all? Can we help ingratiate the younger generation into the psychosis of Sacred Symbols?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:10:39 - Addressing recent events
1:10:54 - End of political conversation
1:25:01 - Happy Birthday Lily
1:28:12 - Shout out Jessica
1:29:49 - Dustin and Chris contributing to the show notes
1:37:22 - PlayStation Family App
1:41:00 - PS6 will still have a disk drive
1:50:59 - Sucker Punch doesn't want to make a new Sly Cooper game
2:06:43 - Bend is hiring a creative director and looking for multiplayer experience
2:13:01 - New Intergalactic info
2:19:54 - Wolfenstein third game teased?
2:26:05 - Best selling PlayStation games since 1995
2:39:45 - PSN downloads for August 2025
2:41:43 - New PS+ Extra games
2:45:33 - What Are We Playing? (RoboCop: Rogue City Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots Hell is Us, MGS Delta, Silksong, The Finals)
3:21:04 - Portal charging dock
3:26:50 - Is Marathon worth being excited for?
3:30:40 - How can Media Molecule turn things around?
3:34:20 - SIlksong's $20 price point
3:46:23 - Dan Houser's future
3:52:02 - PlayStation embracing timed exclusivity

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While Ghost of Yotei has gone gold and is now right around the corner, other segments of PlayStation Studios are on far less sturdy ground. Fairgames (or Fairgame$, if you like marketing) is seemingly the latest victim of an unprecedented run of bad decision-making, execution, and leadership within Sony's first party, as the upcoming shooter has shed its director, often (though not always) a dire sign for any project. Taken with recent reports (from this very show) of poor internal playtesting -- all the while Haven has already shed its major front-facing face and co-founder Jade Raymond -- we simply have to wonder whether Fairgames will ever launch at all. And if it does, does it have any potential to succeed whatsoever? Other news this week includes the rumored reemergence of Insomniac's Wolverine project, downward-revised SSD space for upcoming PS5 consoles, a fresh look at the promising Uncharted-like IO title 007: First Light, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does Naughty Dog actually represent the pinnacle of game dev? How much can people twist themselves into a knot to justify piracy? What kind of pressure are studios and publishers under to adopt AI solutions? Will "Alleghany Hogs" catch on around the world?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:32:42 - Shoutout Preston
0:40:47 - "Please clean up after your dog"
0:52:10 - Let em oink
0:54:16 - Chronos helmet = penis?
0:55:36 - MGS3 correction
0:56:34 - Ghost of Yotei goes gold
1:03:22 - Fairgames creative director leave Haven
1:28:24 - Wolverine rumors
1:47:23 - PS5 reducing storage space on new units
2:02:18 - 007 First Light gameplay revealed
2:14:27 - IO may not publish an external game again after MindsEye
2:19:13 - Hollow Knight SIlksong is only $20
2:27:57 - Capcom president says consoles are too becoming too expensive
2:34:55 - Pragmata is not a Mega Man game
2:37:01 - More games coming to PS4
2:44:57 - New live-action Tomb Raider
2:47:04 - What We’re Playing
3:29:04 - Emulating new games
3:44:41 - Why is Naughty Dog one of the best?
3:53:42 - Call of Duty changing course on skins?
4:00:24 - World's first platinum
4:04:38 - Sony's pressure to integrate AI
4:09:31 - Grading the show at the end

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New leaks from friend-of-the-show MLiD have given us a deeper glimpse into Sony's plans for PlayStation 6, especially when it comes to the rumored handheld iteration, codenamed Canis. It appears this device -- slated as part of a potential trio of PS6 hardware due out in '27 -- will be affordable, powerful, and perhaps most surprisingly dockable. With all first party competitors now occupying space (Nintendo, Valve) or chasing a presence (Sony, Microsoft) in the handheld realm, it seems like things could get very spicy on multiple fronts. Allow us to discuss in minute detail. Plus: Hermen Hulst gives a rare interview, Ken Levine emerges with hot-off-the-presses details about Judas, Sony reveals its first four incubated products in the MENA Hero Project, it'll now be easier to request a refund on PSN, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Some 14 years after release, what are our thoughts on Catherine? Could a major Xbox announcement be lurking in Sony's reported September showcase? How does Hello Games and No Man's Sky survive by giving so much away for free? Is Where's Waldo nothing more than an unconvincing psy-op?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:29:02 - Metal Gear Solid Delta poster
0:34:47 - Benji!
0:36:27 - Allegheny Hogs
0:42:00 - Washing your legs
0:54:33 - Waldo
0:58:16 - Ghost of Yotei console preorder September 4th
1:00:34 - PlayStation 6 Portable leaks
1:27:50 - Hermen Hulst interview
1:59:33 - New Judas info
2:14:26 - New MENA Hero project games
2:29:11 - Forza Horizon 6 could be in Japan
2:33:12 - New PSN refund system
2:39:22 - Skate early access release date
2:43:15 - July 2025 Circana data
2:49:37 - New PS+ Essential games
2:54:35 - What We’re Playing
3:40:59 - Thoughts on Catherine
3:49:24 - Is Intergalactic a soulslike?
3:54:12 - Will Xbox announce a game at a Sony event?
3:58:41 - Are remakes creatively bankrupt
4:08:42 - No Man's Sky keeps going
4:16:05 - Do podcasts hosts need to be experts?

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For prospective PlayStation 5 owners, America's new tariff regime has struck at a most inopportune time. Having carved through their backfill of PS5 units in America, and seemingly moving at least some of the console's manufacturing process out of China, Sony still has to foot the bill to import the machine. A $50 increase across the board -- on standard and Pro units alike -- has led to much consternation. What do we think about the whole situation? Beware: It's impossible to talk about this issue sans politics. Plus: Hollow Knight: Silksong gets a surprise release date in literally two weeks, storied 'closer' Rod Fergusson joins Cloud Chamber to help ship the beleaguered fourth BioShock, Triangle Strategy randomly launches on PS5 (but not PS4) three years after its Switch debut, long-time studio lead Pete Parsons leaves Bungie after more than 20 years, PS3 JRPG Tales of Xillia is finally being remastered, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is there a desire for more modern and grounded military shooters? Should Guerrilla abandon Aloy as Horizon's protagonist? What's our hype level (if any) for Borderlands 4? Is Dustin's hometown well and truly haunted?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:31:02 - Is Last Stand in trouble?
0:50:48 - Car totaled while listening to Sacred
0:53:46 - Our relationship with comments
1:13:53 - PS5 price increase
2:16:15 - Silksong release date
2:30:21 - Gamescom announcements
2:41:04 - Ghost of Yotei is getting a Legends mode
2:47:44 - Helldivers 2 x ODST
2:54:24 - Rod Fergusson is moving to Cloud Chamber to save Bioshock 4
3:09:49 - Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14th
3:17:18 - Triangle Strategy is out on PSN
3:21:10 - Tales of Xillia Remastered launches in October
3:27:34 - Callisto Protocol sold 6-7 million copies
3:28:26 - Sony unloads EVO shares to a subsidiary
3:29:54 - Bungie leadership change
3:38:13 - What We’ve Been Playing (Doom: The Dark Ages, MindsEye, Mafia: The Old Country, Battlefield 6, Indika)
4:10:16 - Is the podcast parasocial relationship unhealthy?
4:17:20 - Is FPS culture shifting?
4:23:14 - Hype level for Borderlands 4
4:28:29 - Killing Aloy
4:32:55 - Spouses interrupting game time
4:38:06 - Colin doesn't play driving games because he doesn't drive

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Sony is a many-tendrilled corporation, which can be both a blessing and a curse. But in fully leveraging all that the wider company does well, it seems they're closer than ever to achieving the "One Sony" goal from years and decades past. Enter Physint (sometimes typed PHYSINT, for some reason), a Hideo Kojima-led project revealed last year as a mysterious cross-pollination between PlayStation and Sony Pictures, one that appears to go into a distinctly Metal Gear Solid-like direction. With Death Stranding 2 now in the past, Kojima is confirmed to be working on Physint itself, presumably for PlayStation 6, which raises some questions, like: What will the game be like? When will it come out? Will it be a commercial success? We know so little about it, and yet, that's never stopped us before, so why start now? Plus: Arrowhead rather blatantly teases a Helldivers 2/Halo crossover, Strauss Zelnick expresses confidence in GTA6's Spring '26 release window and promises that BioShock 4 will indeed launch one day, rumors percolate about upcoming Resident Evil remakes, Crimson Desert gets delayed, PUBG is the next game to reveal it's leaving PlayStation 4 behind, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the best stoner game? Are people overreacting to recent PlayStation executives' chatter about moving away from hardware? Is Danganronpa actually bad? Did we actually (and unintentionally) get someone fired from their job?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:22:21 - Tarman joke gone too far?
0:25:33 - Sacred episode titles
0:36:20 - Ranking autistic fanbases
0:42:04 - Who gets the worst taxes?
0:50:29 - Starting a business tips
0:53:47 - Kojima has started working on Physint... alone
1:09:39 - Light of Motiram makes some big changes
1:17:25 - Helldivers 2 x Halo?
1:28:09 - Strauss Zelnick is confident in GTA VI's release date
1:41:14 - Is Code Veronica and RE Zero the next remakes from Capcom?
1:46:09 - New Resident Evil movie
1:55:24 - Crimson Desert delayed to 2026
2:03:49 - PUBG is leaving PS4 behind
2:07:23 - New PS Plus games
2:14:51 - July PSN Sales charts
2:31:36 - Control sells five million copies
2:38:45 - Far Cry TV show
2:47:52 - What We’re Playing (Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Doom: The Dark Ages, MindsEye, Battlefield 6 Beta, Hell is Us Demo)
3:35:44 - Raging at Danganronpa
3:39:15 - Can Dollman shut up?
3:43:30 - Good stoner games
3:47:19 - Genie 3 making games
3:55:29 - Nu Metal is back?
4:03:08 - Is Sony moving away from hardware?

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If Sony's recent fiscal report shows anything, it's that PlayStation is turning into a bona fide money printer. Yes, PS5 has surpassed 80 million units sold, and that in and of itself is a substantial figure. But the more interesting numbers reside in the financials, where the brand netted more in profit in a single three month period than it did for much of entire previous generations. That's completely insane. So let's discuss PlayStation's meteoric growth, what it means, and how Sony may be doing all of this with one arm tied behind its back. Plus: Media Molecule loses its final founding member, the new BioShock game is in trouble, Lost Soul Aside goes gold, Starfield is rumored to be PS5-bound in 2026, Darksiders 4 gets announced, Silent Hill F brings the franchise into an action-oriented direction, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation Plus fundamentally underrated? Could Battlefield 6 outsell Call of Duty: Black Ops 7? Are we on the verge of having to verify our identity on PSN? Will Colin travel to a nearby town to try and find life-sized box art of the old game X-Blades?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:27:20 - Derek <3
0:30:16 - Keep on, keeping on Luke
0:37:24 - Grace’s first platinum
0:41:28 - This is Tarman
0:43:45 - SouthPeak Games
0:45:52 - Is the opening of the show too out of hand?
0:48:55 - Ghost of Yotei film festival
1:01:40 - Sony financials
1:37:35 - Media Molecule's last co-founder leaves
1:50:39 - New Bioshock is in trouble
2:08:32 - Lost Souls Aside has gone gold
2:12:36 - Will Exiledge be a hit?
2:17:30 - Starfield on PS5 rumors continue
2:23:53 - Darksiders 4 announced
2:28:01 - Silent Hill F is action focused
2:35:47 - Red Octane is making a new rhythm game
2:43:58 - Genshin Impact removes PS4 support
2:51:23 - New Pragmata gameplay
2:52:49 - Marvel Tokon beta
2:56:36 - What We Are Playing? (Death Stranding 2, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Deus Ex: The Conspiracy, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Luto, Delta Rune)
3:34:07 - What is going on with the Steam payment processor story?
3:40:38 - PlayStation Plus is also a great deal
3:47:08 - Is it Battlefield's time?
3:53:02 - Why are reviews so long?
4:04:15 - Why don't game support couch co-op?
4:11:40 - ID verification in games

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Earlier this year, Chinese publisher Tencent revealed a new project so shameless that it belies belief. It's called Light of Motiram, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's a pound-for-pound carbon copy of PlayStation's vaunted Horizon franchise. It crossed the line to such an extent that Sony is suing Tencent over it, packing fascinating evidence that this title was likely intended to be Horizon all along. Is Tencent dead-to-rights? Other news this week includes likely massive overreaction to PlayStation's hiring of a cross-platform manager, updates on Amazon's God of War TV project, Xbox's dominance of PS5 sales chart with rumors of more to come, Warner Bros. dipping its toes back in the games-as-a-service space, fresh PS+ offerings, and more. To round things out, we then go to listener inquiries, as always. Is the original Metal Gear Solid overrated? What's happening with Insomniac's Wolverine project? Have payment processors gone too far in seemingly bullying the likes of Steam? Will Colin ever understand that Bob Dylan is still alive?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:16:13 -  Bob Dylan is not dead
0:33:00 - 401k Sacred boys
0:35:03 - RIP in Peace
0:35:58 - Remembering Tomvy
0:41:38 - Katy, let the PS5 breathe
0:44:23 - Section 8 clarification
0:48:39 - Twisted Metal release schedule
1:03:52 - Sony sues Tencent over Horizon clone
1:26:40 - Sony hiring a multiplatform manager
1:57:25 - Ronald D. Moore talks God of War
2:11:52 - New China Hero Project games
2:17:06 - Xbox games dominated Q2 PS5 software sales
2:34:45 - WB is hiring for a live service game
2:49:16 - Lies of P coming to PS+
2:53:54 - Sony's fightstick is called FlexStrike
3:01:17 - Nintendo Direct stuff
3:14:43 - What Are We Playing? (Death Stranding 2, Deus Ex, Silent Hill 3)
3:38:32 - Steam's credit card drama
3:59:19 - Does Metal Gear Solid hold up?
4:05:13 - What's up with Wolverine?
4:14:11 - Is anti-crunch making game development longer?
4:18:24 - PlayStation sequels are selling less?
4:25:13 - SkillUp's gaming website

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With leaks galore coming out of its closed testing period, it should come as no surprise that Battlefield 6 is real, and it's en route very soon. Electronic Arts and its quartet of fully-owned teams under the Battlefield Studios moniker promise a full multiplayer reveal in late July, and rumors indicate the full title is primed to launch in October. Can EA finally turn the ship around and fully deliver on the potential of its ailing franchise? Or has its lunch been permanently eaten? Plus: Sony invests $450 million into Bandai Namco in return for 2.5% of the publisher, FromSoft is reportedly working on a mystery game due out in 2026, the reasons for Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles' long development cycle suddenly become clearer, Microsoft backtracks on The Outer Worlds 2's aggressive pricing, Death Stranding 2 sells big, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Did our parents ever play games with us while we were growing up? Is Colin an unadulterated and unhinged Nintendo hater? Will shorter and more reasonable development cycles ever return to the AAA space? Could one listener's ex now be dating another listener?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:21:45 - Sacred Symbols lifts you up
0:22:56 - Good news for a change
0:23:49 - Loud yawning
0:32:16 - Perfect Colin
0:34:17 - Colin's allowance
0:42:06 - Sony buys 2.5% of Bandai Namco
0:53:29 - Battlefield 6 announced
1:10:52 - What is FromSoft's Project FMC
1:19:29 - New PS5 beta firmware
1:29:49 - Why FF Tactics took so long
1:36:53 - Outer Worlds 2 lowers its price
1:48:30 - Splitgate 2 goes back to beta
2:07:05 - June 2025 Circana
2:16:32 - What We’ve Been Playing (Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong: Bananza, Tony Hawk Remakes)
2:38:07 - Playing video games with your parents
2:51:03 - Is Colin jealous of his ex (Nintendo)?
3:07:12 - Why does game development take so long?
3:13:18 - The homogeneity of AAA gaming
2:55:55 - New TV settings
3:19:19 - Why do we care so much about news?

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Sony-owned Santa Monica Studio is one of PlayStation's first party powerhouses. Responsible for the God of War franchise -- and, other than Kinetica early in the PS2 era, only the God of War franchise -- there was some excitement building about what was next. But what if it's just more God of War... at least kinda? New rumors indicate that Santa Monica is working on something more familiar than we might have hoped, and from our perspective, that can only mean one thing. We discuss. Plus: Sucker Punch expresses interest in returning to Infamous, Ghost of Yotei gets special edition PS5 hardware and a DualSense, HBO's second season of The Last of Us earns a ton of Emmy nominations, concept art for Deviation's cancelled PlayStation exclusive emerges, Dragon Quest VII is apparently being remade at Square Enix, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With the demise of Xbox's Turn 10 Studio, is it time for PlayStation to port Gran Turismo to its rival's machine? Is Colin totally off-base with his desire for Arc System Works to create a PlayStation fighter instead of a Marvel one? What's the worst example in our personal gaming lives of losing a save file? Should Dustin enter into an illicit relationship with an eager listener?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:44:52 - Dustin's cry for help
0:52:56 - Sacred Streaming
1:07:46 - Stand down Chrissy
1:11:43 - What is Santa Monica working on?
1:33:34 - Ghost of Yotei PS5 special edition
1:38:23 - Restock of 30th Anniversary gear
1:41:11 - 16 Emmys for TLOU season 2 + Season 3
2:00:46- Art from Deviation's canceled game
2:08:21 - Dragon Quest VII remake rumors
2:15:09 - Ubisoft announces new co-CEOs
2:35:35 - Iron Galaxy's guitar hero joke
2:52:39 - What We’re Playing
3:30:11 - Favorite video game merch
3:37:11 - Custom Powerwash simulator levels
3:40:53 - GT7 on Xbox
3:45:52 - Demands to Spider-Man on Xbox
3:52:55 - PlayStation fighter vs Marvel Tokon
4:01:18 - Accidentally deleting your save

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 If you're tired of The Last of Us, well, it's really too bad. That's because Naughty Dog has updated The Last of Us: Part II yet again, this time with a so-called Chronological Mode that orders the game's chapters and subchapters sequentially. It's easy to mock this many updates, of course, but in reality, is Sony going above-and-beyond in keeping some of its older games alive? Shouldn't we applaud the years-long dedication to not only The Last of Us, but to God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, Horizon, and others? We discuss. Then: Twisted Metal's second season on Peacock gets a new trailer, STALKER 2 is finally confirmed for PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy IX Remake may be in trouble, Capcom acknowledges Mega Man, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! If we could only play a single game-as-a-service, which would it be? Could gaming be entering a more serious phase, as the industry finds itself fused more with education? Is it crazy to play sequels without having experienced the original? What are the percentage odds Colin is on the precipice of becoming a Kingdom Hearts superfan?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:25:36 - Favorite color and number
0:26:16 - Furries
0:35:30 - Hot dog advice
0:48:36 - Sacred vernacular
0:53:57 - Fawn-ta
0:58:34 - Kingdom Hearts Stockholm syndrome
1:05:21 - Upcoming Games list
1:07:14 - Last of us Part II Chronological mode
1:18:00 - Twisted Metal Season 2
1:22:34 - STALKER 2 is coming to PS5
1:28:26 - Is FFIX Remake canceled?
1:38:32 - Capcom comments on Mega Man
1:48:25 - SAG-AFTRA strike is over
1:57:14 - The industry's statement on Stop Killing Games
2:13:08 - New PS+ Games
2:23:42 - May Circana
2:30:55 - May PSN sales
2:37:01 - PS4 Firmware update
2:42:39 - What Are We Playing? (Death Stranding 2, Peak)
3:15:17 - Gaming attention span
3:28:38 - Picking one live service game
3:33:23 - Sequels that clicked
3:39:15 - Does our jobs make us enjoy games less?
3:51:11 - New concurrent player count record
3:59:35 - Video games in education

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For the first time ever, PlayStation is publishing one of its own games on Xbox. The new port comes in the form of 2024's smash-hit multiplayer game Helldivers 2 from second party studio Arrowhead, and though Sony has a long-but-silent history of bringing games to other consoles -- there was a Wipeout game on N64, after all, and the likes of Death Stranding and MLB: The Show have already migrated to Xbox via intermediaries -- never before have they acted as publisher. Is this a one-off, or a move that could signify a new strategy? Will Xbox players conditioned to Game Pass put their money where their mouth is? Are single-player exclusives next? Then: Neil Druckmann announces he's done with The Last of Us on HBO, instead turning his full attention back to Naughty Dog, while it sure does sound like Sony-owned team Firesprite is openly hiring for a PlayStation 6 project. After some other news, we get into what we're playing before ending the show as we always do, with six questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from our audience. What are our ruminations concerning Xbox's recent layoffs and cancellations? Will the PS5 era be looked back upon as a generation of wasted potential? How do we feel about the Stop Killing Games initiative in Europe? Are some listeners intentionally exposing their wives to Sacred Symbols in order to facilitate a divorce?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:23:03 - Patreon numbers
0:29:17 - Benji
0:36:16 - Don't show your wife Sacred
0:43:47 - This week's situation
0:47:51 - Happy Birthday Nick
0:52:23 - Defending the PlayStation concert
0:59:28 - Helldivers 2 coming to Xbox
1:31:18 - Neil Druckmann is no longer working on TLOU on HBO
1:40:45 - PSSR update in 2026
1:54:12 - Firesprite is hiring
1:59:29 - Is College Basketball returning?
2:02:56 - Street Fighter movie casting
2:06:49 - What We’ve Been Playing (Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2, Peak)
2:45:15 - Xbox's unraveling
3:04:57 - Supporting layoffs
3:15:19 - Studios moving to cheaper cities
3:18:57 - What is going on this generation?
3:30:10 - Journalism as a path into marketing or development
3:33:38 - Stop Killing Games

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Is your PlayStation 5 about to break? Probably not, but speculation is increasingly circulating suggesting that the old run of PS5s -- pre-Slim and pre-Pro -- may start running into a 'liquid metal' problem that's causing issues for some players. What does this all mean, from where does this speculation stem, and what (if anything) can be done about it? We discuss in detail. Plus: Death Stranding 2 is out, and thus it's time for us to gush! Then: The other news of the week, including Hellblade II's PS5 release date, rumors of RPG progression systems in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, PlayStation Plus turns 15, SEGA accidentally leaks a ton of sales data, and more. Finally: Listener inquiries. What's the best 'one-hit wonder' game? With PlayStation: The Concert coming Stateside, do we have any interest in attending? Which studio's three-game run is most impressive, quality-wise? Will you, too, find a Sacred Symbols shirt in your local Goodwill or Salvation Army?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:29:19 - This week's situation
0:34:22 - Nintendo 69
0:43:33 - Colin's power washing
0:59:42 - Nitpick from last week
1:01:04 - Are PS5s failing due to liquid metal?
1:15:16 - Hellblade 2 releases August 12th
1:20:25 - Intergalactic will have RPG elements
1:27:27 - Midnight Murder Club releases August 14th
1:37:33 - Sony reiterates the PS Plus strategy
1:49:57 - Sega sales leak
1:57:45 - Lies of P sells over three million
1:58:06 - Square Enix is "aware" of Expedition 33
2:01:27 - System Shock 2 Remake delayed on PS5
2:05:15 - Blood of Dawnwalker gameplay video
2:08:23 - What We’ve Been Playing (Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach)
2:27:40 - Established or custom characters
2:34:21 - One hit wonder games
2:42:11 - Best 3 game run
2:49:44 - Rush to story or pace yourself
2:58:11  - PlayStation: The Concert
3:03:47 - Selling Physical games

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Sony's recent PlayStation-centric corporate presentation illustrated just how powerful their gaming vertical is. Indeed, PlayStation 5 has already generated more revenue for the company than PS1, PS2, and PS3 combined, and in the last five years, Sony has netted more in profit from gaming than it did in all 26 prior years the brand has existed, combined. Within their presentation was a lot of interesting data, quotes, anecdotes, and more to comb through, and we do that with a fine-tooth comb. We also wonder why the video presentation was so awkward, stilted, and choreographed. Can these people not speak extemporaneously and off-the-cuff? But we digress! Then, we get into other pertinent news of the week: Bungie's indefinite delay of Marathon, rumors of Sony's potential interest in Warner Bros., fresh PlayStation 5 and 6 handheld rumors, and more. Then, we end the show (as we always do) with listener inquiries. Is Hermen Hulst truly to blame for PlayStation's serious first party woes? When will Ghost Story's Judas launch? Is controller rumble and vibration an important component of our gameplay experiences? Will Colin's 100 hours in PowerWash Simulator translate to the real world?

0:00:00 - Intro
0:31:11 - Colin and the pool
0:44:34 - New home tips
0:58:35 - Sony Business Segment Presentation
2:26:40 - Marathon delay
2:55:14 - Is Stellar Blade coming to Switch 2?
3:02:17 - Does Sony want Warner Bros Discovery?
3:15:09 - PlayStation handheld rumors increase
3:29:00 - Death Stranding changed because people liked it too much
3:39:11 - Death Stranding animated adaptation
3:41:34 - Borderlands 4 is $70
3:51:35 - Beastsaber updates on PSVR2 is ending
4:00:36 - Gears beta extended
4:02:42 - What We've Been Playing (Cyberpunk 2077, Splitgate 2, FBC Firebreak Death Stranding)
4:24:06 - Hermen Hulst's long term projects
4:29:36 - PC titles on Xbox's next hardware
4:48:44 - Where is Judas?
4:54:33 - Is vibration important?
5:01:10 - Climate station
5:04:59 - Does knowing who developed a game even matter?

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With Bend Studio laying off 30% of its staff as it gears up to enter a lengthy pre-production stage, it's clear their next release (should it ever materialize) will be on PlayStation 6. This is just the most recent example in a lengthening string of Sony absolutely botching its first party initiative, deploying teams on projects that make no sense, purchasing studios that have never even released a game, and complicating a service game strategy that -- at least on paper -- made a lot of sense. Where does the buck stop, exactly? And how lucky is Sony and the PlayStation brand that they've been able to coast almost entirely on external content and commercial inertia all the while? Plus: MindsEye is a complete disaster, Stellar Blade becomes PlayStation Publishing's most-played single-player PC port, Capcom and Konami reveal Resident Evil Requiem and Silent Hill Remake respectively, the Outer Worlds 2's $80 price point infuriates some, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is somehow coming to PlayStation 4, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! When Colin talks about a hypothetical AAA Mega Man game, what exactly is he envisioning? Why did Microsoft include the PS5 logo so readily during its showcase? Will GameStop ever stop selling opened games as new? Will Dustin and Brad one day own Last Stand?

0:00:00 - Intro
0:32:13 - Habroxia Special Edition
0:46:31 - LSM at TooManyGames!
0:51:17 - Sacred proposal
0:54:05 - Bradstin
1:05:28 - Mindseye refunds
1:24:59 - Stellar Blade is PlayStation's biggest single-player game on Steam
1:35:14 - Bend Studio layoffs
2:01:18 - Tencent acquires 15% of Arrowhead
2:05:17 - Resident Evil: Requiem announced
2:15:18 - Silent Hill Remake announced
2:22:30 - Persona 4 Revival
2:28:38 - Black Ops 7
2:35:05 - Gears of War: Reloaded PS5 beta incoming
2:41:41 - Halo coming to PS5 soon?
2:51:16 - The Outer Worlds 2 is $80
3:00:32 - DualSense will connect to multiple devices
3:04:05 - Mina the Hollower launches this Halloween
3:04:55 - New PS+ game catalog entries
3:12:11 - What We’ve Been Playing
3:29:30 - What would a new Mega Man game look like?
3:34:25 - Should we keep going to GameStop?
3:38:06 - Is the future handhelds?
3:52:28 - PS5 logos at Xbox's Showcase
3:58:27 - Alex Hutchinson's Game Pass comments
4:11:25 - Pandemic hiring sprees fallout

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Since we published our previous episode, Sony not only announced it was having a State of Play event, but that event has already happened. Thus, we have much to discuss throughout this lengthy episode, an unexpected surprise for the PlayStation faithful. In short, the most recent State of Play was a great showcase of nearly 30 upcoming PlayStation 5 games, with some PS4 and PSVR2 mixed in there, too. And -- for those that care -- more than a half-dozen of the games are PS5 console exclusive, nipping that entire argument in the bud. In the realm of Sony second party, we've learned about a Marvel-themed fighting game from Arc System Works called Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, while Tecmo Koei's Team Ninja is hard at work on Nioh 3. Elsewhere, we were given the first glimpse at IO Interactive's long-in-development James Bond game called First Light, a brand-new Lumines offering from the creators of Tetris Effect, the return of Capcom's seemingly-beleaguered Pragmata, something fresh from Grasshopper Manufacture called Romeo Is A Dead Man, a late-September release date for Silent Hill F, our first look at the sequel to Iga's Bloodstained, and -- yes indeed! -- confirmation of Final Fantasy Tactics coming to PlayStation in just a few months in the form of The Ivalice Chronicles. "No games?" Maybe if you don't like or play video games, perhaps. Other news this week includes our first look at Witcher 4 via a controversial UE5 tech demo, rumors of a native PS5 port for Red Dead Redemption 2, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should 'game length' be considered a spoiler? How do we feel about pinball video games? Do we ever mess with the PSN's 'activity cards' while playing? Is Dustin poised to elope with Brad?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

Timestamps: 

0:00:00 - Intro
0:26:17 - Habroxia Special Edition
0:36:59 - Too much to play
0:42:31 - Look or talk like Jar Jar?
0:44:49 - This week’s “situation”
0:51:21 - MLMs
0:57:49 - State of Play overall thoughts
1:10:07 - Lumines Arise
1:14:44 - Pragmata
1:21:10 - Romeo Is a Dead Man
1:28:46 - Silent Hill F
1:34:33 - Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement
1:40:12 - Digimon Story Time Stranger
1:45:17 - Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
1:57:37 - Babysteps
2:02:06 - Herogami
2:04:37 - Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots
2:10:32 - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
2:14:08 - Cairn
2:17:55 - Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection
2:25:34 - Playstation Fight Stick (Project Defiant)
2:35:44 - Metal Gear Solid Delta
2:37:48 - Nioh 3
2:43:17 - Thief VR
2:47:48 - Tides of Tomorrow
2:50:49 - Astrobot update
2:57:47 - Sea of Remnants
3:00:46 - Sword of the Sea
3:04:57 - FBC: Firebreak
3:08:39 - Deus Ex on PS Plus Premium
3:11:43 - Twisted Metal 3 and 4 on PS Plus Premium
3:14:22 - Resident Evil 2 and 3 on PS Plus Premium
3:16:07 - 007 First Light
3:27:37 - Ghost of Yotei
3:28:48 - Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls
3:39:11 - Apple Pay on PS5
3:39:43 - Witcher 4 UE5 tech demo
3:48:01 - People Can Fly cancels two games
3:49:22 - Red Dead Redemption 2 PS5 port
3:51:06 - MindsEye executives leave
3:54:56 - Shift Up’s Project Spirits
3:58:54 - MediEvil and Tenacious D’s canceled movie
4:04:17 - Elden Ring Nightrein’s success and PSN charts
4:09:43 - What Are We Playing (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 2, Dead Island 2)
4:25:37 - Is game length a spoiler?
4:28:47 - Pinball video games
4:33:54 - PlayStation activity cards
4:37:54 - AI making games
4:42:40 - New console reviews
4:48:02 - Fixing inverted controls for a kid

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