CORE - Core Gaming for Core Gamers

Get your ‘500+ Episodes’ mugs at Frogpants.shop now before its too late!. We recapped The Game Awards: Jon loved Resident Evil Requiem, Scott is into Total War Warhammer 40k, and Beau liked Gang of Dragon. We mostly bounced off Highguard.News: Steam Winter Sale is live. Fallout Season 2 has started. We discussed Netflix buying WB (details at core.show). Supervive is shutting down after 7 months.Played: Scott is on Path of Exile 2 and Mutant Football League 2. Jon is trying demos like Pragmata and back in FFXIV. Beau is on Witcher 3 and other sick-friendly games this week.Ozzfudd notes Scott can finish Far Cry 4 and 5 in minutes via secret endings. Just another Nick suggests Super Fantasy Kingdom. Email us at [email protected]!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audio edition of our watch-a-long! Listen along with us! Video version will be up on CORE.SHOW shortly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 500! Finishing Dispatch, loving Split Fiction, playing Demeo DND, and the Hordes of Hel! Plus Shinobi is underrated, Divinity still has a lot of stuff on the ground, Witcher 3, and a LOT of prep for tonight’s Game Awards. (coming in a separate post.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎉 500 EPISODE MUGS NOW AVAILABLE!Get yours reserved before we hit the limit!https://frogpants.shop ⚠️ SPOILER POLICY CLARIFICATIONGoing forward:1. We'll do our best not to offer major spoilers on narrative elements2. We'll give ample warning to pause, skip ahead, or come back later3. We'll front-load discussions with spoiler-free content- Scott will play BGM over spoiler sections for podcast listeners- Jon is doing YouTube chapters ASAP once the episode postsNOTE: This has never been a spoiler-free show, but we're making extra effort for those asking. You have personal responsibility to avoid spoilers if they matter to you.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎮 MAIN TOPICTHE FEW GAMES OF DECEMBER 2025Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Octopath Traveler 0, Metroid Prime 4, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Terminator 2D: No Fate, & More.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━📰 NEWS ROUNDUP🐴 Indie Game "Horses" Keeps Getting BannedBanned from Steam, Epic, and now Humble. Still available on Itch.io and GOG.🎬 Justin Lin to Direct Helldivers MovieThe Fast & Furious director takes on the video game adaptation.🐺 SO MUCH WITCHER- Witcher 4 NOT coming in 2026- Witcher 5 and 6 also in the works- Witcher Remastered on the way🔞 WickedWhims Has 300K Daily LoginsSims' biggest sex mod sees massive daily usage🧛 Paradox Takes Blame for Bloodlines 2Publisher says responsibility for poor sales lies fully with them, not developers━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎮 WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYINGSCOTT⚠️ Possible Spoilers: Did I finish Dispatch? Have to wait and see!Split Fiction - Incredible co-op game. Most FUN game this year!PowerWash Simulator 2 - Still the best CHORE CORE of 2025.JONCyberPunk 2077 - Done everything in base game, Phantom Liberty awaitsMarvel Cosmic Invasion - Started and finishedSHINOBI: Art of Vengeance - Sleeper hit! (Scott confirms)BEAUWitcher 3: The Wild Hunt continuesNoobs Are ComingJump SpaceRocksmith 2014 - We're backStar Citizen - I forgot about it... sorry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott dropped a Patreon vs Core.show support comparison video—check it at Core.show for the breakdown. Also posted an article about RAM prices going absolutely bonkers right now. The advice? Wait it out. Don't be the person overpaying because you can't control yourself. News Roundup: WoW: Midnight Gets RealJon brought the news: World of Warcraft's next expansion drops March 2nd, 2026. Mark your calendars, prepare your excuses for missing work.Half-Life 3 Copium IntensifiesPeople—including "insiders"—still think HL3 is getting announced this year. Spoiler: It's not. It never is. Stop doing this to yourselves.CD Projekt Reality CheckNo Witcher 4 or Cyberpunk 2 at the Game Awards. Shocking absolutely no one.Cyberpunk 2077 hit 35 million copies sold, outpacing The Witcher 3's trajectoryCyberpunk 2 is still years away. Hang in there, chooms.GAMES PLAYEDScott's GamesDispatchMoonlighter 2: The Endless VaultNo Way HomeGuild Wars 2 MilestoneJackbox Party Pack 11Jon's GamesCyberpunk 2077?Beau's GamesClair Obscur: Expedition 33 - FinishedWitcher 3Total ChaosAnd LOTS MORE!Contact: [email protected] | Text: tenhams.comLinks: Frogpants.com/core Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Main Topic: Game Awards Nominees. Megabonk dev withdraws "Best Debut Indie" nomination (made previous games). Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 breaks record with 12 nominations. Notable snubs: ARC Raiders, Dispatch, Sonic the Hedgehog 3.Other NewsXbox Partners Showcase (Tides of Annihilation, Vampire Crawlers, Total Chaos)Epic/Unity partnership for Fortnite integrationKrafton AI controversy re: Subnautica 2 bonusesDispatch skill requirements discussionFirst live-action Zelda movie set photosOur Week in GamingShared: Dispatch progress (Beau completed, Jon restarted, Scott finished Episode 1)Beau: Claire Obscur Act 3, Slay the Spire boardgame, No Man's Sky Normandy unlock, Vampire Survivors VRScott: Forestrike (standout), Shelldiver (incremental gem), Advance Wars binge, Moonlighter 2 purchased, Cleared Hot, Guild Wars 2 reinstalledJon: Cyberpunk 2077 continuesFallout 4 pricing clarification from NickLandry - Anniversary Edition upgrade options explained, Xbox Play Anywhere support added.Links: Patreon.com/coreshow | CORE.show | frogpants.com/coreNew article on CORE.show: Vegas conversation about AI threats + why GoldenEye is the GOAT.CORE.show vs Patreon (frogpants.com/core)Episode 500 commemorative mug dropping at frogpants.shop this weekend! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valve has three new hardware options for you, and we talk about them in detail today. Plus all the news and stuff you can stand, as well as a visit from Bobby for a nice little WoW update! GAMES PLAYEDSCOTTTavern KeeperJONDispatchCyberPunk 2077BEAUFarthest FrontierJump SpaceREPOARC RaidersVampire Survivors VR Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the details on CORE.show, and what you can get from it! WoW is not coming to consoles, says game lead at Blizz. Fortnite has all the cartoon dads now. Rockstar doing some devious firings. Your Steam Deck can now download while asleep! Warhammer Survivors is HAPPENING! Blizzcon tickets go up tomorrow. Playstation Portal finally does cloud. The return of Nexeopardy! All the games of the week and loads more.SCOTTHoop LandMech HavocUtopia Must FallJONThe Outer Worlds 2Cyberpunk 2077DispatchBEAUARC Raiders Aliens: Dark Descent Ball X PitDawn of War: Definitive EditionJump Space Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nintendo wants you to feel like those happy pandemic times again with a big update to Animal Crossing on Switch 2. Also, all the games of November, the Amazon Games layoffs and the apparent shutter of New World. Civ 7 trying to fix things. Claire and Cloud together at last. All the games we played plus all the usual stuff Enjoy!SHARED PLAY THIS WEEKSlots & DaggersSCOTTPowerwash Simulator 2WarsideJONThe Outer Worlds 2Mortal Kombat: Legacy KollectionDispatchBEAUAliens: Dark DescentFellowshipJump Space Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does anyone make a definitive list of the best games? It’s impossible, but we talk about the latest attempt anyway. Plus, Remedy losing their CEO after Firebreak did so poorly, and Vampire Survivors adds DLC to DLC. We also field a load of your questions this week, along with the usual dork-athon, and the games we played to boot! SHARED PLAY THIS WEEKBattlefield 6SCOTTSuperliminal (beat it!)Battle-Suit AcesYet Another Zombie SurvivorsGeometry SurvivorDungeon ClawlerSlots and DaggersJONDispatchThe Outer Worlds 2AbsolumIt Has My FaceBEAUFellowshipNo Man’s SkyBall X PitFarthest FrontierVoid Crew Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early reviews for the Xbox handheld are out, and it is a mixed bag to say the least. Understanding Fearless Drafts. Glen Powell wants in on E33 movies. EA employees not happy about the sell out. Quantic Dream is making a….free to play MOBA? Yep. Also, all the games we played and loads more!GAMES PLAYEDSCOTTBall X PitThe Exit 8.Funguys SwarmSoulstone SurvivorsSilent Hill fJONMegabonkBEAUBattlefield 6Hades 2Pinball FXStar Trek Voyager Across The Unknown demoCosmic Invasion demoWhiskerwood demoSkate Story demo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Straight into Hades II gameplay talk! Covering the “rat boss,” progress paths, end-game challenges, and tarot upgrades, all leading up to some admittedly broad comparisons to ARPGs and roguelites. Design depth, storytelling, and character reactions, Greg Street’s studio troubles, praise for Megabonk. Not to mention the mess that the gamepass changes continue to be. Sackbird Studios has our hopes. Make your own VR headset at home and WAY MORE STUFF!SHARED PLAY THIS WEEKHades 2MegabonkSCOTTIt Has My FaceSoulstone SurvivorsDeep Rock SurvivorsJONFinal Fantasy Tactics Remastered Ultra HD Power Extra EditionBEAUVoid Crew Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott & Jon’s Horror Video Game Fun Time kicks off Friday with Silent Hill f, running each Friday this month. Main topic covers October’s big releases like Ghost of Yotei, Battlefield 6, Little Nightmares 3, Pokémon Legends Z-A, Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, Mina the Hollower and more. Other news: Microsoft hikes Game Pass, EA goes private, Fortnite pulls Peacemaker, Capcom coy on RE9. Dear Martha Gameshow returns with “Find the Flaw.” This week in play: Hades 2, CloverPit, Shipbreaker, Kaiju Cleanup, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Megabonk, Sonic Racing Crossworlds.GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDHades 2CloverPitSCOTTHardspace: ShipbreakerKaiju Cleanup (upcoming)JONFinal Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice ChroniclesMegabonkSonic Racing CrossworldsBEAUHades II all day all night! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy ten years to CORE! Plus, Beau reminds us about a Kojima credit card coming soon. Highlights from TGS like Kojima’s new horror game OD and Capcom announcements including C. Viper in SF6, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, Pragmata, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. PlayStation’s State of Play brought a bag of goodies: Saros, Zero Parades for Dead Spies, Flight Simulator 2024, a Deus Ex remaster, Mega Man in Sonic Racing, Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete, Code Vein 2, Let it Die: Inferno, Chronoscript, new Pulse speakers, and Wolverine. (Which looked REALLY good.) Plus all the usual fun times at CORE.SHARED PLAY THIS WEEKScott and Jon both spent time in Megabonk, which is far better than its looks suggest.Sonic Racing CrossWorlds was played by Scott and Jon.Hades II saw time from all of us, with Beau having already played in Early Access and a bit more today.Borderlands 4 continued, mainly Beau.More No Man’s Sky, though not much new to report, Beau included.SCOTTPlenty of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor.Three hours of Metal Gear Solid Delta — very Kojima.Tried the demo for Slots & Daggers, which will be a day-one buy.JONFortnite remains a regular, especially the Blitz mode.BEAUSkate in Early Access.More Hollow Knight: Silksong.Some Heroes of the Storm, though waiting on the new patch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nintendo Direct dropped big news: Metroid Prime 4, more Fire Emblem, a quirky “Ditto Crossing,” and even Virtual Boy stuff, plus Hades 2’s 1.0 launch date is September 25. Meanwhile, Randy Pitchford remains the industry’s baffling clown in an ill-fitting suit, Sega is back with some old-school “Ninten-Don’t” ads, and speculation heats up around Cyberpunk 2 possibly including multiplayer (though Scott was sure that was already confirmed). And of course, LOTS MORE! Shared Games This Week•Borderlands 4•No Man’s SkyScott•Town to City•Cash Cleaner SimulatorJon•No, I’m Not a HumanBeau•Hollow Knight: Silksong•Elden Ring: Neightreign•Void Crew•World of Warcraft Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frogs, flies, and state borders! Keanu Reeves expressed willingness to bring back Johnny Silverhand in future Cyberpunk projects, fueling speculation about DLC or cameos. PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct, hosts, and more. Exhibition 33’s concert tour selling out instantly, Halo Infinite getting Invasion mode, and Steam reviews for Silksong differing by language, with Chinese players criticizing localization. And LOTS more!Shared Play•Hollow Knight: Silksong•No Man’s SkyScott•Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots.•Metal Slug TacticsJon•Bodah-Lands 4Beau•Void Crew •World of Warcraft Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott sits down with Tanner Goodman, who just got back from the EU, and his time at Gamescom in Germany. They talk about everything he saw! Including the standout demos like Crimson Desert (beautiful but overloaded with systems), Silent Hill f (creepy immersive theater), Honor of Kings: World (surprise hit with fun elemental combat and raids), and Valor Mortis (first-person Soulslike with grotesque Napoleonic bosses). Also, reasons why Chronos on Switch 2 disappointed due to poor performance and clunky design. Beyond games, Xbox showed its new handheld, cosplay was everywhere, swag was abundant, and even Netflix, Disney+, and Chiquita Bananas had booths. Give it a listen and huge thanks to Tanner for his time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gamescom brought big World of Warcraft reveals: the new housing system with public, charter, and guild neighborhoods (50 homes each, customizable biomes, permissions, and community events), plus new solo content like Prey hunts and ongoing Delves. Blizzard is also integrating add-on features directly into the UI (boss timers, nameplates, DPS meters), raising questions for Deadly Boss Mods and others. Bobby is here to help us make sense of it all. Also we have a LOT to say about the No Man’s Sky’s Voyager update—building Corvettes, exploring derelict ships, taming bizarre pets, farming nanites, managing settlements, and enjoying the endless systems, bugs and all. Plus all the games we played ands way more.SHARED PLAY THIS WEEKThe ‘No Man’s Sky’ update!SCOTT•Shinobi: Art of Vengeance•BlazBlue Entropy EffectJON•Hollow Knight: SilksongBEAU•Peak•Metal Eden•World of Warcraft Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s talk the BIG September 2025 releases: Hollow Knight: Silksong (Sept 4), Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots (Sept 5), Borderlands 4 (Sept 12), Silent Hill F (Sept 25), Sonic Racing Crossworlds, Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles, Lego Party, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, plus DLCs for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac. News about Expedition 33’s success and its Clair Obscur franchise plans, and Two Point Museum adding retro arcades, among a load more!SCOTT•The Last Spell•Inkshade•Titan Quest II•Shapez 2•Kill The Brickman•The Rogue Prince of PersiaJON•Final Fantasy XII•Hollow Knight•No Man’s Sky•SandBEAU•No Man’s Sky•Rift Breaker 2.0•Valheim•World of Warcraft Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s star with Steam’s new language-based review system, which pushed Palworld to an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating in English, for example. We looked at the debut of the World of Warcraft launch cinematic in October 2004, before the game’s release. A detailed rundown of Gamescom’s Future Games Show including major stuff like Resident Evil Requiem, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, and loads others, along with release dates for some. Including Silksong. We also broke down mechanics for Kill the Brick Man and The Rogue Prince of Persia, and compared the critical and fan reception of Final Fantasy XII within the series and over time. Among a lot of other stuff!GAMES WE PLAYED!Scott•The Rogue Prince of Persia•Kill The Brick Man•Shapez 2Jon•Final Fantasy XII•Promise Mascot Agency•Dyson Sphere Program•He is ComingBeau•World of Warcraft Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft may shift Xbox toward a modular, PC-like system called Magnus, we have some debate over complexity versus convenience. Rod Ferguson has exited Blizzard, raising questions about Diablo IV’s future, while Blizzard’s cinematic team voted to unionize. Crimson Desert sees a delay, and rumors suggest Paladin could return in a Diablo expansion, too late or not. Mind blown around The Secret of the Weepstone, WASD controls coming to League of Legends, and a Vampire Survivors board game. And lots more.GAMES PLAYEDScott•Shapez 2•He Is Coming•Time FliesJon•Final Fantasy XII•Final Fantasy X-2•FortniteBeau•Heroes of the Storm•The Bazaar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s talk about older consoles and approaching games in unconventional ways, and address while we are here, developments in the gaming business this week. MK: Legacy Kollection looking very cool. Battlefield 6 also seems like things are poppin. GOG says come get these free nudie games. Kirby fans finally know what they are getting soon. Lucy from CyberPunk is coming to…Guilty Gear Strive? Guntouchables is FREE right now. And how many Power Ranges in Fortnite is enough? An Instance WoW segment with Bobby! And lots more! Shared Play This Week•Ninja Gaiden: RageboundScott•The Spell Brigade•Shapez 2Jon•Minishoot’ Adventures•Juggling Final Fantasy X-2, XI, & XII.Beau•Titan Quest 2.•More Abiotic Factor.•Played War Within patch 11.3.•Tried Yakuza Kiwami 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talked about upcoming games for August, including Metal Gear Solid Delta, House of the Dead 2 remake, and Gears of War: E-Day. We discussed the return of Nerdtacular in June 2026 in Salt Lake City and encouraged listeners to fill out the interest survey. We covered game delistings tied to payment processors, especially around sensitive themes, and had a broader discussion on censorship, parenting, and internet policy shifts. We debated the 1980s cultural resurgence, Roblox’s value, and Microsoft’s growing dominance via studio acquisitions and Game Pass. And a LOT more to boot!GAMES PLAYEDScottShapez 2FumesMore BananzaJonFinal Fantasy X (finished)Final Fantasy X-2 (sampled)Final Fantasy XI (sampled)Final Fantasy XII (sampled)Donkey Kong BananzaBeauAbiotic FactorNinja Gaiden: RageboundValheim (Trollstav incident)Magic: Edge of EternitiesStarCraft 2 co-op Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Critical Role enters game dev, Outer Worlds 2 drops back to $70, and Splitgate 2 unlaunches. RIP Julian LeFay, and yes, that Hellraiser trailer is terrifying. Beau praises the SC2 World Cup. In “Dear Martha,” we “misremember” the PS2. Shared play this week: Donkey Kong Bananza. Scott tries Captain of Industry, Jon nears the end of FFX, and Beau dives into Pizza Tower, Slay the Spire, and more. Plus: Xbox handheld talk and some corrections.Shared Play (Scott & Jon):•Donkey Kong BananzaScott:•Captain of Industry•Back to the Dawn•Fantasy Finds DLC (2 Point Museum)Jon:•Final Fantasy X•Ghost of Tsushima (mentioned in passing)•Magic: The Gathering ArenaBeau:•Pizza Tower•Roundguard•Wildfrost•Backpack Hero•Fighting Fantasy Classics•Slay the Spire•Valheim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We covered Krafton's ongoing legal dispute with ousted Subnautica 2 founders, including a leaked memo and bonus extensions. The leaked Xbox Rog Ally price and portable gaming appeal. Steam's updated terms of service for adult games, shifting responsibility to developers and payment processors, were also reviewed. Our segment "Dear Martha" and Donkey Kong get together!. And loads more!GAMES PLAYED:SCOTT:Donkey Kong BananzaShapez 2Turnip Boy Robs a BankJON:Resident Evil HD (Remake)Resident Evil 2 (Original)Magic: The Gathering (IRL and MtG: Arena)Final Fantasy XBEAU:Death Stranding••Valheim (Ashlands biome) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discussed controller comfort and aging, the delay in finishing Ghost of Tsushima, and how handhelds like the Steam Deck affect game choices. We covered the Subnautica 2 delay and controversy involving Krafton possibly avoiding a $250M payout. We speculate on corporate motives, Unknown Worlds founders’ ousting, and Krafton’s Starcraft gig. We also hit on Romero Games losing a Microsoft contract, Final Fantasy IX remake rumors, and a new Resident Evil mobile game announcement. Emails, texts and loads more! Also, Scott tied with Beau this week in Dear Martha!GAMES PLAYEDSCOTTSatisfactory 1.1Offroad ManiaSoulstone Survivors 1.0Rogue TraderJONResident Evil (PC version)Resident Evil RemakeA Building Full of Cats 2Magic: The GatheringBEAUDeath StrandingValheimNightreignMagic: The Gathering Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have another bad case of layoffs, but this time, we hit the specific projects impacted by them. Some gnarly ones. Plus, Warcraft Rumble gets hit hard too. On the upside, we talk about the games un-effected, and the teams that are doing to stay intact. Leon S. Kennedy predictions. Stop Killing Games in the EU. Marvel Rivals is trolling fans. Dear Martha! Our week in games, and some great texts and voice mails this week!SCOTTFast Fusion Red Faction: GuerrillaThe MessengerJONLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthDate EverythingSystem Shock 2 RemasteredFinal Fantasy XBEAUSlay the Spire: The Board GameNIGHTREIGNMagic: The Gathering••Valheim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss our sleep schedules, gaming habits, and Xbox’s evolving hardware strategy. We share frustrations with Microsoft and Windows, and talk about competition between major gaming companies. We cover upcoming July games like Mecha Break, Micropunk, Donkey Kong Bonanza, Robocop: Unfinished Business, Wildgate, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. We react to Death Stranding 2’s high early praise, debate Game Pass expansion, reminisce about retro toys like 2-XL and Hulkamania workout sets, and play a Final Fantasy Dear Martha. And some thoughts about Predator things for various reasons. :)GAMES PLAYEDScott:The MessengerSuper Mario Odyssey (more moon collecting)Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-teredJon:Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiDate Everything!Beau:Elden Ring: NightreignMagic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy (limited draft)Valheim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s start with a funny story about a kid and a video game character. Then a bit about Foamstars, the changing nature of music discovery via memes and platforms like TikTok, Hideo Kojima’s comments on Death Stranding 2 being “too good” and altered to be less mainstream, Microsoft’s strategic moves with Xbox to create a unified gaming platform that includes Game Pass, Steam, and other services, and speculation on the future of PlayStation and PC gaming. It ends with a mention of Kingdom Come: Deliverance releasing a cutscene movie and anticipation for Hades 2. Plus all the games we played, and your feedback! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s talk about the Xbox ASUS Ally X handheld—its specs, price speculation, and use of Hall Effect sticks. They critique Nintendo's controller decisions and Steam Deck comparisons. And presenting a new way of highlighting standout games from Summer Game Fest, instead of full recaps. Titles we discuss include Clockwork Revolution, 007: From Light, ILL, Kepler, Stray of Heaven, Marvel T.R.C., Super Meat Boy 3D, Felt That Boxing, Grounded 2, Outer Worlds 2, Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster, and Resident Evil 9. They give reactions and expectations based on trailers and known studio pedigree. And all the stuff we played this week to boot! BIG ONE THIS WEEK! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PSA about our Summer Game Fest coverage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Nintendo Switch 2 launch day! And one of us got one. Impressions about the new hardware, the snappy performance of the eShop, and the sucky bits of game upgrade pricing—some titles requiring up to $20 for performance boosts. "Nintendo Welcome Tour" requiring accessories for full completion is nuts, and we talk on past console campouts. Canadian royalty, bathroom disasters at Blizzard HQ, and the janitor-themed maintenance of "Heroes of the Storm." June 2025 game releases like Mario Kart World, Death Stranding 2, System Shock 2 Remaster, and others, including impressions from Sony’s State of Play. Lots more, plus your texts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have “secret penises." Trust us, it will make sense. We’re giving away a copy of Doom: The Dark Ages, we speculate on Cyberpunk 2—its name, setting (possibly Chicago), and potential DLC—then dive into the animation studio behind the upcoming Cyberpunk anime followup. K-Pop Demon Hunters, Marathon possibly being delayed, and the over-saturation of extraction shooters…again. Love that Battlefront II is having a moment, we lament EA canceling the Black Panther game, and talk about the new face of WoW Classic and retail raid mechanics. And a WHOLE lot more.GAMES PLAYEDSCOTTTainted Grail: The Fall of AvalonThe PrecinctJONKingdom Come Deliverance 2Duck Detective: Ghost of GlampingBEAUMonster Train 2 Doom Dark Ages VR ModValheim: The MistlandsHeroes of the Storm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bungie’s admission of using stolen artwork in Marathon, casting big doubt on the game's future. We talk about the extraction shooter genre and compare Marathon to games like Tarkov and Concord to mixed results. Randy Pitchford is back with a out-of-touch $80 pricing comment on X for Borderlands 4, and we review Borderlands and its spinoffs just for funs. All the new Warhammer game announcements and ridicule poorly made Baldur's Gate 3 miniatures. Plus all the games we played and your feedback and more!GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDDOOM: The Dark AgesKingdom Come: Deliverance SCOTTMonster Train 2Deliver at All Costs Drop Duchy(Some usuals with nothing new to add: ESO, Spell Rogue, Tsushima, etc.)JONSkin DeepNew Game Plus mode for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33BEAUWatch_Dogssc2 co-op commanders, heroes, and valheim etc. etc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the upcoming Super Mario Brothers movie sequel, "Super Mario World," and potential future titles for any sequels. Nintendo's updated EULA, allowing them to render devices unusable for cheating or using ROMs, causes some debate. We question the implications of "bricking" and the risk of false positives. And if Nintendo is even thinking about that. We talk about expensive boats, like the pirate ship in Elder Scrolls Online, and some additional talk about digital ownership and fake scarcity. “The Legend of Zelda” themed Dear Martha. Let’s talk about “Doom: The Dark Ages,” comparing it to the last two. And LOADS more!GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDDOOM: The Dark AgesSCOTTThe Elder Scrolls OnlineGhost of TsushimaSkin DeepSpell Rogue is 1.0JON100% clear of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33BEAUKingdom Come: Deliverence 2 Save system taking some getting used to. Drop DuchyClair Obscur: Expedition 33Blue PrinceUntil Then Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft's cross-platform success, upcoming remasters like Gears of War and Echo the Dolphin, and speculation around a Xbox-branded handheld got real this week. We debate about console competition, exclusivity, and digital storefront strategies, particularly Epic Games’ new developer incentives. They really wanna get the deals. Underwater level phobias. The new GTA trailer, and loads more!GAMES PLAYEDJONClair Obscur: Expedition 33SCOTTKingdom Come Deliverance IIESO, ES4, SkyrimMore TsushimaBEAUHeroes of the Storm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discussed upcoming games like DOOM: The Dark Ages and Borderlands 4, along with delays for Grand Theft Auto 6 (now May 2026). Claire Obscure: Expedition 33 was praised for its stunning art, engaging combat, and emotional storytelling, though some criticized its timing mechanics. Sunderfolk, a couch co-op tactical RPG using phones as controllers, was highlighted for its seamless multiplayer and creative gameplay. We also touched on Ghost of Tsushima's satisfying ending and Overwatch 3's mobile MOBA announcement, which sparked mixed reactions. Lastly, we shared listener feedback and teased a potential Shadowdark campaign. GAMES PLAYEDSCOTTVirtua Cop. (You heard me.)JONBeat Ghost of TsushimaClair Obscur: Expedition 33FortniteBEAUSunderfolk V RisingMore MTG! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The usual fun CORE time, including a shadow drop of a remastered Oblivion that impresses with modern graphics and UI while preserving some nostalgic jank. Excitement and skepticism around Nintendo Switch 2 preorders and supply issues. Also Sunderfolk, a co-op RPG using mobile phones as controllers, and a new Star Wars tactical RPG in the style of XCOM. All the games we played. And catching factual flaws in game history.GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasterClair Obscur: Expedition 33Tempest RisingSCOTTCreepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion IIIMore Ghost of TsushimaMinishoot AdventuresJONShadowDarkCyberPunk 2077Blue PrinceGhost of TsushimaBEAUAge of Wonders 4SKALD Against the Black PrioryMandragora: Whispers of the Witch TreeMagic: the GatheringValheimHeroes of the StormStarCraft II Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seth Coster, co-founder of Butterscotch Shenanigans, discusses Crashlands 2 with host Scott Johnson. They reflect on the smoother launch compared to the original, design philosophy that removes common survival game frustrations, and the importance of story, humor, and progression. Seth shares insights on development challenges, lessons from past games like Levelhead, community feedback, and upcoming patches. They also touch on player expectations, studio transparency, and the significance of their long-running podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discussed Bungie’s reveal of the new extraction shooter Marathon, with mixed reactions—Scott liked the visuals, but none were excited by the genre really. We praised Baldur’s Gate 3’s final patch, talking new subclasses and full crossplay. Oblivion is rumored to be getting a remaster, as soon as next week, and sparking hope for a future Morrowind remake. We criticized PS5 price hikes and gushed over collector’s editions like the Doom “Will it Run” box, that none of us will own. GAMES PLAYEDScott   Crashlands 2   Return to Monkey Island   Ghost of TsushimaJon   Blue Prince    The Last of Us Part 2   WorldBox: God Simulator   Ghost of Tsushima    Baldur's Gate 3   Cyberpunk 2077Beau   Dreamhaven’s Wildgate   Runescape: Dragonwilds   Tarkir: Dragonstorm (MTG Arena Drafts)   Valheim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are a little worried that Nintendo might not respect their base as much as they hope they do. We hash it out. Also, new CORE YT coming! Canada and US get delayed Switch 2 pre-orders. Marathon will NOT need a PSN account on Xbox or PC. Triple-i Initiaitve seems VERY cool. Dear Martha! Ghosts of Tsushima, Pac-Man Championship, South of Midnight, Schedule 1 and The Forever Winter all get some playtime. Plus your feedback! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crew discusses the new Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting specs, price concerns, and games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. We are playing Ghost of Tsushima and talk about it’s excellence compared to other games that aim to do similar things. Jon awaits a new PC, while Beau keeps the Final Fantasy VII and Valheim fires burning. Listener messages and more this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heroes of the Storm on Game Pass? No way! We hit upcoming games like Croc remake and The Last of Us Part II PC, and Dream Haven’s Wild Gates. Assassin’s Creed Shadows impresses with stealth but suffers Ubisoft bloat, while Ghost of Tsushima wins on combat/story. Indie gems like Spilled and A Game About Digging a Hole got beat by us. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is back on the menu, and Valheim multiplayer is happening again for Beau. New controller recs (8BitDo, EasySMX) finish us out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about a Dole Whip. Not really. Assassin’s Creed Shadows gets positive reviews despite pre-release backlash. Marvel scrapped plans for a shared gaming universe. Hasbro ponders Baldur’s Gate’s future without Larian. Wizards of the Coast cancels Project Sigil, a failed virtual tabletop. Steam surpasses consoles, but new games struggle. 8BitDo controllers challenge Xbox and PlayStation. And lots more including your calls and texts!GAMES PLAYEDSCOTTShotgun King: The Final CheckmateDungeons & Degenerate GamblersPixelJunk Shooter 1+2 UltimateStar of ProvidenceBEAUFF7 Remake hard mode challengesPirate Yakuza FF7 classic with mods Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s talk about BlizzCon 2026, Star Fox successor Wild Blue, Death Stranding 2’s Solid Snake nod, and Xbox handheld rumors. MS says it’s time to explore AI in gaming, more time with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and recent plays: Planet of Lana, Two Point Museum, and WoW: Undermine. A listener asks about arcade cabinets! Some chatter about Canadian geese! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lets discuss video game tariffs, the decline of physical media, and GameStop’s potential Bitcoin investment. We highlight Sega’s success in 2024, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 remaster, and play a "Guess the Game" segment featuring Dragon Age: Origins. Scott reviews ZEPHON and Two Point Museum, and a listener claims Age of Wonders 4 is better than Civ VII. And loads more.GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDFinal Fantasy VII: RebirthSCOTTZEPHONTwo Point MuseumJackbox Survey ScrambleJONFF 7 RebirthBEAUFF 7 RebirthMagic Arena: Aetherdrift Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That game got delayed AGAIN, and we are starting to wonder if we will ever play a new Fable game ever again. Also the big games of March 2025, Warner Bros shuts down a load of dev teams, and no one likes it, and that means no Wonder Woman. Assassin's Creed Shadows had a leaky thing happen. Tony Hawk 3+4 are happening! Dear Martha Game Show! All the games we played, your feedback and calls, and loads more on this episode of CORE!GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDAvowedSCOTTDie in The DungeonNew WoW patchJONFinal Fantasy VII: RebirthLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiMonster Hunter Wilds - intro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marvel Rivals is very successful! So why the layoffs? Let's talk about it. Plus, MS has a new AI that will make games for you. Epic sold a decent number of games in 2024. Will Magic finally get Jon? There will be a Monster Train 2 and we are excited. Dear Martha! All the games we played! Your feedback and more!GAMES PLAYEDSHARED PLAY THIS WEEKAvowedSCOTTDawnfolkSunday RivalsCiv 7Age of Wonders 4.JONLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiBEAUFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthWoW SoD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does it take three weeks to dig a hole? In indie video games it does. Let's talk about the radical overhaul coming to Overwatch 2. Plus, Avowed is out TODAY! Playstation's latest State of Play breakdown. Speaking of which, PSN was down while the Super Bowl raged on. Valve banned mobile-style ads in Steam. (good!) Dear Martha! The games we played, and LOTS more!GAMES PLAYEDSHAREDCiv VIISCOTTReality BreakRift of The Necromancer (demo)Death Must DieJONNo Man's SkyFinal Fantasy VII: RebirthBEAUOverwatch 2Soulframe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wayne June (Darkest Dungeon) passes away. FFVII Rebirth sells well on Steam. WoW details player houses, jabs FFXIV. Xbox supports Switch 2. EA struggles; Bioware restructures, layoffs hit Mass Effect team. FFVII Rebirth, McPixel 3, Eternal Strands, Turbo Overkill, Civ VII, No Man's Sky, V Rising, Overwatch and lots more in what we played! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.