Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Whether Microsoft completes its acquisition of Activision or not, the FTC's legal assault on the company has nonetheless exposed Sony's archrival's strategy for all to see. Xbox's argument is a simple one: Thoroughly outclassed by their competitors with access to orders of magnitude fewer resources over a continuous period of more than two decades, their only way to compete is through brute force. Microsoft isn't wrong for acting like a corporation seeking profit. The bigger question is why anyone would root for them when they've shown little true feel for the business, as evidenced by their lack of success relative to their competition. We spend more than two hours going through all of the interesting tidbits from the FTC vs. Microsoft, not through the lens of whether the deal will go through, but via all the interesting information we've garnered through discovery, deposition, and testimony. We also spend more than an hour talking about our time (so far) with Final Fantasy XVI, which very easily slides into the Game of the Year category with its exceptional gameplay and riveting story. We bounce around to other news items, too, before leaving you -- as always -- with listener inquiries. How can PlayStation salvage the early-damaged reputations of Concord and Fairgames? Will there ever be a single-player FPS renaissance? Should increased dev time equal the end of gaming trilogies? Could Colin and Chris write a successful remake of Billy Joel's classic We Didn't Start the Fire? Get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs at https://www.drinkAG1.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Great intrigue surrounds Bungie's upcoming revival of its long-dormant FPS IP Marathon, first confirmed (but long-rumored beforehand) at the recent PlayStation Showcase. Post-show reporting outlines an ambitious service title, but questions linger about Bungie's current and continued handling of Destiny 2, not to mention if the storied developer finds itself newly-distracted by a demanding parent company. Let's take some time to dissect current-day Bungie and get to the heart of Marathon's promise (or lack thereof). Plus: PlayStation Studios loses its head of mobile gaming before he ever releases a game, Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid collection sounds pretty awesome, Electronic Arts' studios split into two separate entities, and more news, rounded out -- as always -- by inquiries from the audience. Have we ever encountered a spiritual or religious issue with a game? Why, exactly, are turn-based games fun? Does voice chat give us anxiety? Did Colin really need to learn about the true wonders of "marinating"? Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off at https://www.liquidiv.com and use code Sacred Build your credit up at https://www.chime.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In another legendary Colin Was Right moment, Embracer Group has officially broadcast an SOS. The mega-publisher is in significant debt and severely overleveraged, with 17,000 mouths to feed over 131 studios making something like 250 games. But few of its products matter, it can't release enough quality fare to draw the requisite income to sustain its Ubisoft-sized headcount, and its products inevitably compete with each other, too. Embracer was always an absurd proposition, one that almost no one made a peep about while its teetering tower was built ever-higher. Let's discuss their future, one markedly different from the one they planned just a few years ago. We also take the time to get deep into this week's other news, as there are a lot of announcements emerging from various showcases. Star Wars: Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Persona 3 Reload, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth are just some of the upcoming titles we touch on, as well sharing lots of thoughts about Final Fantasy XVI's well-received demo, and listener inquiries on topics like the arcade ticket economy, the perfect game length, and Last Stand licensing its content to a big media company. Plus: Can we get Boar's Head to sponsor this show? Probably not, as it turns out. Thanks to our sponsors! Get a free 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The PlayStation Showcase left many fans disenchanted, but can Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest deliver some positive energy? It turns out that yes, it certainly can. Spider-Man 2 now has a release date, Prince of Persia, Sonic, and Like A Dragon are all getting new entries, known titles like Mortal Kombat 1, Witchfire, Remnant 2, Lies of P, and Banishers all look great, and new IP were revealed and elaborated on, too, like Toxic Commando and Sandland. Let's catch up on all of that, plus much more from the week, including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth details, NCAA Football licensing issues, Octopath Traveler 2's solid sales, and more. Then, let's wrap things up with listener inquiries, as we're wont to do here on Sacred. When do we know it's time to abandon a game? Is Spider-Man 2's map too big? Why hasn't anime fully captured Colin? Did a man named Mark really kill the Vita? Thanks to our sponsors! 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 Get a free 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're more than a week distant from the recent, highly controversial PlayStation Showcase. And because we recorded our last episode directly after it, we did the best we could shooting from the hip. But with time to think, have our opinions on Sony's event evolved? We spend a lot of time talking about the fallout from the showcase, the various games that caught our eye (or otherwise), and where we think everything sits, now that we've pondered. But there's one thing we certainly agree on: A lot of people are overreacting while completely forgetting (or perhaps just being ignorant of) the brand's history. We also take time to delve into recent reporting surrounding PlayStation's crown jewel first party studio, Naughty Dog. News indicates that none other than Bungie has come off the top rope to potentially throw the kibosh on their standalone multiplayer game, indicating that it may not be ready for primetime. Has Sony mismanaged Naughty Dog into a BioWare-like situation, or is this much ado about nothing? Other news rounds out our show, as well as listener inquiries. How do we balance objective and subjective analysis? Is PlayStation focusing too heavily on sci-fi? Will PC players need PlayStation Plus to play Sony's games-as-a-service? Is Colin about to return to his roots as a deli worker? Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off at https://www.liquidiv.com and use code Sacred Get up to 55% off your subscription at https://www.babbel.com/sacred Get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've waited so long for a fresh PlayStation Showcase that it came as a bit of a shock to be sitting there watching a new one. Yet we did just that, and frankly, we were left feeling a little bit underwhelmed. It's not to say that potentially-amazing games weren't shown-off, because they were. Out of the 34 titles seen, many of them looked great. But a lack of a truly meaningful first and second party presence coupled with gameplay scarce makes it's hard to feel too excited about what Haven or Firewalk are toiling away on when we somehow still don't have a release date for Spider-Man 2, when Factions remains as much of a mystery as it was before, when a predictable reliance on new PvP products nonetheless leaves some fans distressed. We take the time to go game-by-game, from Fairgame$ and Helldivers II right on through Marathon and Concord, covering all that the event had to offer. We also do a 'regular show' around that, touching on the other news from the week, with plenty of listener inquiries, too. Are you feeling better than you were pre-Showcase, PlayStation fans? As usual, it's likely just a matter of perspective. Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off at https://www.liquidiv.com and use code Sacred Get started with Chime at https://www.chime.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unbelievably, the moment has finally come: A PlayStation showcase draws near. By the time the hour-plus event concludes, it'll have been more than 600 days since the last showcase in '21. In other words, Sony simply has to bring the heat, and we suspect they will. This week, let's take the time to dissect PlayStation's potential first, second, and third party plans for its mid-gen coming-out, and get into some other news in the ecosystem, too, including the reveal of a Mortal Kombat reboot and strong indications that Grand Theft Auto VI is nearing its end-phase of development. Listener inquiries help us explore other interesting topics as well, including nudity in games, Sony's potential to sell Zelda-like numbers, and how we "earn" our gaming time. Colin also nails himself in the nuts mid-show, much to everyone's delight. Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off at https://www.liquidiv.com and use code Sacred 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A minor culling is underway at and around PlayStation, with a smaller first party studio going away and an in-production second party FPS seemingly cancelled. But it's unclear why this would necessarily be looked at as a bad thing. If teams and products aren't living up to their promise -- and if they presumably don't reach an ever-increasing quality bar internally -- shouldn't they be cut loose? Still, at a time when consolidation and headcount means anything, that Sony is taking these risks indicates there's more at play, with the potential of a brighter future on the other side. Let's discuss. Other news this week includes massive numbers for the Horizon franchise, now Sony's sixth best-selling series ever, while Pokémon studio GameFreak gets into bed with Take Two and PS+ gets its strongest slate of new additions in months. Finally, we wrap things up -- as always -- with listener inquiries. Was IGN wrong to say that games its staff has never heard of aren't worth your attention to begin with? Have the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters invoked a new interest in Stranger of Paradise? Can anything be done to halt the death of game rentals? Will we ever recover from how hard The Good Doctor makes us laugh? Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off at https://www.liquidiv.com and use code Sacred at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a recent interview, Hermen Hulst -- the head of PlayStation's first party studios -- spoke extensively about Sony's plans with its vaunted 10 in-development games-as-a-service. Through his words, we can begin to formulate a vision of a future where PlayStation first and second party games are both of the expected and unexpected variety, a marked change from a brand known first-and-foremost for marquee single player experiences. And in the wake of Xbox's disastrous launch of Redfall and the obviously-plateauing numbers of GamePass, a conversation about the very philosophy of PlayStation seems as timely as ever. We also take the time this week to go over the trailers for the Gran Turismo movie and Twisted Metal TV show, celebrate some recent Square Enix sales successes, discuss the continued destruction of games media, touch on new PS5 Pro rumors, and more. Listener inquiries round things out, per usual, on topics like reviews taking into account the technical performance of a game, Sony's dearth of WRPG heft, players' toxic relationship with publishers, and Colin's increasingly dramatic southern man voice. Thanks to our sponsor! Get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naughty Dog and Insomniac are the two studios often looked at as the bulwarks of PlayStation's first party family. But it's clear that -- over in Europe -- a third team is quickly climbing the depth chart: Guerrilla. In recent days, the team revealed a complete shakeup of their executive staff, and for the second time in just a few years, they're losing their leader to PlayStation proper. In other words, many compliments are being paid to a studio not only working on Horizon 3, but a Horizon multiplayer game as well, in addition to shepherding the increasingly-important Decima engine. What's the future look like for Sony with Guerrilla in increasing control? We've much to chat about. Plus: The CMA surprisingly blocks Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, a new Sony patent seemingly confirms a detachable PS5 disc drive is en route, Burning Shores' review bombing convinces Metacritic to clean up their site, and more. Then: Nearly three years out, what are our thoughts on Ghost of Tsushima? Are we ever tempted to try Final Fantasy XIV? How come Colin loves sports so much, but hates competitive gaming? Will Chris' and Colin's portraits hang in an Ohio deli like two communist dictators? Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off at https://www.liquidiv.com and use code Sacred at checkout Sign up for a Chime Checking Account at https://www.chime.com/sacred Get up to 55% off your subscription at https://www.babbel.com/sacred Get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As it comes to grips with the new realities of an ever-consolidating market, Sony has opted to increase its aggressiveness by purchasing Firewalk Studios. Like Haven and Nixxes before it, buying Firewalk is an unusually premature move for a company that typically likes to conduct extensive second party dances before putting a ring on it. But its arch-rival and third party publishers alike have made it clear that the old rules of buying teams no longer apply, and that courtships can no longer span the production of multiple titles. Will this increasing embrace of size benefit PlayStation or hinder it? Only time will tell, but we've obviously much to discuss. Other big news this week includes PlayStation 5's staggering sales figures, the exit of more high-level talent from Media Molecule, and much more, and we round things out -- as always -- with listener inquiries. Is enemy scaling really necessary? Could Ubisoft be readying a low-key banger with XDefiant? Do players rerally 'graduate' from Nintendo to PlayStation? Is Colin developing a hankering for gardening? Thanks to our sponsors! 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 Get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After witnessing its death in slow motion, Media Molecule is mercifully pulling the plug on its beleaguered project Dreams. And it's sad, no doubt. But here's the reality: Dreams was a bad idea and a waste of time. Sony voluntarily hamstrung its most creative team for the better part of two generations on a dead end, and you can't really blame artists-types for taking all the corporate rope you'll give them. After all, Media Molecule hasn't released a AAA game in more than 12 years, an unfathomable gap. How that's even possible is anyone's guess. Who's responsible for Dreams' abject failure? Why was this idea allowed to go along so staggeringly beyond its expiration date? And what's next for the House of Sackboy? Other news this week includes tacit confirmation of a Persona 3 remake, Sony's aggressive push into cloud gaming, an official delay for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and more. The conversation's rounded out with listener inquiries sent from Patreon, touching on topics like the Redfall 30-frames controversy, the cost of putting Call of Duty on PlayStation Plus, the best order to play the original Final Fantasy games, and a continued ode to a deli that's become a central icon of show lore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new Sony handheld is rumored to be in the works, but don't get all hot-and-bothered. It's not another PSP or Vita, but rather a device codenamed Q-Lite, essentially a DualSense controller with an 8-inch screen affixed to it that facilitates (presumably high quality) local remote play. But with PSVR2 seemingly floundering, is it a good idea to release another distraction from the main goal? That being the production and release of the highest-quality AAA games imaginable. We discuss Sony's presumed strategy. We also delve into awesome Final Fantasy-related news, including word that XVI has gone gold on PS5, with the Pixel Remasters right around the corner for PS4, while the Saudi Arabian government is preparing tens of billions of dollars in new gaming investments that will undoubtedly encroach into our space. Also: Listener inquiries! Will Spider-Man 2 be co-op? Why aren't Monster Hunter fans showing Wild Hearts any respect? If Sony purchased Square Enix, would it be left alone (a la Bungie)? Was Queen Elizabeth II a closet Sacred Symbols listener? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a week of surprise turnarounds and unexpected outcomes. First up: Has Sony flown too close to the sun? In trying to halt Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, it may have exposed itself to critical governmental and social attention it would have otherwise never garnered. And the deal's probably going to go through anyway. Meanwhile, reporting indicates PSVR2 is bombing in its first month on the market, which our eyes and ears were already telling us. Meanwhile, E3 is cancelled (probably forever) after the promise of a triumphant comeback, The Last of Us: Part I on PC wildly misses the Naughty Dog bar of quality, once-accused games writer Chris Avellone clears his name, and more news rounds our upside-down episode, dotted as always with listener inquiries. Your topics this week? The potential of animated PlayStation TV series and films, the best third-party publisher ever, a defense of day one DLC, and much more. Thanks to our sponsors! Get a free 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Get up to 55% off your subscription at https://www.babbel.com/sacred Get 20% off anything you order at https://www.liquidiv.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In September of 2018, one of the biggest PlayStation games of all-time -- Insomniac's Spider-Man -- came to PlayStation 4. Along with its '1.5-style' follow-up Miles Morales, the fledgling franchise has sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 million copies, and it seems like the original's direct sequel will launch five years to the month of its street date, in September of 2023. Word comes by way of the loose-lipped voice actor playing Venom, who would absolutely and obviously know these details in preparation for his press tour, so we believe what he says to be true, and it all begs the singular question: When will we see more? Other news this week revolves around Horizon: Forbidden West's upcoming DLC Burning Shores, the sunsetting of a trio of Battlefield games on PSN, Sony's ability (or lack thereof) to make a viable Call of Duty competitor, and more. Listener inquiries help us round things out, as always. What's up with all of the 10s being given out by games media? Is Ubisoft's Ghostwriter technology a harbinger of things to come? Why the heck won't some games let you pause? Will you bet cold-hard cash on Chris in his Creator Clash bout? Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy at try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self. Make your financial dreams a reality at https://www.chime.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rumors are percolating anew of a PlayStation 5 Pro console that may launch as soon as 2024, but in reality, this isn't news at all. Our very own tech analyst told us about PS5 Pro last year right here on this very show, and with more information now garnered, it sounds like this thing is really happening. Or is it? Deep economic pain lingers (with more potentially on the way). And how much more power does the PS5 need, anyway? Let's discuss the freshest hardware murmurings. Then: Neil Druckmann spills the beans on The Last of Us' future on HBO and the potential of a third core game, Konami's Project Zircon indicates Castlevania is about to return, Chinese developers voluntarily submit to self-censorship in a new pact, and more, buttressed -- as always -- by listener inquiries. What's going on with Capcom's Pragmata? Could gaming magazines ever make a comeback? How long should a game be? Has Dustin's coffee snobbery gone a step too far? Thanks to our sponsor! Right now, get up to 55% off your subscription when you go to https://www.babbel.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interesting news broke while we were recording the episode, and we made sure to incorporate it: Rocksteady's beleaguered Suicide Squad game (Kill the Justice League) has been indefinitely delayed from its May release on PlayStation 5, no doubt a response to the drubbing-by-consensus it recently took. Is such a move necessary, and could it right the game's trajectory? Did it even need saving it all? Other news items this week include a wild Jim Ryan quote regarding the Activision-Microsoft deal, a huge firmware update for PS5, the potential of Spider-Man 2 going head-to-head with Starfield, and more. We intersperse our show, as we always do, with listener inquiries, ranging on issues like a remake's eligibility for Game of the Year, skipping cutscenes, playing a single-player title via multiple roles, and the reveal of the soon-to-be-famous Sacred Symbols-themed sandwich at a very special Ohio deli. Thanks to our sponsors! Get a free 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you well-know, Sacred Symbols doesn't work with any publishers, developers, or manufacturers. As such, we're excited to talk about PSVR2 for the very first time now that we've gotten our own purchased units in the mail. We go into some of our varying experiences so far, particularly with Horizon: Call of the Mountain, and Colin in particular wonders if his unit is broken or just permanently blurry ('sweet spot' be damned). We also get into all of the week's news, of course, starting with IO Interactive's big reveal of a new fantasy RPG in the works, Elden Ring's mysterious upcoming DLC, the closure of Square Enix's Luminous Productions, and more. As usual, listener inquiries round things out for us on topics like 3D platformers, endemic industry negativity, the potentially offensive nature of the term 'JRPG', and one funny anecdote from our live show in Houston about a few mystified men who thought they were there to see Moulin Rouge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox's pursuit of Activision Blizzard reached a new crescendo in recent days, as Microsoft President Brad Smith gave both private and public presentations to the European Commission about the virtues of the proposed deal. In its persistent recalcitrance and total unwillingness to get out of the way (particularly when it comes to Call of Duty's availability on PlayStation), Sony's strategy of silence may actually be paying off. Is Cryin' Jim really Thrivin' Jim? As always, we go deep into the weeds of this never-ending saga. Other news this week includes word of Diablo IV's open beta, Bungie suing cheaters into oblivion, and Embracer's presumably overleveraged position. Listener inquiries round things out, touching on topics like games that solve puzzles for you, our favorite so-called Sony-isms, the upcoming biblical title I Am Jesus Christ, and a potential Sacred Symbols sandwich at an Ohio-based deli. (Remember: We recorded a day earlier than usual because of our live event in Houston.) Thanks to our sponsor! Shop spring designs at https://www.tommyjohn.com/sacred and get 20% off your first order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony has never so much as acknowledged the existence of the British team known as Ballistic Moon, but that hasn't stopped sleuths from figuring out as far back as last summer that they're working on a PlayStation exclusive called Project Bates. But in recent days, something interesting happened: Sony kinda-sorta referred to Ballistic Moon as a first party team in a job listing, which they later amended. And you may remember that Sony in fact clumsily leaked their acquisition of Bluepoint months before they properly revealed it. Is something up here? Possibly so; we'll let you decide. Other news this week includes an awesome new array of games on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium, rumors of PlayStation-branded earbuds, the approach of the long-shambling Dead Island 2, and more. Listener inquiries round things out, as always. Is it okay to dislike BioShock? How come Colin thinks it's weird when media-types jump to publishers and developers? What exactly does the term 'survival horror' actually mean? Just what's happening at Wal-Mart, anyway? Thanks to our sponsors! Shop spring designs at https://www.tommyjohn.com/sacred and get 20% off your first order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The brand-new Harry Potter adventure Hogwarts Legacy will very easily go down as one of 2023's best-sellers, a testament to its high quality and faithful treatment of the so-called Wizarding World. But its success is also a triumph for reason and truth, and a major defeat for the outrage machine that tried to destroy it via a distorted game of telephone. Nestled within the maelstrom is nonetheless a heck of a game, and we're eager to talk about Avalanche Software's release in-depth. Plus: BioWare's continuing troubles, PixelJunk's triumphant return to PlayStation, and much more news. Then: Listener inquiries! Should we be more mindful of old game spoilers to help the younger generations 'go in fresh'? Was the Nier: Automata Platinum Trophy a step too far? Did Take Two announce Ken Levine's Judas too early? Will Colin ever recover from the precipitous decline in almond volume in his Honey Bunches of Oats... With Almonds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In only about 10 weeks on the market, God of War: Ragnarok has grossed (give or take) around $750 million. At 11 million units sold and counting, it's a stark reminder that -- yes indeed! -- people will buy games, buy them at a high price point, and buy them in great quantities. All that's necessary is for that product to be special. Having already made back Ragnarok's development and marketing costs several times, what's next for Santa Monica Studio? Behold yet another Sony money printer! Plus: PlayStation 5 sales are very strong, a sequel to an older PlayStation game is quietly (but blatantly) revealed, PSVR2's strengths and weaknesses are called into question weeks before launch, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! How do we feel about James Gunn's attempts to tie DC games into their larger entertainment universe? Will changes to Resident Evil 4 ruin the remake? Does Amy Hennig get too much credit for Uncharted? Can we learn to embrace the power of the badger? Thanks to our sponsors! For a free 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs go to https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think back a ways, to the lead-up to The Last of Us' launch on PlayStation 3. There wasn't one name -- but two! -- oft-invoked in media: Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley. The duo's work was well-established in the Uncharted series, and they would later rescue Uncharted 4 from development tribulations as a team. But the team split apart, and these days, Druckmann is the focal point of PlayStation's internal development efforts while Straley is a ghost of times past. A recent LA Times piece allowed Straley to elaborate on the situation, which led us to a Sacred Symbols-style deep discussion on Naughty Dog, credit, Neil and Bruce's seeming divorce, and what's fair and isn't when it comes to game development. Of course, news also plays a central role in this week's episode, as it always does. Square Enix is finally squashing its questionable Avengers game, BioWare loses arguably its most prolific writer, Spider-Man 2 rumblings have everyone excited, Forspoken launches into a questionable environment, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Have we ever managed to score a game at retail before its street date? What would a modern Nintendo and PlayStation collaboration look like? Would Colin ever interview Adam Sessler on Sacred+? Are people making up tall tales specifically to be included on our show? Thanks to our sponsors! Get up to 55% off your subscription at https://www.babbel.com/sacred Start your credit journey with Chime at https://www.chime.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Long-percolating rumors have been confirmed: Housemarque's wonderful third-person PS5 shooter Returnal is headed to PC, and you're going to need a beefy rig to enjoy all it has to offer. But not all is well in the stars. Krafton's The Callisto Protocol, released in December to middling reviews, was also met with soft sales. Somehow, the publisher spent something like $160 million over three years making the game, and the project is very much in the red. How could things have gone so poorly for such a promising title? And how is it possible that something like Callisto cost literally 10 times what it took for Remedy to make Control, and five times what they're spending on its sequel? Tons of sales data, discussions about Atomic Heart and Hogwarts Legacy, and more round out this week's news offerings, as we then delve into listener inquiries from Patreon. Should we expect Sony to make more acquisitions this year? Are recent layoffs at Microsoft at all emblematic of issues with the Xbox brand? Is the end nigh for GameSpot and Giant Bomb? Will one listener ever find out who the mystery person in the bathroom was? You know, the one listening to Sacred Symbols while doing his business? Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off your first purchase at https://www.tommyjohn.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not too long ago, Ubisoft was one of the most powerful publishing entities in all of video games. Today, it's a beleaguered entity haunted by an absurdly high headcount and a development pipeline ill-suited for modern trends. The result has been an in-progress collapse notable enough to warrant an extensive update from the company itself, alongside a flurry of cancelled projects and ominous adjusted financial expectations in a worsening economy. The long and the short is: Ubisoft has big changes coming, and we're eager to talk about all that's gone wrong, and what may go right in the future. Other news includes rumors of a second party People Can Fly-developed shooter for PS5, the faux story about vertical PS5s breaking, and the embarrassing Limited Run Games fiasco, plus more. We then end this week not as we traditionally do -- with six questions from the audience -- but rather with our Game of the Year awards, the most prestigious and important you can possibly imagine. We also focus-in on a listener who wrote in about his teeth-brushing habits, and... well... we'll leave it for the show. Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off your first order at https://www.tommyjohn.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's easy enough to forget (especially these days) that Sony is, first and foremost, an electronics company. So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the company showed up to CES not only to show off its upcoming PlayStation VR2, but also something brand new: A fresh controller codenamed Project Leonardo, one designed with maximum accessibility in mind. By leveraging the power of tech, video games can reach even more people if they simply cater to them, and when it comes to the disabled, Microsoft proved nearly five years ago that their so-called adaptive controller represented something real. It's finally time for Sony to follow suit. Plus: PlayStation 5 surpasses 30 million units sold, The Last of Us: Factions gets teased yet again, Hitman turns into the World of Assassination, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is gaming culture broken? How important was Shuhei Yoshida to PlayStation's first party output? When can we expect to (at last!) play Six Days in Fallujah? Is hand sanitizer essential, or a prophet of dryness? Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred and get on your way to being your best self Reclaim your health with a FREE 1-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase at https://www.athleticgreens.com/SACRED. Get up to 55% off your subscription at https://www.babbel.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022 is but a fleeting memory. Thus, as the calendar turns over, we thought it would be best to look ahead. As is our tradition, it's time for Sacred Symbols to talk about our most-anticipated games of the next 12 months. 2023 is shaping up to be a far, far stronger year than 2022, an especially bold proclamation considering we know virtually nothing about what's coming from either first or second party. Indeed, none of our 15 selections are PlayStation-published games, but -- naturally -- all of them are coming to PS5, PS4, or both. Without further ado, we present to you the upcoming adventures that've piqued our interest the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time once more for our annual Sacred Symbols tradition: Recounting and discussing the most memorable and interesting moments from the last 12 months of PlayStation. The reality is, this year was quiet on the first and second party front, at least when it comes to news (the games were dope, as always). But much happened that's worth going over again: Sony's acquisition of Bungie, Haven's potential promise, PS+'s struggles, and more. Then, there's everything in orbit around PlayStation: The Abandoned saga, Cyberpunk's revival, Square Enix's firesale, EA's gambit with Koei Tecmo, and so much more. We appreciate your support, as always, on Sacred Symbols. Happy Holidays! Thanks to our sponsors! Start your credit journey with Chime. Get started at https://www.chime.com/sacred This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred and get on your way to being your best self Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Word of a third core The Last of Us game emanates from a reliable film industry-based source. If true, The Last of Us: Part III is one of at least two games in-development at Naughty Dog, news that is being met with equal parts excitement and disappointment. With other happenings pointing towards a God of War TV show at Amazon, and with so much of Sony's strategy seemingly relying on PlayStation's existing IP, it makes sense to wonder something very simple: Where are the new could-be franchises? When it comes to AAA fare, we've gotten one from the first and second party in PlayStation 5's entire lifecycle to date in the form of Returnal. Should we be concerned? Or should we put our faith into a brand that -- let's be honest -- has largely treated us very well over the last decade-plus, particularly when it comes to what matters most. Other news this week includes official word of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters' imminent PS4 release, the announcement of Ys X: Nordics, the exit of one of Media Molecule's co-founders from the studio after 16 years, and much more. Listener inquiries wrap things up as always, touching on topics like noisy controllers, the proper way to play Death Stranding, the commercial triumph of Sonic Frontiers, and a compelling suggestion that Chris may in fact be a time traveller with an uncanny predictive flair. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred and get on your way to being your best self Shop Tommy John's end of year sale for up to 70% off at https://www.tommyjohn.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's little doubt that this year's Video Game Awards was the strongest industry showcase in a long time, potentially in several years. Geoff Keighley did a great job, and he deserves credit as a great ambassador for our medium. But even more important than the VGAs, the winners, and the pomp and circumstance were the game reveals. PlayStation players are going to be eating very, very well in the years to come, particularly when you consider how full the schedule is without much of an inkling of what's coming from first and second party outside of Insomniac's Marvel duo. So let's dive extensively into Ken Levine's new BioShock-like banger Judas, Hideo Kojima's haunting and wonder-invoking Death Stranding 2, Guerrilla's beautiful LA-based Horizon: Forbidden West DLC called Burning Shores, a promising new action-RPG from Don't Nod titled Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, the return of From Software's dormant mech battler with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, 505's surprisingly fun-looking romp Crime Boss: Rockay City, Supergiant Games' first sequel ever in Hades II, and so much more. Other news this week includes the industry's unending obsession with Days Gone discourse, the FTC's decision to sue Microsoft over the Activision acquisition, and more. Is this the longest episode of Sacred Symbols ever? Yes... it sure is. Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred and get on your way to being your best self Start your credit journey with Chime. Get started at https://www.chime.com/sacred Reclaim your health with a FREE 1-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase at https://www.athleticgreens.com/SACRED Start feeling better with Feals! Go to https://www.feals.com/symbols to become a member and get 40% off and free shipping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Capcom's Monster Hunter is a years-long smash hit, but it really hit its stride on PS4 with Monster Hunter World, Capcom's best-selling game ever. So it was mysterious when Monster Hunter Rise was launched on Switch (and later PC), but never on PlayStation. Rumor has it that's all about to change. Rise is apparently due for PS4 and PS5 very soon -- in perhaps a month and a half -- and with it comes the promise of high-quality hunting not yet seen on PS5, a genre gap Capcom rival Electronic Arts was hoping to fill with its Omega Force-developed Wild Hearts (which it had no doubt hoped would go uncontested, but no longer will). Thus, we've much to discuss. PlayStation also released interesting new updates for its tournament structure, as well as Stars, new PS+ games have been revealed, scant details about Peacock's Twisted Metal TV series have been unearthed, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why doesn't Sony include New Game+ at launch with all first and second party titles? What game has the saddest opening ever? Which character is the current 'Face of PlayStation'? Is alliteration the most powerful determinant of a good name? Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred and get on your way to being your best self Get 20% off your first order at https://www.tommyjohn/com/sacred For 60% off your first box go to https://www.go.factor75.com/scared60 Get started with Curology with a free 30-day trial, just pay $5 for shipping at https://www.curology.com/sacred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to our sponsors: Start feeling better with Feals! Go to https://www.feals.com/symbols to become a member and get 40% off and free shipping This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/sacred and get on your way to being your best self Shop Tommy John's Cyber Monday sale. Get 33% off everything plus free shipping at https://www.tommyjohn/com/sacred Start your credit journey with Chime at https://www.chime.com/sacred The British government has released a mildly-redacted -- but largely intact -- 20-something page writeup from a law firm representing PlayStation. Dated late October of this year (but new to all of us), Sony attempts to retort, basically line-by-line, Microsoft's various contentions about the pending Activision-Blizzard-King deal that has fascinated the industry for the better part of 12 months. Though we all share a relative malaise about this subject, there's huge news within this document, and we couldn't help but go through it in great detail, garnering as much information as we can out of it about Sony's operation, that of its competitors, and the various theories and gamesmanship behind the completion or destruction of one of tech's all-time biggest acquisitions, one that could affect the very future of the PlayStation brand (or so they claim). And yes, we also get to other news -- Sony is publishing two flashy Chinese games as second party products, God of War: Ragnarok sells huge, and more -- and, as always, we rounded things out with inquiries from our beloved audience. How're we feeling about Forspoken now that it's a couple of months out? Does physical software have a future on PlayStation 6? Demon's Souls won a newbie Souls fan over, so where does he go next? What, precisely, is the meaning of life? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

God of War: Ragnarok has finally arrived, and with it comes opinions. A whole slate of them. The three of us have sat with the newest PlayStation 5 smash-hit for varying amounts of time, and we come away with equally-varying opinions that we're eager to share, expand upon, and challenge. Needless to say, we spend a whole lot of time talking about the game this week, so buckle-in. We also delve into the last seven days' news, touching on Witcher III's much-delayed PS5 release, the official announcement of Remedy's Control 2, Embracer's perilous studio structure in the face of a truncating games industry, and more. We round things out, as always, with listener inquiries generated from our audience on Patreon. Is Sacred Symbols taking on too negative a tenor as of late? Should we expect better than 1080p60 on PS5? Why do people keep giving a platform to Adam Sessler? How young is too young to join the Gamer Batallation? Thanks to our sponsors: Start feeling better with Feals! Go to https://www.feals.com/symbols to become a member and get 40% off and free shipping For a truly private digital life go to https://www.piavpn.com/sacred to get 83% off and 4 months FREE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We really hope you like the Horizon series, because a new rumor from a reliably-placed source indicates that much, much more of it is coming. There are purportedly five Horizon projects in the works: Call of the Mountain on PSVR2, some sort of Zero Dawn remake for PS5, the inevitable third game in the core trilogy, a Netflix series, and now an MMORPG from South Korean firm NCSoft. Meanwhile, a journalist attempts to race-bait Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida, and Naughty Dog hires the renowned creator of Fortnite's monetization system. But this episode's doomish vibe really begins with Doom itself, since renowned franchise composer Mick Gordon nukes id Software from space in a sprawling, 14,000 word document chock-full of receipts. In addition to other news, we round out our show with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas, as we always do. Topics this week include a revitalized Sonic the Hedgehog, the potential of PlayStation Stars, the disparity in pricing between physical and digital software, and a rant about "with no ice," which is how all soft drinks should rightly be ordered. Thanks to our sponsors! 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 Start your credit journey at https://www.chime.com/sacred Start feeling better with Feals! Go to https://www.feals.com/symbols to become a member and get 40% off and free shipping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's hard to stop a moving train, and when big corporations make meaningful decisions, the results occur over years, not days, weeks, or months. It's clear now that Sony's PSVR2 is stuck between a rock and a hard place -- there's simply no way Sony could have forecasted the last two and a half years of human history when this thing was being workshopped and greenlit -- and with a high price, a bad economy, and a seeming dearth of actual games, well, PlayStation's timing may be all wrong. Does PSVR2 have a real future? We discuss at length. Other news this week circulates around updated PS5 sales data and impressive numbers for 2018's God of War, Microsoft's 700th reiteration that Call of Duty will always remain on PlayStation, Electronic Arts' new three game deal with Marvel, and much more. Listener inquiries round things out, per usual, touching on topics like a lacking creativity in PlayStation's first party, why spoilers are so detrimental and wrong, and the potentially bright future of Mega Man. We also place a moratorium on a popular user-favorite term, because we need to mix things up a bit, and because we enjoy keeping you on your toes. Thanks to our sponsors! Pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance at https://www.athleticgreens.com/sacred to get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase Get started with Curology with a FREE 30-day trial at https://www.curology.com/sacred just pay $5 for shipping and handling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For two decades, Sony's London Studio has been known almost exclusively for its casual fare, usually driven by a peripheral, whether it's a camera, microphone, or even Move. But a recent conversation the team's two co-leads conducted with an industry publication indicates definitively that recent rumors were true: London Studio is pursuing a more hardcore course, specifically with an online co-op game-as-a-service that's set in a fantasy-themed London. (How fitting.) Is PlayStation's most inconsequential team about to run up the pecking order as part of a new, multiplayer-centered initiative? We discuss. Other news this week includes the construction of a new first party team allied closely with Naughty Dog, confirmation of an Unreal Engine 5-run Witcher remake from CD Projekt, the exit of studio Rocksteady's talented co-founders, the potential return of Square Enix's Parasite Eve, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. Will AAA PSVR2 games cost $70, too? How can we get back to the three year dev cycle? Did patching ruin game launches forevermore? Does Dustin know what "Oingo Boingo" means? 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Konami sure knows how to make someone wait. After literally years of rumors and build-up, the long-dormant Japanese publisher spilled the beans about its plans for Silent Hill, its once-popular survival horror series. It turns out three games are coming -- a new entry, a remake, and something smaller -- and, well, the choice of devs has some people puzzled. Bloober Team and Neobards Entertainment aren't exactly household names befitting a proper revival. Or perhaps that's the point? We discuss. Plus: We give you the very first details about the plotline of Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, DualSense Edge gets both a date and price, Bungie is apparently planning a major comeback of its '90s FPS franchise Marathon, and more. We then end, as always, with listener inquiries. Could Sony begin 'Kickstarting' the development of riskier titles? Do we have a problem with cliffhanger endings? At a rumored 10-to-12 hours, is The Callisto Protocol too short? And just what is it with the Europeans, anyway? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we enter the season of spookiness, we're left wondering about the scariest possibility: Continuing PlayStation 5 scarcity. But there's good news emerging, at least if recent reports are to be believed. It appears Sony is readying to gear-up PS5 production in ways so dramatic that they plan on selling more units in one year than consoles like GameCube and the original Xbox did in their entire respective lifetimes, with millions to spare. Soon, the question may not be if you can get a PS5, but if you really want one. (You do.) Plus: New discoveries about first party team Haven suggest Sony wants them more for making making games easier than making a game (follow all that?), Persona 3 and 4 quietly receive a release date on PS4 (speaking of Revelations), new PS+ offerings leave much to be desired (some old games would be nice), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are some obscure digital-only PS3 titles worth playing? How come games rarely launched in the summer back in the day? Do we have a hard time playing with an evil karmic slant in choice-based campaigns? Has a recent YouTube suggestion from Dustin ruined actual lives? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Last of Us: Part I is one thing, but 'remaking' Horizon? Five years and change after it came out? Give us a break. Tantalizing rumors (seemingly confirmed by reliable sources) indicate Sony is indeed endeavoring to deliver a Horizon: Zero Dawn remake of some sort, a game that first came to PS4 in 2017 and PC in 2020. What level or kind of remake? It's unclear. But something akin to Naughty Dog's aforementioned PS5 foray is likely. Naturally, we discuss, while also going into the rest of the leaked Sony document that shows off a bunch of upcoming PlayStation products we know little or nothing about, with codenames like Ocean, Bates, Heartbreak, Camden, Carbon, and Redstar. Other news includes a bunch of Herman Hulst media hits, word on PSVR2's production targets, a ton of information about upcoming CD Projekt games, and much more, and as always, we end things with listener inquiries. Which titles, if any, have us holding our controllers in an unusual fashion? Is there such a thing as a game with too many endings? How can Activision better listen to its players following the recent Call of Duty beta? Did you know that there's such a thing as a littering fetish? Now you do. We hope you're happy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As promised, publisher Electronic Arts has revealed its all-new, so-called 'hunting' game. It's called Wild Hearts, and it's coming by way of Koei Tecmo-owned developer Omega Force very soon: It hits PlayStation 5 in February. This is a fun move to analyze, an aggressive maneuver from EA that encroaches entirely on an unexpected rival's turf. Naturally, we delve-in. Plus: The totalitarian Saudi government is prepping to spend tens of billions of dollars to whitewash its horrific image (this time in gaming), The Last of Us on HBO is looking mighty fine (though Ellie has some people thrown-off), PlayStation Stars seems inoffensive and engaging (and dare we even say fun), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is "dynamically-generated quests" the single worst term ever? What's our gut-check when it comes to Square Enix's weird release schedule? Are digital releases truly ephemeral, after all? Dare we even ask if you want to hear the tale of the listeners whose roommate showers completely in the dark? (You're going to, one way or another.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life is full of choices. And a fundamental choice is what you do for a living and who you work for. So it was disappointing to see Shawn Layden -- a champion of PlayStation's first party games for a run of very good years -- choosing to sign with Tencent as a Special Advisor. As an ex-Fortune 500 executive, Layden is already set for life, and with a reputation and track record like his, he can work anywhere and do anything. He's chosen to be used to help normalize and strengthen Tencent's western operation, and in our humble opinion, he has some explaining to do. Plus: We further assess the catastrophic Grand Theft Auto VI leak (as well as Rockstar's response to it), EA's new Iron Man game (and its potential to be the next Spider-Man), rumors circulating about a new PS5 model (with a detachable disc drive), and much more. Then: Listener inquiries. What's the economic strategy behind Square Enix's coming avalanche of releases? Is there a firm line in game emulation that simply shouldn't be crossed? In an industry so mired in negative news, what's a glaring positive we've identified? Where the hell has Chris gone off to? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just when you thought mega-publisher Ubisoft finally 'got it' when it came to Assassin's Creed, they went ahead and simultaneously announced three brand-new AC games for console. This is of course a change from their more recent strategy of treating this particular franchise with more care; they now seem fine with potentially running it back into the ground. What's going on at Ubisoft? And what does the future of Assassin's Creed hold? Plus: Trouble may be brewing at Sony second party studio Deviation, Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin surprises at State of Play, the Yakuza franchise is turning over a new leaf, Babylon's Fall goes bye-bye, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we excited about under-the-radar third-person shooter Evil West? How long will AAA games stay at $70 before the price goes up once more? Is the drama around Forspoken's dialogue a sign of rote political and social discourse? Why does Chris keep talking about a clown wearing his father's clothes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's clear: PlayStation's problems with Microsoft's in-motion purchase of Activision-Blizzard run deep. The financial implications are enormous, of course, but in going public with his dismay in potentially losing Call of Duty on PlayStation platforms beginning in 2028, CEO Jim Ryan illustrates Sony's concern is material enough that it's willing to take a PR beating to make its point. Our theory? They're simply trying to buy time as they continue to sort out their strategy and make sense of a growing consensus that doesn't necessarily cater to what they do best. Nonetheless, we discuss the wide-ranging, ongoing situation between Microsoft, Sony, Activision-Blizzard, and various global economic regulators that will make or break the deal. Other news this week includes the announcement of PSVR2 game Firewall: Ultra, Tencent's growing acquisition of Ubisoft, the mostly-missed confirmation that Returnal is indeed coming to PC, the reveal of Cyberpunk 2077's DLC, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can Sony gleam anything from Microsoft's mismanagement of Halo and 343? With Spider-Man 2 rumors percolating, what are we most looking forward to in the sequel? Have we reached a point of irreversible open-world fatigue? Did someone really try to make the case that 'Chicago-style' pizza is the 'real' pizza? Note: After Ubisoft's underwhelming presentation, we decided to keep this episode as is with no pickup. We'll be covering the Ubisoft news on episode 220. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony's procurement of its first-ever mobile studio isn't something to get excited about, and we're not even gonna pretend to try. However, the acquisition of Savage Game Studios does suggest a new strategy for PlayStation, one that seeks to protect its various flanks even if it's not yet necessarily begun to fight on said front. Mobile gaming is a good example: They've said they've wanted to do something, and they have, but they don't acknowledge or pay attention to anything that results. It's as if it's not very important, but clearly, that's all about to change. We discuss. Plus: Sony acquires 14% of FromSoftware, SNK says there's interest in both sides for a Capcom vs. SNK revival, Quantic Dream gets scooped up by a Chinese firm, Mafia IV is early in development, and more news, followed (as always) by listener inquiries. Should we embrace the term "I" and "Triple I" when it comes to indies? Is there such a thing as "too much accessibility" when it comes to gaming? Why are console-exclusive pre-order bonuses so darn persistent? Is Colin fearful of Dustin's growing podcasting power? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in the history of the gaming industry, a major piece of hardware is getting a price increase across virtually the entire world. PlayStation 5, launched in 2020 at $500 or your local equivalent, will still cost that much (with a disc drive) here in the States. But virtually everywhere else in the world -- from the UK and Europe to Australia, Japan, and beyond -- PS5's price is about to go up modestly, but noticeably. Sony no doubt isn't taking this PR catastrophe lightly -- you have to imagine there's a need here -- and, indeed, this highly-controversial will help them make an additional half-a-billion bucks this year alone. But with market conditions as they are, inflation running rampant, and production as trying as ever, the only question is whether any of their competitors follow-suit, and whether Sony itself is done upping the ante. Other news includes the reveal of PlayStation's long-awaited Elite-style controller called DualSense Edge, confirmation that PSVR2 will launch in early 2023, release dates for Dead Island 2, Sonic Frontiers, and more. and so on. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What's with some outlets slamming Saints Row, then accepting money to promote it anyway? Is it becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the industry's inherent negativity? Will Sony ever begin caring about their PlayStation Mobile initiative? Should one listener's public bathroom encounter have left him as scared as it has? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There may not be very many games coming out right now, but there sure is a lot of news to get through. For starters, enterprising internet detectives have conclusively uncovered an unannounced second party PlayStation game from a British studio called Ballistic Moon. Staffed by ex-Supermassive personnel, some are wondering whether their title -- codenamed Project Bates -- is a horror game in the vein of 2015's Until Dawn. We discuss. Plus: Sony-owned Japanese dev Team Asobi speaks out about its present and future plans, compelling evidence of a PlayStation PC launcher has been uncovered, Embracer continues to mindlessly gobble up whatever it can find, the KOTOR Remake for PS5 is apparently alive and well, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony remake the original God of War trilogy? How do we feel about Death Stranding coming to PC Game Pass? Why is Sony actively making the PlayStation Store worse? Is it time for Colin to be considered a man of color because of his Italian heritage? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was supposed to be a routine exchange between corporations and an economic regulatory body in Brazil has turned into the hottest news in gaming over the last week. That's because both Sony and Microsoft have launched soft salvos at each other, picking apart each other's strategies on the market and their intentions to squeeze the other guy out. Buried within both of their arguments are interesting tidbits, though, particularly in regard to how Xbox and PlayStation see both themselves and each other, and we couldn't help but delve in head-first to pick it all apart. Plus: Square Enix is either priming to sell or buy more studios (potentially both), Call of Duty's beta is inbound to Sony platforms in September, PS+'s new offerings are surprisingly solid, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we tempted to go-in on the Backbone One controller? Can a game be so good that it ruins every other game you play? Is keeping old hardware less important in an era of digital software and backwards compatibility? What lessons has Colin drawn from living to his advanced age? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is PlayStation missing an element of 'fun' that used to be present in its ecosystem? One listener wrote in with such a thought, revolving his argument around one key figure from yore: Kevin Butler. The long-lost fictional Sony executive represented a different time for PlayStation. The question is, do we want to go back? News items this week include a peculiar missive from Sony in Brazil about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, an analysis of Sony's first quarter fiscal report, Tencent's pursuit of Ubisoft, and more. Other listener inquiries include ones on the potential of an $80 game, the value-versus-length argument, subscriptions acting as modes of curation, and Dustin's peculiar pronunciation of a northwestern American state. If only we could have done more to protect him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An industry source was kind enough to leak to me (Colin) what purports to be a script being circulated for the upcoming Tomb Raider game. It's codenamed Project Jawbreaker, the two-scene script is for actors trying out for various parts, and I forced Chris and Dustin to read through the entire thing for your amusement... with Chris as an apparently lesbian Lara Croft. Plus: More news! An ex-studio head indicates Sony is indeed interested in purchasing Square Enix, Rockstar has some players nervous about Grand Theft Auto VI's apparently 'woke' transformation, PS5's timed-exclusive KOTOR remake has been binned, EA is apparently working on a Black Panther game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation losing its identity under Jim Ryan's stewardship? Could edutainment games ever make a comeback? Should developers nurture 'farm systems' of lesser devs? Are Colin's handwritten notes more sinister than you think? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There can be no doubt, now, that Sony wants to be a major player in the esports space. This was first evidenced by left-field acquisitions like EVO, moving into branding decisions like INZONE. Now, with the purchase of esports tournament operator Repeat, the writing's obviously on the wall. Can PlayStation discover success in the games-as-a-service and competitive spaces, where they've traditionally found little to write home about (outside of Gran Turismo)? Plus: Spider-Man's PC port gets detailed, mega-toy company Spin Master gets in bed with Sony, Bungie and PlayStation are official, and more news, followed by listener questions galore. What would we want to see in a Bloodborne 2? How, exactly, does the publisher-developer relationship function? Is it time to get video games more heavily integrated into our schools? Will Chris dedicate his entire life to a $20,000 Halo 2-related bounty? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices