Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

This generation is well underway, and it's official: Sony's PlayStation 5 is 'winning' by a lot. At 10 million units sold and counting, PS5 is the fastest-selling home console ever and a testament to a clearly well-oiled corporation that launched hardware in a supply-constrained, virus-infected environment. We discuss what this huge figure (and accompanying software data) means, and whether Sony should start getting comfortable as the Big Dog yet again. Plus: A new PS5 firmware update is about to fix many of our most glaring UI issues, Mortal Kombat is now the best-selling fighting franchise of all-time, ex-PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden is still very worried about the cost of making games, new PS+ games are on the horizon, and much more. Then: Has a game's controls been so bad that you've refused to play it? Is the Valve Deck about to change everything? Are we underestimating the appeal of XDefiant? Will Colin ever update his LinkedIn profile? To get a 2-year plan plus a bonus gift with a huge discount go to https://www.NordVPN.com/symbolsvpn and use code SYMBOLSVPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for you to wake up. Unsavory, international, and shadowy corporate and political interests are starting to tie themselves more and more to the gaming industry, and it's time for us to talk about how to resist. It's impossible for any of us to live truly ethical, modern economic lives -- only those living truly off-grid are doing so -- but it's incumbent on us to know what's happening, why, and to what extent. Tencent's recent acquisition of Sumo Digital brings the forces of Chinese Communism closer to Sony than ever, and that relationship never, ever comes at a neutral cost. Quite the opposite, for the cost is implied. Plus: Konami is making major moves with PES and some other IP, Netflix and PlayStation may be cozying up to each other, Ubisoft announces the most generic shooter you've ever laid eyes on, Xbox Series X outsells PS5 in America, and much more. Then: What's the best-looking 2D game ever? Should Sony investigate manufacturing its older hardware and games for a niche audience? Is Sony making a massive mistake with its Ghost of Tsushima upcharge? Are we seeing the edge of Chris' power when it comes to a new, still-non-existent Splinter Cell title? To get a 2-year plan plus a bonus gift with a huge discount go to https://www.NordVPN.com/symbolsvpn and use code SYMBOLSVPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh off the further reveal of the slick-looking timed-PS5 exclusive Deathloop comes word of another Bethesda-published timed exclusive that's being pushed further into the horizon. Tango Gamework's PlayStation 5 horror project Ghostwire: Tokyo has been delayed into 2022, perhaps not a huge surprise, but one worth delving into particularly when it comes to where this game fits in the PlayStation 5 catalog to come. How annoying must it be for Microsoft to have its new prized jewel publisher be working without the full force of two of its teams? We discuss. Plus: A new Nintendo-themed fighting game has everyone talking, Persona is reading a salvo of announcements in celebration of its 25th anniversary, Polyphony Digital may be quietly revving-up a Gran Turismo 7 beta, and more. Then: Will PlayStation Experience ever return? Have we ever used PlayStation 5's 'Accolades' system? Is there such a thing as the Reverse Platinum Trophy? Who will be hungriest by the end of the show? To get a 2-year plan plus a bonus gift with a huge discount go to https://www.NordVPN.com/symbolsvpn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony's newest State of Play presentation gave us a glimpse at some third-party games of varying quality, Death Stranding's PS5 port, a sequel to one of PSVR's most notable adventures, and so on. We also got a deep dive into Arkane's upcoming PS5 console-exclusive Deathloop, and it looks amazing. With its Dishonored roots shining through, Deathloop is like Returnal meets Hitman. Let's chat about that, the rest of the State of Play slate, and all of the week's other news, too. Speaking of Returnal, Housemarque apparently had other suitors before Sony secured the team, Ubisoft is making some major, series-altering changes to Assassin's Creed, Electronic Arts' DICE LA has a new name, RoboCop and Dan Houser are both making video game comebacks, and much more. Plus: Should "influencers" be hiding their Trophies and Achievements? Is it high time for Persona 4 to come to PlayStation 4? Where in God's name are PS5's external hard drives? What's with Chris' enormous water bottle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony has finally announced a couple of first party acquisitions (and preemptively leaked a third), and while one target has been a very long time in coming, the other is out of left field, indicating that PlayStation is thinking more broadly about how, when, and in what fashion it gets its products into the world. Naturally, we delve deep, welcome Housemarque and Nixxes to the family... and pretty much do the same for Bluepoint, too, though at the time we're recording, a ring isn't yet on its finger. Plus, more news! A peculiar Konami partnership reignites persistent rumors, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima is getting a native PS5 port and an expansion, Remedy is going all-in on Control, Falcom and NIS America are giving Trails fans exactly what they want, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Kevin Butler ever make a comeback? When will PlayStation 5 games come to PC? Which video game websites (if any) are worth your time? Did Colin accidentally get a listener disciplined at work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Strange and potentially exciting things are happening at Electronic Arts, the once-maligned super-publisher that seems intent on turning things around, at least when it comes to hardcore players' perceptions of its brand. After ruining Mass Effect, nearly running BioWare into the ground, closing down storied dev Visceral, and botching most of its exclusive run of Star Wars games, it seems EA finally gets it: The audience demands more single-player games. And rumors are EA's about to deliver another one in the form of a Dead Space revival. That makes what was once dead very much alive, and we're very excited to talk about it. Plus: It appears Castlevania is getting a new collection, Sony expects PS5 to break sales records once it can adequately manufacture units, Ghost of Tsushima may be getting a standalone expansion, and much more. Then: Is Microsoft's xCloud a really big deal? What does it mean for a developer to be "media trained?" Will Sony wow us when they return to the mobile market? Does Chris know the difference between Cesar Romero and George Romero? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Hideo Kojima teasing something big? It seems like that could definitely be the case. The intrigue surrounds an unknown studio called Blue Box, a game dev no one has ever heard of named Hasan Karahman, and... well... maybe Silent Hill? We honestly have no clue, but the evidence is frankly rampant and impossible to ignore, and we go into all of it. We also discuss Bethesda's Pete Hines' words about PlayStation gamers losing access to their titles, the political destruction of Five Nights at Freddy's creator Scott Cawthorn, the increasing likelihood of Bluepoint's Demon's Souls Remake coming to PS4, rumors about PSVR2's release window, Cyberpunk 2077's inglorious return to the PSN, and more. Also: Listener inquiries! Did PlayStation make the right call by not going to E3? Is Colin a hypocrite for how he feels about Resident Evil's Wesker? Do games ever make us cry? Which of the three of us would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's E3! While PlayStation has gone largely incognito -- frustrating our ability to pore over new first and second party announcements -- there's still a whole lot to talk about when it comes to its third party partners. Heck, our run-time proves it! Let's chat about a new Final Fantasy game, the official reveal of Guardians of the Galaxy, the reemergence of Elden Ring, the confirmation of a new Battlefield, and more. Let's also digest a very strange Death Stranding PS5 trailer that seems to say a whole lot more than people are giving it credit for, a new PlayStation second party relationship that makes no sense, Platinum Games' play for games-as-a-service with Babylon's Fall, new statements from PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan, an indication from Naughty Dog that its new multiplayer project is a whole lot bigger than we thought, Yuji Naka's surprise retirement, and so much more. Like we said: Jam-packed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It appears PlayStation no longer believes in generations, a quick reversal from its insistence only last year that PS4 and PS5 would be separated by games, and what one console can do that the other cannot. Yet, we now know that PS5's three biggest upcoming exclusives (Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok, and Gran Turismo 7) are all coming to PS4, too. Not one or two of them. All three. In fact, we don't know about a single PlayStation first party PS5 exclusive after Ratchet & Clank launches (Ratchet & Clank being its only internal exclusive so far!), and that's... well... strange. What is Sony's strategy, and why has it so markedly altered course when not only when compared to its previous behavior in older generations, but its obvious and stated intent as of months ago? Plus, we get into other news. Sony teams Bend and Asobi spring to life, Platinum's lost PS4 exclusive Babylon's Fall may be reemerging imminently, Far Cry 6 is somehow both political and not, EA makes a play for Call of Duty-level success, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does the success of Netflix's Castlevania series give Konami the perfect opening to release a new game? Is there any way to be a modern gamer while avoiding giving money to Chinese interests? Should developers be forced to release demos for their projects? Will Colin ever play "That Communist Game?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've known for quite some time now that Horizon: Zero's Dawn's long-awaited sequel was en route. We've even had a title (Forbidden West) and target platforms (PS4 and PS5) since it was first revealed in 2020. But now? Well, now we have 14 minutes of gameplay to talk about, along with a very, very conspicuous absence of a release date, or even year. So, let's jump back into Aloy's futuristic (yet crumbling) world and measure our excitement for and expectations of Guerrilla's new project. Let's also return to the realm of JRPGs, specifically with Square Enix's dueling franchises Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The former is rumored to be getting a PS5-exclusive spin-off based on the original game, while the latter's 35th anniversary celebration brought with it a few games worth discussing. Finally, we'll work our way through the rest of this week's news -- PS+ games, Uncharted 4 on PC, new Sonic titles, and more -- and end, as we always do, with listener inquiries. Where should Grand Theft Auto VI take place? Should Sony be better at calibrating PS5's supply with demand by adjusting pricing? What's the most important IP to ever run on PlayStation hardware? Is Chris' constant state-of-being simply one long yawn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last week in our beloved gaming industry has been interesting, and of course we're going to delve into all the news that's fit to print (well, say) here on Sacred Symbols. Many, many people wrote in to ask us about IGN, Israel and Palestine, and the general drama surrounding all of that -- and we oblige, complete with timestamps so you can skip the politics at your leisure -- but the core of this week's episode has much more to do with PlayStation itself. Returnal isn't selling well, but it's growing on us (and audiences) a great deal, and Housemarque seems to be primed to keep running forward if a recent interview is any exception. Meanwhile, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has gone gold while The Last of Us: Part II is finally running at 60 on PS5. Plus: Hades is coming to PS4, TimeSplitters is being revived, AT&T is splitting WBIE up after all, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can we please stop talking about game pricing? Is it time to kill the QTE once and for all? How should Square Enix celebrate Dragon Quest's 35th birthday? Has Colin turned Red? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who knew Epic Games' lawsuit with Apple would be rife with so many interesting tidbits about our beloved PlayStation? Here's one piece of news: The House of Fortnite apparently offered Sony a staggering $200 million to port between four and six of its exclusives to its PC store. Sony -- at the time owners of 1.4% of Epic -- doubled-down by refusing the deal and nearly doubling its investment into the company instead. This is a strange story, so let's explore it! We'll also get into the week's other pertinent news, too, like PlayStation's (apparent) 25 games in development, fresh rumors circulating around PSVR2, the first new DualSense color schemes, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are Sony's recent moves answering its naysayers? Will EA ever revisit Dead Space? How will monetary inflation affect the games industry? Can Dustin survive his role as full-time member of our show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've waited long enough: Housemarque's newest PlayStation game has arrived. Indeed, they always seem to be there in a second party capacity at launch, whether it's with Super Stardust for PS3 and Vita, or Resogun for PS4. Yet, their newest offering -- Returnal -- is a stark departure for a team previously known only for its arcadey fare, and so the question is: Do we like it? Well, we've got a whole lot to say (good and bad) in our exploration of the endless loop. Then: News! Sony has acquired a piece of Discord, and the service will be fully integrated into both PS4 and PS5. A redesign for PlayStation 5 is apparently already being redesigned, though it's nothing to get excited about. A new trademark for Sunset Overdrive has people talking about Insomniac's lone Xbox game and its future. And much, much more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Is publishing games on PC actually a really bad idea for PlayStation? Should critics be reviewing games without having finished them? What's the story with Sony's smallest first party team, Pixelopus? Will Colin be able to handle David Jaffe?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation is booming. Recent financial results from Sony prove it, countervailing the prevailing wisdom about the brand's shortcomings. The reality is stark: PlayStation 5 is the fastest-selling home console of all-time so far, even under severe supply constraints. Meanwhile, more games have now been sold for PlayStation 4 than any gaming hardware, ever, and PlayStation made nearly twice as much in revenue as rival Xbox over the last fiscal year. They're very much in the black, with billions in profit to show for it. So what does this all mean? Well... it means we need to give Sony a lot more credit than we've been providing in recent weeks, so let's remedy that. Let's also cover the other news, as it presents itself. Ideas for The Last of Us III are percolating at Naughty Dog, PS5 launch game Godfall looks like it's getting a PS4 port, old LittleBigPlanet games have apparently been in a non-functioning state for quite some time now, Sony filed new trademarks for PlayStation Home and Soho Engine, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is the key to accepting a $70 price point the launch functionality (or lack thereof) of modern games? Can you host industry events, galas, and the like, and be an objective critic? Has a game ever been so good that it's ruined everything else for you? Is Colin lying about his lack of a sweet tooth? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We know it seems like everything is on fire recently, but does that feeling match reality? On the back of explosive reporting concerning Naughty Dog, Bend Studio, and an unacknowledged (by Sony) second team in San Diego, PlayStation fans are left questioning just what's going on with a company that seems more interested in smash hits, remakes, and extracting blood from a stone than trying something new. An Uncharted remake? A remake of The Last of Us?! Eh. Let's talk about if recharting old territory is the wisest use of time for some of the industry's most talented teams. Then: News! PlayStation 5 has received its first firmware update, Sony has dumped even more money into Epic, PlayStation is hiring a new Head of Mobile for its first party family, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Horizon: Forbidden West actually make it out in 2021? Why are some Trophies hidden? How can Sony not figure out how to emulate PS3 when hackers have already done so? Just what's for dinner, anyway? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony's arch-rival Microsoft is beginning to make key moves that directly encroach on PlayStation's turf. Nailing down MLB: The Show 21 -- a game Sony itself develops -- as a day-one Game Pass offering is the ultimate insult. Worse yet, the swings are coming in hot from two directions: Their corporate enemy that wants to body you and a long-time licensing partner that appears to have zero problems throwing them to the sharks. One can't ignore PlayStation 5's strong sales... and yet... something is definitely up, and the shadows are looming larger. We've much to discuss. Also: Deathloop has been delayed, E3 is coming back, PlayStation Productions are coming to Netflix, and more. Then: What's up with Outriders? Are cross-gen games really holding us all back? Is Jim Ryan stumbling with the PlayStation brand? Is Balan Wonderland enough to give Chris nightmares? Press play! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The words are hard to type, but they must be typed nonetheless: Sony is pulling the plug on PlayStation Vita. Beginning in late August, you won't be able to buy any games anymore (though you'll still be able to download what you own). The same goes for PlayStation 3, though its ignominious date comes even sooner, in early July. Thus, we are left with more questions than answers, and a lot of emotion, too. And so we spend a lot of time talking about the PlayStation Store shutdowns for these platforms (and PSP) this week, and work through all of the philosophical, commercial, and other relevant ramifications that this major move presents. Other news this episode involves fresh PlayStation Plus games, an unfortunate AAA delay, more nonsense from CD Projekt, and much more, and we round it all out -- as we always do -- with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from the audience. What's the best time to play during any given title's day/night cycle? Which games would be best for someone new to the shooter genre? Is there any hope for relationship co-op, or will the likes of Overcooked forever ruin love? If you were offered $1,000, would you eat a random person's boogers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recent (still unsubstantiated) rumors indicate Sony may be considering a full shutdown of its digital stores for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and -- perhaps most tragically -- PlayStation Vita. While we don't yet know what Sony's plans are (if any!), such a possibility raises a lot of interesting philosophical and practical questions, particularly this one: Who's watching out for the digital-only games that may be lost to history? Today, let's delve deep into the PSN, the digital ecosystem more widely, and the industry's history of piracy-for-good, as well as rampant piracy-for-piracy's-sake. Right or wrong, is it the only way we'll have access to many games in the future? Plus: News! Housemarque's Returnal has gone gold, a Ghost of Tsushima film is in the early stages, Media Molecule's Studio Director is receiving a very prestigious award, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What did we think about Six Days in Fallujah's gameplay reveal, and the new fiasco(s) that came about as a result? Where are the PlayStation 5 firmware updates? Should Sony seek a partnership with Google's Stadia? Will Colin ever one time comprehend a technical question? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interesting news emerged in recent days: Sony is funding the creation of a new second party studio in Canada, and it'll be working on a brand new IP for PlayStation. But it's who's leading the team -- Jade Raymond -- that has people excited. But should that excitement be replaced with skepticism? Raymond hasn't released a game in years, and it's uncommon (as in, it virtually never happens) that an industry gets excited over a game producer, as opposed to someone who contributes more creatively. So what gives? Is there reason to be stoked, or is this studio and project nothing more than (for the time being) a figment of our imagination. Plus: More news! Sony has officially revealed PSVR's new controllers, Square Enix has given a proper name to Project Athia, Life is Strange is readying to show off its True Colors, Tiger Woods is now a 2K Sports game, PlayStation is getting generous with the giveaways, and much more! Then: Listener inquiries! Is Colin displaying gatekeeperish tendencies? Are scalpers holding onto their PlayStation 5 consoles? Is watching how long you played on PS5 the new Trophy hunt? Will the delivery man ever find Chris? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The deed is done: Microsoft has officially purchased Bethesda. What's that mean for PlayStation gamers? Well, it doesn't seem good, at least if you care about many of that label's products coming to PlayStation 5 outside of Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo. But between the lines are still myriad topics ripe for discussion, like Phil Spencer's years-long lack of categorical, definitive statements, Microsoft's seeming inability to manage the studios they already own, and what PlayStation may look like without the likes of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Wolfenstein, and more. So let's jump deep into the topic at hand, shall we? Plus: PS5's sales are historically high in the United States, TMNT is redefining the definition of Turtle Power, NCAA Football's return may be further away than you think, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why is Square Enix so hesitant to re-release their NES and SNES-era Final Fantasy games? Does the 'end' of Japan Studio have any sort of effect on Fumito Ueda? Where are all of the detective games? Did Colin give Chris a PSVR unit in the past so that Chris can give it back to him in the future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's little doubt Sony is near (or perhaps even at) the front of the race for mass-consumer virtual reality, and it's done a pretty nice job of putting its money where its mouth is. But with PSVR2 tacitly acknowledged and PSVR itself more than four years old, things are starting to slow down a little bit. Or are they? Out of left field, Sony has announced six new PlayStation VR games -- not PSVR2, PSVR -- all of which are due out by the end of 2021. These half-dozen titles create a tantalizing picture of VR's near-future, but at what cost? Why did Sony reveal these titles all at once, how does their strategy line-up with the future of their VR initiative... and are we not paying enough attention to VR on this very show? We discuss. Plus: News galore! Neil Druckmann and Cory Barlog both tell their fans to be patient for their next games, Japan Studio is indeed being taken over by Team ASOBI, Final Fantasy VII Remake's PS5 port is causing some confusion, live-action Nathan Drake actor Tom Holland sounds like he doesn't even know who Nathan Drake is, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the deal with fanboys? How do we approach cable management? Do PlayStation games go on sale too often and too quickly? Why doesn't Chris tell his mom he loves her when he hangs up the phone? All of that -- and more! -- on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The PlayStation world is in absolute overdrive right now, at least on the news front (not so much on the games front). Such is typically the case when a new State of Play stream occurs. The new one gave us some interesting items to consider -- fresh looks at Returnal and Deathloop, for instance -- but learning about Final Fantasy VII Remake's PlayStation 5-exclusive DLC definitely takes the cake. Yet, we have to ask: Are States of Play all-too-transparent marketing gimmicks dressed up as fan events? Let's discuss. Plus: News galore! Sony has officially announced PSVR2 (though it's unclear why), Days Gone is going to PC (with more first party games behind it), EA has officially pulled the plug on Anthem (perhaps a year or more too late), Gran Turismo 7 has been pushed out of 2021 (but only into 2022), and much more. As always, we round things out with listener inquiries, this week ranging in topics from the hypothetical value of Square Enix on the open market and the usefulness of games as a coping tool to the perfect devs to take on Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid and Chris' peculiar New York dialect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who knew that we'd talk about Six Days in Fallujah for two weeks in a row some 12 years after the original iteration of the contentious game was cancelled. Yet, it's all our sphere wants to talk about, as the FPS revival of Six Days is drawing the ire of predictable industry-types. The question, though, is simple: When does criticism of a game stop being about the game itself, and start being about the critic? This is a deep subject, so naturally, we dive right in. Plus: The DualSense class action lawsuit is on, Avengers is getting its PS5 update very soon, Legends of Mana, Ninja Gaiden, and even Xbox-exclusive Stubbs the Zombie are all PS4-bound, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does G4's revival have any prayer of succeeding? Following the recent Nintendo Direct, are we hankering for a State of Play? Does Project Triangle Strategy tickle Colin's SRPG itch? Is Chris in action figure form as eldritch as it sounds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a slow start to 2021, news has finally arrived via a rather compelling trio of items germane to our show. For starters, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart finally has a release date on PlayStation 5, while HBO's planned The Last of Us series casts both its Joel and Ellie. We chat about both in great detail. But perhaps the most intriguing piece of news comes in the form of Six Days in Fallujah. Yes, -that- Six Days in Fallujah, the third-person tactical shooter that was virtually finished in 2009, only to be unceremoniously cancelled due to perceived audience outrage. Yet, the game is returning -- remade and now in first-person -- and it will indeed endeavor to tell the story of The Battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest engagement American forces took place in throughout the entire Iraq War. It's a controversial move for many reasons (not least of which due to claims of war crimes during the engagement), but are we glad it's coming back? We sure are! Plus: GTAV is still selling millions and millions (and millions) of copies, a bunch of publishers talk sales data and financial performance, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Whatever happened to woodgrain consoles? Will Square Enix ever revive Sleeping Dogs? Why doesn't Remedy's Sam Lake get more love? Does Chris sleep in a twin-size bed? Inquiring minds want to know! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony is thriving. The Japanese mega-company released its quarterly financial results showing a healthy, growing, and forward-thinking organization that's doing a lot right. Especially when it comes to PlayStation. Yet, buried in their financials and accompanying phone calls and interviews is some bad news: PS5 is being sold at a loss, for starters, and worse yet, it doesn't appear Sony is confident that they'll be able to fix the console's supply constraints any time soon. In other words, they're in a frustrating period of what economists call Absolute Scarcity, and it spells bad news for those still on the hunt. We discuss. Plus: The Embracer Group buys Gearbox, San Diego Studio finally shows off this year's MLB: The Show (which is also coming to Xbox for the first time), EA's NCAA Football is about to make a comeback, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we finally about to hit our next-gen stride in May? Is there a fundamental ergonomic problem with DualSense that needs to be fixed? Are PlayStation Store sales getting the best of us? How much Snapple can Chris possibly drink at one time? This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and Sacred Symbols listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/SYMBOLS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All anyone wants to talk about is the recent GameStop stock market fiasco. Well, fine! We'll do just that. Let's chat about capitalism, "the market," class, and much more, sifting down into the actual nitty-gritty: How did a dying brick-and-mortar video game store find itself at the center of one of the most memorable global financial stories in recent history? But there's other news, too, of course, specifically out of Denmark, where IO Interactive is doubling its headcount as it gears up for its post-Hitman foray into 007. What should we expect from Bond's digital revival? Plus: February's PS+ games have been revealed, Returnal has been delayed, and we have some bad news about continued PlayStation 5 shortages. Then: Listener inquiries! When is Sony San Diego gonna talk about MLB: The Show? How come so many multiplayer games are resisting cross-platform play? Will we ever escape from the Gamergate boogieman? Can Colin resist giving a spelling and grammar lesson to one unsuspecting Patron? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If we're being totally honest, Capcom's recent Resident Evil Village event was largely a waste of time, considering we could have just watched gameplay and gotten a release date without the false promise of an "event." But it was awesome to more thoroughly see the newest entry in the company's long-running survival horror franchise, and we simply cannot wait to play it. Yet, with RE8 now coming to PS4 in addition to PS5, it begs the question: When will publishers and developers more readily say goodbye to last-gen, even if it means leaving behind a whole host of potential customers? We've never seen the industry operate in cross-generational space like this, and so we've much to discuss. Plus: More tiresome Cyberpunk 2077 news emerges, Team Ninja speaks about the future of both Nioh and Ninja Gaiden, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's with PlayStation 5's missing entertainment apps? Is Naughty Dog about to go 'high fantasy'? Or perhaps they'll make a Punisher game instead? Is the word "callipygian" the new "thicc?"​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Electronic Arts signed a 10-year exclusive development and publishing deal with Disney for the Star Wars license, it had the potential to be something huge for the lucrative (but oft-under siege) companies. Eight years later, though, it's clear both sides (and EA in particular) have largely squandered the deal, with a couple of Battlefronts, a Rogue Squadron revival, and an admittedly very promising single-player game to show for it. Yet, in the bleakness comes unexpected news, for the monopoly, as it turns out, is broken. Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment -- the group behind The Division -- is hard-at-work on a Star Wars game of its own, begging a rather obvious question: What could it be? We discuss. Plus: A new Killzone seems more unlikely than ever, the team behind Wolfenstein is making a new Indiana Jones game, newly-filed trademarks from Square Enix indicate a widening of the Final Fantasy VII universe, CD Projekt offers a mea culpa over Cyberpunk 2077, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Colin really play Final Fantasy XIV? Is Sony spying on our PSN messages? Where's MLB: The Show 21? Should potato chips be eaten ice cold? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For some peculiar reason, Sony simply refuses to officially announce how many PlayStation 5 consoles have been sold, which leaves us only one choice: We've gotta speculate. Really, we can actually do a little bit better than that -- reliable inside sources note PS5 is a meteoric success -- but we're left to wonder why Sony won't say anything itself. Say something, why don't you?! Plus: Cyberpunk 2077 draws its first class-action lawsuit, People Can Fly's Outriders has been delayed, Tenchu may be coming back, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Colin be excited about Final Fantasy XVI when he didn't care for XV? Is SEGA about to experience a Capcom-like resurgence? Which 2021 PlayStation exclusive will score highest on Metacritic? If you could flip a coin and either win $50 million or die, would you do it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thank the maker: 2020 is behind us! Now, 2021 sprawls before us with 12 promising months of gaming goodness on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, and even Vita! (Okay, probably not the Vita.) To celebrate the exciting and unknown, we thought we'd do a special show dedicated entirely to the 2021 catalog of games coming to PlayStation that we simply can't wait to get our hands on. We present to you 13 of our own selections, and you -- our beautiful audience -- gave us plenty of your own additions, too. So let's look forward. Let's be thorough. And let's have a little bit of fun before half of these games inevitably get delayed or otherwise disappoint us. (Only kidding... we hope.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For every last one of us, 2020 was an absolutely insane year. And, yes: We're all very, very worn down by it all and happy to wave it goodbye. But this unusual 365 day period also gave us a lot to be pleased with, particularly when it comes to the PlayStation brand we all know and love, a brand that we may owe an extra tip-of-the-cap to in an era dominated by a need for distraction. PS5 was properly revealed and released this year, and lots of awesome games, too, including PlayStation 4's wonderful swan songs. There were some long-awaited reckonings in our industry, some new devs emerged while others closed shop, and rivals have revved their engines, too. Let's cut through it all, see what's what, and make sense of 2020, if not from a grander perspective, then perhaps through a narrower one: Through the lens of the hobby we love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cyberpunk 2077 isn't what it was promised to be. At least, that's the experience of countless gamers the world-over, as they grasp with playing CD Projekt's long-awaited RPG on, say, a PlayStation 4. The resulting fallout has engulfed our industry, and rightfully so, because what happened here was bound to occur eventually. In a fandom dominated by loud, boisterous voices excited for every last product and willing to devour anything the powers-that-be give them, we do here on this show what we always do: Sift through the nonsense and tell it exactly like it is. There's other (admittedly less important) news to wrap our minds around, too, including the possible discontinuation of PS4 Pro and the sudden acquisition of Codemasters by Electronic Arts. But really, it all comes back to a very broken role-playing game. Listener questions allow us to explore some off-the-beaten-path topics as always, however, including the use of the term 'PlayStation Studios', Mass Effect's future possibilities, realism in game design, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Geoff Keighley's Game Awards went off without a hitch, and -- as usual -- the show came along with a boatload of announcements, release date reveals, and other such newsworthy items. But buried within the event is an interesting truth: Sony only showed up with one game, from the second party, which we already knew about. In doing so, it lined-up PlayStation 5's next exclusive of consequence, giving it a date. Housemarque's Returnal will be expected to carry the load until the likes of Ratchet & Clank, Horizon, Gran Turismo, and God of War are ready. Can Sony rely on its old partner to come through yet again? We discuss. Plus: Neil Druckmann gets promoted, Telltale touches base, the Metal Gear Solid movie stirs to life, and more. Then: Is it time for Bluepoint to make their own AAA game? Why use a console for streaming when smart TVs do the same thing? Are hidden Trophies more frustrating than they should be? What will Colin order from Wawa? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We were about to wrap-up recording this week's show when some unexpected news broke: Long-time BioWare creative leads Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah have both left the EA-owned dev, and one can't help but wonder if they were pushed out the door. After all, modern BioWare is a far cry from the glory days of yore. We make sure to discuss these notable exits, though they come as a sort of ironic twist, since we had already planned to talk about some high-profile departures from Bend Studio and Japan Studio, too. Plus: PlayStation 5 is doing huge numbers (though we don't exactly know how many have been sold, per se), Square Enix is remastering its PSone JRPG Saga Frontier (though we're unclear why), Aardman Animation and Bandai Namco are getting into bed with one another (continuing Bandai Namco's westward movement), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will COVID permanently change the way games are made? What older games could benefit most from haptic feedback? Does DualSense's sticks get the convex/concave mixture just a little bit wrong? What if every time you farted, you also cried? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are a lot of understandably frustrated PlayStation fans out there right now. After all, PS5s are truly and persistently hard to come by, a situation unassisted by COVID, component shortages, a wobbly economy, and other macroeconomic factors. But -- much like the market for virtually any desirable object -- a vacuum has been created, facilitated by bot-assisted scalpers serving monied and desperate clienteles alike. Let's chat about this unfortunate situation with an open mind, and consider when Sony hopes this pileup of demand may clear up. Plus: New patents indicate a technically-impressive PSVR2, The Last of Us on HBO has officially gotten its first season order, Red Dead Online and Fortnite make changes in pursuit of an ever-distracted multiplayer audience, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries galore! Would Bluepoint and Konami make for the perfect marriage? Does obscure Norse mythology predict the next God of War's release date? Should developers be offering more linear routes through their non-linear games? What does it mean when one listener's girlfriend tells him she "really likes falling in love" with him? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Capcom has been the victim of a massive external hack, and the group responsible is apparently holding the company for digital ransom. Yet, the beloved Japanese publisher and developer has reportedly refused to yield, and as such, a treasure trove of ill-begotten information has been dumped on the 'net, most of it irrelevant to our show. But amongst the details are a few trinkets we simply cannot ignore, including what appears to be the business' entire AAA release schedule through 2024. Let's talk about what we can, without giving too much credence to bad actors. Then: Spider-Man is apparently PlayStation's best-selling exclusive of all-time, IO Interactive is hard at work on a 007 game, Sony's stance on cross-gen gaming seemingly evolves yet again, Microsoft's CFO signals Bethesda support outside of Xbox, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! What do we think of the nominees for The Game Awards? Why is Sony so seemingly hesitant to re-release many of its older titles? Will time be kind to the hype surrounding DualSense? How does Colin take care of his luxurious beard? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've covered the lead-up to PlayStation 5 on this podcast from every conceivable angle. In reality, there wasn't much of importance left to say, aside from idle speculation and over-analysis. Yet, the time has indeed come: PS5 is finally here, and now that we've gotten our hands on our consoles and spent time with some games, it's safe to assume we're not gonna run out of things to talk about on this show for years to come. The first 90 (!) minutes of this show are dedicated to our impressions of Sony's new console, along with thoughts on games ranging from Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Astro's Playroom to Demon's Souls Remake and Bugsnax. But of course, there's news to tend to as well. Sucker Punch has scored a commercial hit with Ghost of Tsushima, while Crystal Dynamics' Avengers game has cost Square Enix tens of millions of dollars in losses. We now have a better idea of when we can expect PS5's second wave of exclusives, including Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart and Horizon: Forbidden West, while a timed third party exclusive in the form of Arkane's Deathloop has been given a more specific release date. Plus: More! But at the end of the day, it all falls back to PlayStation 5. So let's enjoy the moment together, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was a time not too long ago when League of Legends was one of the most-played games in the industry, and even today, around a decade after launch, Riot's core offering remains popular. And now, for the very first time, a game taking place in that universe is coming to PlayStation in the form of an RPG called Ruined King, and it's launching sooner than you might think. Question is, what took Riot so long to release a complementary console adventure, and is it too little, too late? What's not too little, too late however is PlayStation 5, which we are finally on the verge of getting in our mitts. Yet, Sony has a few last-minute things to say about its new console's storage possibilities, VR capabilities, and even its short-term availability. On the back of those discussions come your inquiries, as always. Is Killzone better than Resistance? Has Sony displayed shrewdness in making Miles Morales cross-gen? What are "roguelikes"? Which band is better: Creed or Nickelback? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barely two months after promising not to delay Cyberpunk 2077 yet again, famous Polish dev CD Projekt has done just that, though for a mere three weeks. This pushes their open world RPG (arguably the single most-anticipated title of 2020, though certainly one of them) precariously close to Christmas, and some candid words from one of the studio's execs indicates they're not entirely sure they'll ship in December, either. Is something wrong with Cyberpunk 2077? Let's discuss. Then: Bugsnax becomes PlayStation 5's very first free PS+ game, Destruction AllStars gets blasted into 2021, Sony is mighty bullish on PlayStation 5's prospects, and Final Fantasy XVI is starting to take form. Plus: Let's end with some listener questions, as always. How will we say goodbye to PlayStation 4? What's the scariest game we've ever played? How do we feel about The Last Guardian? How does Colin know who Rick Rude is? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Kojima careened from Konami's cocoon (that's called alliteration!), he was left to his own devices for the first time in basically his entire career. The result was his unusual Sony-funded project Death Stranding, an interesting (if divisive) game that left us curious what he may pursue next. We don't yet know a specific answer, but thanks to a salvo of job listings out of Kojima Productions' Tokyo office, we know he and his team are revving up. And we're intrigued. So let's chat about it. We'll also touch on some other news, too, for KojiPro ain't the only ones hiring. Sucker Punch, too, is openly hiring for more Ghost of Tsushima, all but confirming the continuation of the franchise. And did you know Phil Spencer has spoken even more about the Bethesda situation, saying whatever anyone wants to hear? We'll get into all of that, and more, buttressed by your many inquiries. Will persistent gaming drag PlayStation 5's attach rate down? What's going on with PS5 launch titles The Pathless and Bugsnax? All of that and more on the other side of play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've all been dying to see PlayStation 5's UI, so it's awesome that -- finally! -- Sony has given us a little taste. In a roughly 12-minute video, we grabbed a prolonged glimpse at the basic user experience on PS5, and it looks great. Snappy. Utilitarian. Perhaps even a little crowded and busy. Yet, there was also an overt Killzone Easter Egg put before us that seems to indicate more than meets the eye. Or does it? We discuss. Plus: Miles Morales has gone gold, PS4's new firmware update is both mandatory and controversial, precisely 10 PlayStation 4 games won't work on PS5, and beloved developer Level-5 may be in trouble. Then: Listener inquiries! Is Colin too hard on Jak & Daxter? Should Sony keep its marketing powder dry until consoles are actually available to the public? Can "speaking with your wallet" spell doom for many developers? Will Chris tell us more about Stone Cold Steve 3:16? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A recent video out of Japan finally gave us our first look at PlayStation 5's innards, a nice change of pace from a mysteriously silent Sony as we approach Zero Hour. The teardown gave us a glimpse at the console's technical configurations and setups, though it also revealed the machine to be a bit of a beast, size-wise. Either way, for those in pursuit of power, the newest PlayStation should be a tantalizing product. Also: Sony revealed a surprise reconstruction of the Trophy landscape, Jim Ryan expects PS5 to sell big, Cyberpunk 2077 has gone gold amidst pseudo-controversy, internal mini-team PixelOpus is officially hiring for its third game, and more. Then: Is Cory Barlog teasing something non-God of War-related out of Santa Monica Studio? Could Level-5 be on a downward trend? Should consumers purchase extended warranties for consoles? Has depression and despair fully gripped Chris? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation 4's smash-hit exclusive Spider-Man game was played by more than 15 million people, and when they jump into the PS5 port, they're going to receive something literally not one of them asked for: A brand-new Peter Parker. Sometimes, the intersection of art and business can be messy and confusing like that. We discuss. Plus: Is the most recent report of crunch at CD Projekt yet another reoccurrence of a troubling trend, or just more ado about nothing? Is JK Rowling's 'transphobia' controversy an anchor around Avalanche Software's neck? Is Capcom's possible intent to bring Resident Evil 8 to current-gen as well as next-gen a disappointing or welcome development? Then: Which PlayStation 5 launch game are we most excited about? Do we tend to overrate Xbox One's early failures? Is Horizon: Forbidden West closer than we think? What in god's name is "a fat piss"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Things have been looking great for PlayStation 5, but a seismic event threatens to restructure the entire landscape of console gaming. With Microsoft's purchase of ZeniMax Media (and therefore Bethesda, all of its studios, and all of its IP), Xbox suddenly controls the fate not only of talented teams like id Software, Machinegames, Tango Gameworks, and others, but some of gaming's most iconic franchises, too, like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Doom. It's a huge deal, and it could leave Sony in a tough spot with one of the industry's most-beloved brands. Let's talk about the sale, all of the recent developments over the last few days, and -- above all else -- what it means for the future of the PlayStation brand. Other news is a-brewin', too, though! Spider-Man is getting a PS5 remaster, and it's littered with some of that old-school Sony marketing confusion, while PS5's Godfall has gone gold, Cyberpunk 2077 is purportedly shorter than The Witcher 3, and legacy backwards compatibility is a dying dream. Then, we get to your inquiries. What PlayStation 5 game are we going to play first? Is Colin disappointed that Final Fantasy XVI isn't turn-based? What does the future hold for PS5's limited SSD storage? Will Chris ever return? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've waited so long for concrete details concerning PlayStation 5's release date and price that it all feels a bit like a fever dream. But the spell has broken: The results, as Maury would say, are in. PlayStation 5 has a price and a release date; it all fits exactly where it should. But there are some complications, to be sure. For instance, did you know Miles Morales is also a PS4 game? Thanks to an afterthought paragraph in a PlayStation Blog post -- or this podcast! -- now you do! But there's a lot to be truly excited about, too. Final Fantasy XVI is real, Deathloop looks rad, and Miles Morales may be cross-gen, but it looks awesome. In addition to all of the PS5 news, there are some other items to get through, too, like the re-emergence of a possible Mass Effect Trilogy on PS4 and the intelligent VR-centric expansion of THQ Nordic. Then, listener thoughts! How do we control the dreaded Hype Machine? How awesome does BPM: Bullets Per Minute look? How do we convince skeptical adults that -- yes! -- video games are awesome?! How does Chris live with himself knowing he'll never receive another Splinter Cell game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For months, we've been noting the shocking level of silence emanating out of both Sony and Microsoft. Eventually, something had to give, and it has: Xbox Series X has a release date, a price, a launch library, and even a cheaper companion, the long-rumored Xbox Series S. These two machines are interesting in that they're truly different from one another. They play the same games, but they don't have nearly the same power, and it's an approach that allows Microsoft to attack Sony from below. So let's spend time working through Xbox's big news, and whether it all cumulatively represents a marked changing of fortunes for PlayStation's comparatively-struggling competitor. Then, let's chat about Ubisoft's new announcements -- including a clever new sports-driven battle royale-like game -- and deal with some other, smaller happenings in the industry before we move onto your inquiries. What's the perfect release window for single-player DLC? How do we feel about Colin Kaepernick's return to Madden? Will we see a post-release surge in popularity for The Avengers? What's the specific amount of time a towel can be used before being washed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're something like two months and change removed from PlayStation 5's presumed release window, but if you were expecting Sony itself to say anything about it, keep on hoping and dreaming. One of the upcoming console's deepest mysteries remains just how far in PlayStation history its backwards compatibility will allow us to delve; yet if a seemingly-innocuous FAQ from Ubisoft is any indication, you shouldn't expect to put your PSone, PS2, and PS3 discs into the machine. Does it really matter? Let's chat about it. Plus: New Sony financials paint a rosy picture for the PlayStation brand, first party games will continue to be ported to PC, Media Molecule loses a co-founder, Ubisoft renames Gods & Monsters, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will The Getaway ever make a return? How come no one's talking about 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim? Could Insomniac be playing with our hearts when it comes to its incessant Resistance teases? Did you know Michael Jordan had a Hitler mustache for a little while? It's true! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was just weeks ago that we were chatting about persistent rumors concerning WB Interactive, and the potential sale of its studios, projects, and licenses to outside interests. But suddenly, we're talking about the publisher in a different light, because not one -- but two! -- of its games have been revealed, in all their DC glory. Suicide Squad looks a bit like Sunset Overdrive, while Gotham Knights reminds us of the Arkham games of yore. With both, there's much to discuss. Plus: Sony has begun an obnoxious lottery for PS5 pre-orders, Activision talks much more about Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the Karate Kid spin-off Cobra Kai is getting its own video game, and much more. Then! What's going on with Bethesda's Starfield? Should people be more excited about Kingdoms of Amalur: Rereckoning? What's with the dearth of American Civil War-related games? Is it socially acceptable to eat a lime by itself? As you can see, we've much to cover. Join us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You didn't expect it. You may not even want it. But you're going to get it: A free, multiplayer-centric update to Ghost of Tsushima called Legends is coming this fall, an update that allows you to play the game with up to four players, with missions, endless waves of enemies, and even raids. Does such an addition to Sucker Punch's most recent game make any sense? Or should we be skeptical? We discuss. Plus: Call of Duty is Cold War-bound, PS5's Deathloop has been delayed while Demon's Souls Remastered gets a release rating, Rocksteady is the newest studio plagued by tales of impropriety, Lazlow Jones has left Rockstar, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries, as always! Has Chris' opinion on Days Gone softened at all? Can one really separate the artist from the art? Is there still a place for fixed-camera action games? Why in the world does Chris wear his glasses in the shower? Let's delve in, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices