Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

You may not have heard of The Embracer Group... but they've heard of you. Okay, maybe it's not that serious, but Embracer -- the holding company that owns THQ Nordic, Deep Silver, Koch Media, and others -- has been steadily acquiring dev talent for years. And now? Well, now they have a first party family of studios bigger than PlayStation's and Xbox's combined. It's not all AAA talent, of course, but such empire-building suggests that the future of publishing is in owning the entities that make games instead of just their projects. Plus: The Last of Us 2 gets some cool (and free!) updates, Rocksteady is preparing to discuss it's new project (finally), Yoshinori Ono is leaving Capcom after nearly 30 years, G.I. Joe is getting an all-new game, and more. Then: Does anyone actually care about Godfall? Is Overwatch 2 a bridge too far? Should Sony delay PS5 to avoid launching in a potentially devastating economy? Could there be more than one way to properly eat a pizza? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next month, the long-in-development Avengers game comes to PlayStation 4 (it'll come to PS5 when the console launches, too), and there's a special sort of catch for Sony gamers: When Spider-Man arrives in Crystal Dynamics' long-awaited multiplayer adventure in 2021, he'll only be available within the ecosystem. That is to say, Xbox and PC players won't have access to arguably the biggest character in the entire experience. Is such a move a vestige of generations past? Or are the Big Three about to compete for every exclusive scrap like never before? We delve in. Then, in other news: PS4 continues to climb the historical sales charts, Street Fighter V is about to welcome four new challengers, 2020's Call of Duty is on the verge of being revealed, Ubisoft sheds more dead weight, and more. And in listener questions, we explore if visual novels are really video games per se, whether Wild is officially vaporware, if the so-called "Console War" between fans of the different consoles is getting better or worse, and if it's possible that Chris doesn't understand food. All of that -- and much more! -- on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We may not have any idea when PlayStation 5 is coming out, what it'll cost, or even if many of us will be able to get our hands on one at launch. But what we do know -- thanks to a recent consumer survey conducted in the UK -- is that Sony's upcoming console is far, far more eagerly-anticipated than Microsoft's Xbox Series X. Does this spell good (or even great) news for PS5, or are any celebrations out of Tokyo premature? Let's sift through the details and figure it out. Then: Ghost of Tsushima sets a first party sales record, a spiritual successor to Suikoden is on the way, Ubisoft almost green-lit a medieval RPG, Cuphead has randomly arrived on PS4, and more. Plus: G4 is coming back... but why? Joe Rogan isn't a big video game fan... but so what? Crunch seems to be derided in games yet celebrated in other industries... but does it matter? Chris has probably never had baked beans in his life... but how is that possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We already know PlayStation 5 was primed to provide a technological quantum leap to AAA projects, but what it'll be capable of in its first round of games is fairly surprising. Sony-owned Insomniac has revealed that its launch game -- the kinetic Spider-Man: Miles Morales -- can run at 60 frames-per-second in 4K resolution, which is virtually unheard of on current-gen consoles. But nothing is free, so at what technical cost are such results achieved? Let's chat about it. Plus: Ubisoft escalates next-gen's pricing wars, Madden NFL 21 says goodbye to the Washington Redskins, NHL 21 is staying on PS4 (for now), Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part II's mysterious development situation remains as murky as ever, and much more. Then, listener inquiries! How do we balance gaming as a hobby with our real-life relationships? Will standalone expansions become more common as development costs rise? Do Sony's outspoken studio heads help or hurt their respective brands? If a person doesn't return a shopping cart after use, should they go to prison? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a really big week for Ubisoft. They revealed (the admittedly leaked) Far Cry 6, stamped a couple of release dates on Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and gave us some more details on the upcoming battle royale Hyper Scape, too. But the company has also been persistently dogged by accusations of sexual impropriety and other illicit activities at its highest levels of management, and the purge of its ranks continues unabated. With the ignominious fall of both its Chief Creative Officer and the leader of all of its Canadian studios (not to mention its Head of HR), how should one of gaming's biggest publishers proceed in the wake of what can only be described as an internal reckoning? Let's chat about it. Also: Sony is ratcheting-up production of PlayStation 5, Destiny 2's upcoming DLC has been delayed, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer is approaching this year a little differently, and more. Then: Listener inquiries galore! Is Xbox making a mistake by emphasizing cross-generation play? Should Sony pad its first party family with smaller devs? Does Sony's acquisition of a small share of Epic mean future Epic Games Store exclusivity for its PC releases? Is it normal to eat oranges in the shower? Our answers may surprise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Until Fortnite, the primary fuel that made Epic Games run was Unreal Engine, its ubiquitous and flexible framework on which hundreds of notable, successful, and popular titles have run for more than two decades. But these days, Epic's many initiatives have the North Carolina-based company accelerating at light speed, and now, Sony owns a sliver of 'em. We discuss what this modest acquisition means, and why owning just a little bit of Epic can go a very long way. Then: A tension is growing in the industry concerning next-gen game pricing, and we've gotta jump back into the fray. Also: Horizon's writer has left Guerrilla, Kingdoms of Amalur is getting new DLC 8+ years after launch, Mafia: Definitive Edition gets delayed, Infamous may be coming back, and more. Plus: Listener inquires! Could episodic releases help adjust rising game dev costs? Are some gamers being completely over-the-top in their reactions to The Last of Us: Part II? Should Sony attempt to acquire WB Interactive? Does Long Island have the world's best pizza? (The answer to the last question is a simple and emphatic "yes".) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we've gotten a limited look at next-gen, a few major unknowns remain. Perhaps the biggest mystery -- apart from the cost of PlayStation 5 itself -- is how expensive AAA software running on the new hardware will be. Thanks to 2K, we may have an answer, marking the first price hike in well over a decade. Such a move may cause sticker shock at first, but rest assured: Gaming is still cheaper than ever. We explain. Plus: TLoU2 sells big, Sony is on the hunt for its next studio acquisition, Tencent comes to America, the Harry Potter RPG is real, PlayStation Plus turns 10, and more. Then, listener questions! Should difficulty Trophies hinder one's enjoyment of a game? When did the arcade racer (essentially) go extinct? How long do we have to wait for The Last of Us: Factions to return? Do birds get too little respect for being descended from dinosaurs? We have an answer we think you'll dig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you probably know, Chris has a very specific arcane power: He can seemingly wish games of his choosing into existence. So when Crash Bandicoot 4 was revealed, it appeared that the planets aligned for Ray Gun (it's one of his favorite series, after all), and so we have much to talk about with that topic alone. But there are other important pieces of news to get to, too, including a deep dive into the recent allegations of sexual impropriety that have engulfed the industry as of late. Plus: Ghost of Tsushima goes gold, Ready at Dawn gets bought, Rocksteady is making Justice League, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does Mixer deserve a rousing eulogy? Should older games pack content disclaimers? What happened to gaming journalism, anyway? Does deodorant belong in your buttcrack? Once more unto the breach! (Pardon the pun.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Publisher Electronic Arts gets a lot of grief -- much of it earned -- but it also announces something truly exciting and different on occasion. Star Wars Squadrons is one such game, a dogfighter in the same spiritual vein as beloved Star Wars-related franchises of the past like Rogue Squadron and X-Wing (vs. TIE Fighter). It sounds pretty awesome, and we go deep into why we think so. Plus: We talk about all of the rest of the news EA announced (including the unexpected reveal of Skate 4), we go over plenty of clarifications and new morsels from the recent PS5 event (touching on the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon: Forbidden West), we talk about Cyberpunk 2077's newest delay, and much more. As always, your listener inquiries round things out, as we ponder the sheer meanness of games media, the tantalizing possibilities of Silent Hills, the "racism" scandal hitting Little Devil Inside, and much more . We even dedicate time to confirming the proper pronunciation of the word "caramel," because this is indeed a PlayStation podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's hard to believe, but the time has finally come, for Sony hasn't only shown PlayStation 5 games galore, but PlayStation 5 itself. That's right: The box. Now that we know what the console actually looks like, it's time to discuss its aesthetic. But more importantly, it's time to discuss the titles that will run on the machine. From first party to second party to third party, Sony brought out some of big guns, and there's much to chat about. A new Horizon? A new Gran Turismo? A new Ratchet & Clank? Yes, yes, yes... and even that Demon's Souls remake that's been long-rumored? That's also real. We've got a ton of games to sort through, so let's get into it. (Plus, we parse through all of the week's other news, too, so fear not.) These are exciting times! Let's embrace 'em. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here in America, a cop's murder of an unarmed black man has temporarily torn our society asunder. It's caused peaceful mass protests around the country, and the situation has occasionally fallen into outright rioting and looting as well. In other words, we're experiencing a period of substantial unrest. That unrest has naturally transferred its way into the World of PlayStation, where Sony's much-awaited reveal event for some first (and second and third) party PS5 games was delayed out of respect for the moment. With that, we're left to speculate about what Sony's plan is, and when this event might take place in the (hopefully) near future. It hasn't stopped PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan from talking extensively about his company's plans for the console, though, and so we've much to discuss. Plus: More news! Konami is silently creeping back into the publishing game, Paradox Interactive is now officially a union shop, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is making a welcome comeback, Hideo Kojima vaguely talks about his next project, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony attempt to bring EA's BioWare into its own first party fold? Is it time for Twisted Metal to make a comeback? How much better can sport sims become? Is it psychotic to buy the Pop-Tarts without frosting? Well... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've somehow made it 100 episodes, and it's all thanks to you, our precious listeners. To celebrate our auspicious milestone, we thought we'd do something a little different: Answer 100 minutes worth of listener questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas. You can find that at the end of the normal show. In the meantime, though, there's a ton of news to get through, and we discuss it all. We cover Naughty Dog's impressive 30+ minute State of Play for The Last of Us: Part II, discuss the NFL's renewed exclusive license with Electronic Arts, chat about Sony's strong PlayStation Plus lineup for June, consider the future of Silent Hill upon the reveal of some random SH-related content for a completely different game, opine about the new Dragon Quest action-RPG, and much, much more. Oh, and that aforementioned 100 minutes of listener Q&A? We cover our favorite demos, the future paths of Final Fantasy VII Remake, the new high water mark set by The Witcher on Netflix, the dearth of dinosaur games, Insomniac's possible direction with Sunset Overdrive, and so on and so forth. Thanks again for making Sacred Symbols a smash hit. We couldn't do it without you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're getting close now. Really close. Compelling rumors are now circulating (along with some vague words from Sony's CEO himself) that PlayStation 5's official reveal is close on the horizon, and may happen in just a few weeks, along with the first showcase of Sony's first party, next-gen offerings. So let's chat about the rumors, what we think will happen, and when we can expect everything to go down. Plus: Let's delve deeper into Ghost of Tsushima, talk about that bizarre (and very real) Gears of War 3 PS3 port making the rounds, consider Call of Duty's pivot back to the Cold War, assess the newly-revealed PS4 and PSVR bundles, opine over PlayStation Now's impressive new numbers, and much more. Then, user inquiries! Is the industry becoming to reliant on remasters and re-releases? What cultures could be better represented in upcoming titles? Could historically inaccurate games injure the real-life study of history? Which of the Seven Dwarfs would we want to be in a relationship with? It's go-time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to Ghost of Tsushima, Sony-owned Sucker Punch has the distinct honor of delivering PlayStation 4's very last first party AAA exclusive. Yet, there's no doubt that both the publisher and developer of the 13th century samurai adventure have been pretty quiet about it, which raised some doubts about whether it'd be any good. The silence has been broken, though, with an 18 minute-long presentation shining some much needed light on the open world action game. Were we impressed? Well... Plus: There's a lot of other news to get through, too! PlayStation 4 has surpassed 110 million units sold, Sony is rebranding its family of exclusive devs, Epic has unveiled Unreal Engine 5 running on PS5, and both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Mafia are making big-time comebacks. To round things out, we go to the audience, with inquiries concerning the future of Crysis, Naughty Dog's misbehavior on YouTube, Ken Levine's inexplicable silence, and -- yes indeed -- nachos. Because for some reason, we can't stop talking about wonderful, glorious nachos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hunger for next-gen information is palpable, and with this week's Xbox event, it seemed like Microsoft was keen on going first in some sort of substantive way. Instead, most fans were left confused by their showing. But there's good news for us here in PlayStation Land, because concentrating on third parties simply means that what's coming to Xbox Series X is coming to PlayStation 5, too. We discuss. Plus: Sony reveals more details about TLoU2's catastrophic leak (as the game goes gold), rumor has it The Mass Effect Trilogy is finally (finally!) coming to PlayStation 4, two AA publishers randomly (and we mean randomly) trade IP with one another, and Techland refutes rumors of Dying Light 2's reported development difficulties (though we remain skeptical). As always, we sprinkle your inquiries throughout the show. What's going on with Doom Eternal's soundtrack drama? Cyberpunk 2077 is letting you do WHAT with your genitals? Should Sony pursue From Software and make them first party? When given the choice between French fries and onion rings, in which direction does one go? Let's do this thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our shifting podcast schedule couldn't have possibly come at a better time, because it just so happens that the last seven days (or so) in the gaming industry have been among the most news-packed in recent memory. For starters, The Last of Us: Part II has a new release date, but such a revelation comes on the back of something truly traumatic for Naughty Dog, Sony, and TLoU fans: Catastrophic story leaks that threaten to ruin the game for everyone. (Don't worry: We don't discuss ANY spoilers in this show.) Ghost of Tsushima also got a new release date, but is Sony quietly burying Sucker Punch's long-anticipated adventure? Meanwhile, the Assassin's Creed rumors are true, and the series is going Nordic and turning to 9th century England for its next entry, and Square Enix doesn't know quite how it's going to finish Final Fantasy VII Remake, or even how many games will be required to do so. Amongst other news are plenty of listener inquiries, as always. Why don't games seemingly ever visit the Korean and Vietnam Wars? Could video games treat religion more positively? What's with awful difficulty spikes? Are nachos an appetizer or an entree? Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That face in the thumbnail? That's the face of your doom. It's also the face of a bizarre patent Sony filed for a robot that can experience PlayStation games right alongside you. What does it mean? We don't exactly know, but we're definitely afraid of it. Also: A new Bloomberg article talks much more about PlayStation 5 and when we can expect it, and even how much it'll likely cost, giving us much to discuss. Meanwhile, Crytek is bringing Crysis back (kinda), Grand Theft Auto VI is in development (but be patient), and Cooking Mama is in trouble (for real). As always, we wrap up with listener questions, this time regarding The Last of Us: Part II's religious villains, Ghost of Tsushima's lack of waypoints, the endless PS5 backwards compatibility saga, and much, much more. Hit play and take a listen... and look under your bed and in your closet for that scary face, while you're at it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Final Fantasy VII Remake has finally arrived, and with it a bevy of high expectations. Have they been met? Well, for one of us, anyway, expectations have been far exceeded. We're excited to gush about Square Enix's fresh tour-de-force, and dedicate tons of time to Cloud's new-old adventure. Of course, we won't forget about the news! DualSense is PS5's new controller, Resident Evil 4 Remake and Silent Hill Remake both get new rumors, Sony is automatically refunding people's digital pre-orders for The Last of Us: Part II, CD Projekt is feeling confident it's going to get Cyberpunk 2077 out on time, and much more. And then, naturally, there are listener inquiries! Is the Gearbox/Borderlands 3 bonus situation as bad as it seems? Can we expect more special editions toting digital games? Are people getting too uppity about PS+'s "free" games? Chicken nuggets may not be meatballs... but how about popcorn chicken? All that and more on this Very Special Episode of Sacred Symbols. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to gaming, anyway, Coronavirus has officially claimed its greatest victim yet: The Last of Us Part II. As predicted on this show more than a month ago, COVID-19 has forced Sony's and Naughty Dog's hand, and the most anticipated PS4 exclusive of them all hasn't only been delayed, but delayed indefinitely. We don't know when it's coming out, now, and it's a huge deal, which we discuss in-depth. There's lots of other news to get through, too! Resident Evil 8 is rumored to be PS5-bound in 2021, Minecraft Dungeons and Wasteland 3 both have fresh release dates, Sony is furthering its XDEV initiative in Japan, and much more. Plus -- as always! -- listener inquiries. Did Microsoft reveal too much too soon about Xbox Series X? Why do devs and pubs insist on spoiling their own games in trailers? Is innovation in a rapid decline around the industry? Is a chicken nugget a meatball? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you losing your mind yet? Hopefully not, for while Coronavirus is running roughshod over societies around Earth, imagine how bored you'd be if you were isolating yourself and surviving a pandemic in, say, 1900. With the Internet, video games, streaming TV, and much more, we can stay entertained and connected even through these trying and historic times, but it doesn't mean it's not taking a toll on many of us. And, not surprisingly, COVID-19 is taking a toll on the gaming industry, too. Speculation continues to rage about the likelihood of PlayStation 5 launching this year, while even Sony admits that first and second party delays are possible, and imminent third party releases -- like Resident Evil 3 and Final Fantasy VII Remake -- may have problems getting to you in physical format. Business moves are being made during the crisis, though: Both Avalanche Studios and Epic Games have announced reorgs and publishing deals, and tons of titles continue to come to PSN. We talk about all of that and much more (with plenty of listener inquiries) this week on Sacred Symbols. Stay safe out there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here on Sacred Symbols, we like to make fun of Chris Ray Gun for all sorts of reasons, but it's his undying love of Doom that's perhaps easiest to target. After all, he brings it up nonstop. But this week is Chris' week, friends, because Doom Eternal has finally arrived, and our young Puerto Rican friend is hyped up and ready to talk all about it. Let's give him the floor, shall we? Then, let's jump into the news! Sony's bizarre PS5 tech reveal was so confusing and ill-conceived that they had to release some clarifications, GameStop is closing its doors (temporarily?), Final Fantasy VII Remake's release will be kinda-sorta uninterrupted, and much more. Then, listener inquiries! Does Microsoft have to pay Sony for Xbox's use of Blu-ray? What could a Castlevania game on PlayStation 5 look like? Is Ghost Recon about to ruin Splinter Cell? Is Colin really an anime dork, after all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of Sacred Symbols -- like every one before it -- will become a time capsule. It's just that, in these seemingly historic days, this time capsule might be a little more real than the rest. The world is going through a tumultuous period, and in our little corner called The Gaming Industry, we certainly aren't immune. E3 is cancelled, for starters, but that's no surprise. And word of distress is emerging from Naughty Dog about harsh working conditions, too. But perhaps the biggest news of all is about PlayStation 5's seemingly inevitable delay into 2021, something not yet confirmed, but something being widely speculated about. It's big news not only because it pushes next-gen into the distance, but because its delay would come because of the Coronavirus that's currently giving us a run for our money. So let's talk candidly about the troubles facing our hobby and ourselves, and spice in some humor, listener inquiries, and other pieces of news, too. No, this certainly isn't the apocalypse. But who can blame you for feeling like it is? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While we await news of PlayStation 5 from Sony (seriously... what the hell are they doing?), news has emerged from two important -- and very different -- projects. First, Ghost of Tsushima, arguably the last of the big PlayStation 4 first party exclusives, finally has a release date, and it's a lot sooner than any of us expected. Then, a more unexpected nugget: The Last of Us is getting an HBO series! But is that a wise risk to take with arguably the brand's most beloved IP? We discuss. Lots of other news is circulating this week, too. Sony Santa Monica loses its longtime leader, Call of Duty's free-to-play battle royale has arrived, E3's slow death continues, and the existence of a Star Wars game called Project Maverick leaks on PSN. Also, listener questions! Why did Ubisoft make such significant changes to The Division 2? Does stress and worry ever stop us from enjoying gaming? Should Sony buy Arc System Works? Is Chris dying of a deadly virus? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back in 2007, Platinum Games was founded by some of (at the time) Capcom's heaviest hitters, including Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya. Some 13 years later, the team is one of the most respected independent development studios in the world, and it's finally ready to shed its shackles from publishers like SEGA, Activision, and Nintendo, and strike out on its own. So let's chat about it! Plus: The creator of the famous Konami Code has passed away, GDC gets postponed in fear of the Coronavirus, Supermassive's Dark Pictures Anthology is on track to continue this summer, you'll be able to try Predator: Hunting Grounds for free very soon, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Could there be an XFL video game? Is Xbox Series X's "Smart Delivery" really that big of a deal? What's with WB Montreal's weird, drawn-out Batman teases? Is the Kool-Aid Man the jar or the liquid inside the jar? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Persona 5 Royal comes to western PS4s soon, but an interesting controversy has overtaken the hype. Buried within the massive JRPG's original release are a couple of scenes that a small group of players found homophobic, and in response, Atlus is making some key edits to lessen the blow. The question is, should the publisher be making these changes? Are the scenes even offensive at all? Let's chat about it, and see how we feel. Then, more news! Sony, Kojima Productions, and others are bailing out of upcoming trade shows in fear of Coronavirus, EA cancels yet another Star Wars game, Call of Duty's upcoming battle royale mode may just surprise you, THQ Nordic just can't stop buying companies, and more! Following that: Listener inquiries! Would we play a game with the American military as the antagonists? How important of a factor should inflation be in the cost of gaming hardware? What happened to Ubisoft's Skull and Bones? Is Chris a communist? Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American publication Bloomberg is typically a reliable source of information, and a recent story within its pages tells an interesting tale. It appears Sony is having a hard time keeping production costs of PlayStation 5 down, so much so that it's delaying the Japanese corporation's ability to determine what it should charge for the console, or if it can even turn a profit selling it. There's even reportedly a little civil war going on internally, with some powers-that-be convinced profit should be extracted no matter what, even if it affects demand. Should we be worried? Well, maybe. We discuss. Then again, other news flows this week, too! After four Need For Speeds, EA is taking the series away from Ghost Games and giving it back to Criterion, Quantic Dream leaps forward into the great self-publishing unknown, People Can Fly's Destiny-like Outriders is PS5-bound, Ubisoft wants The Division 2 to live again, and much more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Was the Sonic movie any good? Should Untitled Goose Game really be DICE's Game of the Year? Is E3 in an uncontrollable death spiral? Can we please -- for the love of all that is holy in this world -- stop talking about Kingdom Hearts? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By now, you've undoubtedly heard of the Coronavirus, a lethal illness originating in mainland China that has so far claimed the lives of more than a thousand people. What you may not have considered, however, is how this might affect PlayStation 5. No: We're not kidding. Game consoles are manufactured in Chinese factories, and it's entirely possible that Coronavirus could delay PS5's launch, a possibility so real that even a mainstream investment firm is warning its clients of such an eventuality. Should we really fear such a delay? Would Sony launch a supply-constrained console instead of being late to market? Do people really need to be eating bats to begin with? We discuss. This episode is chock-full of other news, too! Long-time Rockstar creative lead Dan Houser is leaving the studio he helped create, Sony shut down a first party studio that never so much as released a game, BioWare and EA simply won't stop trying to make Anthem happen, and much more. Also: Let's hear from you, dear listener! Has Chris been unexpectedly teaching Colin a thing or two about video games? How come Ninja Theory stopped working with Sony? Will we ever give Yakuza a chance? Should one listener return his old roommate's forgotten PlayStation 2 games, even if he hated that roommate? Let's go deep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation Plus' free game offerings have always been a little hit or miss, but this month, an essential compilation comes to the service: The BioShock Collection. BioShock, BioShock Infinite, and even BioShock 2 are some of the best games last-gen has to offer, and the original title in particular is an absolute must-play. If you haven't enjoyed these gems yet, you should, and we tell you why now's the time, since they're free-of-charge and all. But how about some news, too?! Sony is sending out random surveys asking some mighty interesting questions about Remote Play, Platinum Games is bringing Wii U-exclusive The Wonderful 101 to PS4 via Kickstarter, Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order exceeds EA's sales expectations, Cyberpunk 2077's delay might not be so dire after all, and much more. Plus: Listener questions! Is the PS3 a retro console? How many AAA exclusives should come to PlayStation 5 each calendar year? Why aren't there more games with destructible environments? Is it time we accept that you can't capture a human being in a Pokéball? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When money flows from companies that call communist dictatorships home, those funds typically come with strings attached. Activision-Blizzard learned this the hard way just months ago, but it hasn't stopped western teams from accepting this cash with reckless abandon. The next business about to get gobbled up by Chinese conglomerate Tencent is the Norwegian MMO dev-slash-pub Funcom, and Tencent is even willing to pay a staggering 30% over market value for the honor. The big question is: Why? When bizarre corporate cultures and diverging governments collide, it can make for some choppy waters. So let's chat about this recent acquisition-to-be, and what it might mean. Also: Housemarque makes another sharp left turn, the Uncharted movie no one wants gets delayed again, Daybreak is splitting into three separate teams, and much more. Plus: Could Xbox ever win Colin over? Should Sony purchase Kojima Productions? Is our new cross-gen reality about to create some unexpected problems? Can you capture a person in a Pokéball? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The year started out quietly enough... that is until all of the delays began and started ruining our lives. Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cyberpunk 2077. Dying Light 2. The Avengers. Even that completely random Iron Man VR game wasn't immune! But should we be concerned about the reworked schedule? Or has the shifting calendar serendipitously bought us precious time to catch up on our backlogs? We discuss. Plus: It looks like Horizon is coming to PC, Call of Duty absolutely dominated last decade's sales charts, Monster Hunter: World continues to crush it for Capcom, and much more. Then, listener questions! Does E3's decline signal the end of The ESA? What's with all of the tiny text in games? Could DualShock 5 have a small screen on it? Was Chris riding a bicycle through the streets of London last week? All of that (and much more) right after you press the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For nearly a decade, WB Montreal has existed in the shadow of its better-known and more-beloved sister studio Rocksteady. But finally, it appears the Quebecois dev is poised to break out. Yet again, the team has teased a vague image on its social media channels that almost certainly points towards a new Batman game, something WB Montreal has dabbled in in the past with 2013's Arkham Origins. But with Rocksteady's Arkham Trilogy getting all of the respect and Origins getting precious little, is WB Montreal walking into a trap? We talk it through. Then: Media Molecule's Dreams finally goes gold, Platinum Games confusingly accepts substantial Chinese investment, Capcom is emphasizing the Remake in Resident Evil 3 Remake, and Nioh 2 is so friggin' hard that Team Ninja is toning it down. Plus: Will Beyond Good & Evil 2 ever come out? How do we define "hardcore" gaming? Is Tetris Effect dropping the ball when it comes to DLC? Should a man be murdered for thinking Friends is better than Seinfeld? There's much to discuss! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most of you know EA-owned DICE as the Scandinavian creators of the Battlefield series (and the resuscitators of Star Wars Battlefront, too), but tucked quietly away in Los Angeles is a DICE support studio aptly called DICE LA. DICE LA is essentially the remnants of the old Medal of Honor team Danger Close that's since been relegated to secondary status, but it appears all of that's about to change. Electronic Arts has opted to dispatch the creative might of Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella to revitalize and rebrand the dev, with a new game promised for the coming years. Is this a wise move, or is EA getting distracted by shiny objects to the detriment of perhaps its most reliable talent? Let's chat about it. Then: Sony talks PlayStation 5 at CES (kinda), Dragon Quest XII is officially in development, Final Fantasy VII Remake is getting a demo, and much more. Plus: Listener questions galore, and Colin tells Chris he's getting drafted and going to Iran to fight on our behalf. How unfortunate for him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2019 was an interesting year for games. While we eagerly await The Next Generation (no, not the Star Trek show, you godforsaken nerds), a litany of good, great, and even fantastic games hit our precious PlayStation 4 in recent months, and now that the last year is in the books, it's time to look back on some of the best titles '19 had to offer. Without further ado, here are our favorite games of the past 365 days or so, with a special Sacred Symbols twist: A bunch of completely made-up awards, some of which no developer would actually want to win. Alas! We simply couldn't help ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It wasn't even a year ago that prolific Polish developer CD Projekt and The Witcher's creator Andrzej Sapkowski found themselves in a legal battle over the beloved fantasy IP. But times certainly do change. Both sides of the dispute have announced that, in the wake of their dispute, they'll now be working more closely together than ever. Go figure. But what does it all mean?! We discuss. Plus: What's with this new DualShock 4 peripheral? Should we be excited about these fresh Capcom trademarks coming out of Japan? Who will buy the Nintendo PlayStation prototype going up for auction next year? Plus, listener questions! Does Sony San Diego have Xbox Series X dev kits? Will Colin get Twin Breaker's Platinum Trophies before anyone else? Why do PlayStation gamers love PornHub so much? How does "Peggy" come from "Margaret"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As PlayStation 5 lumbers toward us like an AT-AT stomping across Hoth (but in a good way), the calendar has left us with precious few PS4 exclusives of consequence. The Last of Us: Part II is obviously the King of the Unreleased, and Dreams is a commercial long-shot, but Ghost of Tsushima might just be the most intriguing of the bunch. One part third-person action game and another part historical fiction, Sucker Punch's eagerly-anticipated PlayStation 4 swan song finally has a release date. Well, window. So let's chat about it. Oh, and have we mentioned we're making a PS4/Vita game of our own? It's true! It's called Twin Breaker, and we're super excited to tell you more. Along with other announcements out of The Game Awards and news from parts elsewhere, we fit in some of your inquiries, too. Does Final Fantasy VII Remake's lack of PS4 exclusivity matter? Does Capcom risk going overboard with the remakes? Is Death Stranding getting critically short-changed? Why is Dick a nickname for Richard? Mysteries abound! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since 1997, Sony has published an annual baseball game -- once eponymously called MLB and more recently dubbed The Show -- that has lived exclusively in its ecosystem. Indeed, for the last 15 years or so, PlayStation has dedicated a first party studio to essentially (and obsessively) focusing on America's pastime. So recent news that MLB: The Show would begin publishing outside of PlayStation platforms beginning in 2021 came as a bit of a shock. It's a first for Sony, and it's a story that requires some study and analysis. So let's dance. Of course, other news occurred since we last met, too, particularly surrounding 2019's final State of Play stream. Dreams is ready to emerge, Resident Evil 3 is real (and spectacular), and Ghost of Tsushima is quietly creeping up. Naturally, dear listener, we could never forget about you. Ever! So let's take some of your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas as we do each week, on topics ranging from political ads in games and the return of Resistance to the future of SOCOM and the power of Jesus Christ. In gaming form, anyway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In December of 1994, the original PlayStation launched in Japan, and the rest (as they say) is history. Fast-forward 25 years, and the PlayStation brand is an absolute powerhouse. PSone, PS2, and PS4 have all surpassed 100 million sold (only one other home video game console has ever done the same), and even those that fell short -- PS3, PSP, and even Vita -- have all left an indelible mark on our industry. So let's celebrate, shall we? Then, let's get into some news! Hideo Kojima's longtime producer has officially left his side after nearly two decades, more PS5 dev kits have popped up in the wild, Codemasters made a new studio purchase, and Titanfall 2 dramatically returns as a free PS+ game. Also, listener inquiries! What does the increasing prevalence of digital marketplaces mean for game sharing? Is PS4 Remote Play on iOS and Android viable? How do games with broken Trophies make it through certification? Does anyone in this world like Long John Silver's? Let's talk it through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beloved publisher-slash-developer Capcom has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts over the last few years, fueled not only by new games like Monster Hunter: World, but by a litany of re-releases and remakes, too. At the top of the pile is Resident Evil 2, an astounding revisiting of a '90s survival horror classic that sold millions. So it should come as no surprise that a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is right behind it, at least if recent rumors are any indication. How excited are we? Very! Plus: Amy Hennig finally returns to gaming, Final Fantasy VII Remake's Part II is in development, Activision's CEO says his company isn't interested in making any political statements, and Shenmue IV might be en route (even if Shenmue III is in the midst of bombing). And how about some listener questions?! Will Half-Life: Alyx come to PSVR? Could Rockstar ever revisit Bully, Manhunt, or Midnight Club? When will Sony finally show us PlayStation 5? Is it okay to rip farts in public bathrooms? Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that -- in the United States -- Anthem is the eighth best-selling game of the year? This little factoid tells us a whole lot. It indicates that our instincts as enthusiasts don't always speak for the wider market. It suggests a void in our understanding of meaningful metrics in the world of games-as-a-service. And it confirms perhaps the most unfortunate fact of all, at least for EA and BioWare: Lots of people paid good money to play their game, and few people cared to stick around. Yet, in a bold move, the publisher-developer combo are secretly planning to revive their beleaguered shooter with a slate of reported updates, tweaks, and overhauls, begging the question: Is such a move wise? We discuss. Then: DualShock 5's patents suddenly appear from out of Japan, it looks like Dreams may be hitting retail sooner than we thought possible, Microsoft's X019 event serendipitously reveals new PS4 games, and Deep Silver reaches out to the hardcore. Plus: Listener questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas! Could Sony engineer a PS4 buyback program to help sell PS5? Is Remedy running damage control over Control's sluggish sales? Does Shenmue III stand a chance? If vegans hate meat so much, how come they're so eager for food that tastes like meat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Death Stranding is finally here, and we use the word "finally" lightly. Conceived and developed at light speed compared to many of its AAA contemporaries, Hideo Kojima's new game came to fruition relatively quickly, and with lots of expectations in tow. What it delivers is one of the most unusual experiences we've ever played. And we mean that in the best way possible. So join us as we gush about Death Stranding for a while, and stay with us as we work through the PlayStation news of the week, from a corporate reshuffle at Sony HQ to an all-new first party studio working on PS5 games from Southeast Asia. Then, listener questions round-out the episode, per usual, with a requiem for PlayStation Vue, a lesson on how the Trophy system works, the possibility of Ghost of Tsushima preempting The Last of Us: Part II, and an unfortunate (albeit necessary) revisiting of last week's show, in which a listener pooped his pants on a date. (Turns out there's more to say about that, for some reason.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nary a decade ago, many an industry analyst wondered if console gaming was dying. Would mobile take over? Could Facebook become the new dominant platform? With PlayStation 4 now securely occupying the spot of second best-selling home console of all-time (behind PlayStation 2), questions like those sure do seem quaint, don't they? Let's discuss PS4's new sales figures, what they mean for the brand, and how great PlayStation 4 performance may just harm PS5. Plus: Blizzard announces two new eagerly-anticipated games, fresh PlayStation Plus games are coming to a PS4 Nioh you (sorry), Modern Warfare earns its keep for Activision, and Ubisoft takes aim squarely at next-gen. Also: How does Sony make money on PlayStation Now? Why are credits so friggin' long? Does anyone care about Shenmue III? If cereal is a soup, does that make oatmeal stew? We apologize for entertaining these hypotheticals, but we just can't help ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Obsidian's all-new open world RPG The Outer Worlds is a blatant (and in some ways even shameless) ode to its 2010 cult hit Fallout: New Vegas... and it should come as no surprise that it's pretty damn good. So let's spend some time talking about why, and celebrate the many things it does so very right. But let's also not neglect the news! The Last of Us: Part II has been delayed, Ubisoft admits its recent critical and commercial reception has been tepid, Fallout 76 gets perhaps the most unpopular subscription service ever concocted, and WWE 2K20 is an unmitigated disaster. Plus: Audience questions! What's the specific definition of Metroidvania? Is 3D audio here to stay? Is anyone else experiencing inconsistent performance on PS4 Pro? Has Chris really never eaten corn-on-the-cob? All of that and more on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we settle into the fall months, rumors abound. A new photograph seems to confirm the v-shaped PS5 dev kit design that was earlier making the rounds, much to our chagrin. But does it actually matter? Guerrilla Games is mo-capping, while Sony Bend is pre-producing. But should we be surprised? The US Congress has officially put Activision-Blizzard on notice over its behavior regarding Hong Kong and China. But will it be enough to bring change? Plus: Fallen Order goes gold, League of Legends is PlayStation-bound, Fallout 76 DLC gets delayed, and THQ Nordic goes to Japan. Then, listener questions! Could AI become sophisticated enough to make games without human intervention? Should Sony be willing to take significant financial losses to ensure PlayStation 5's proliferation? What should Square Enix do with Final Fantasy after VII Remake? Why do British people pay for goods with squid instead of money? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We were spoiled last week, what with lots of new PlayStation 5 details to obsess over. But Sony has another piece of PS-themed hardware that's worthy of next-gen attention, and no, we're not talking about a third handheld (which is surprising, since we talk about Vita constantly). PlayStation VR was launched just about three years ago, and some five million units later, it has quietly found its way into the living rooms of one-in-twenty PS4 owners. Now, thanks to some patent leaks and tech analysis, we may just have a glimpse at the next iteration of what PSVR looks like, from its purported new controller to its apparent wirelessness (!). Let's talk about what we know, what we think we know, and what the future just might look like (literally). Also: Layoffs quietly hit PlayStation Europe at the exact time PS5 is revealed in Wired (weird!), IO Interactive gets to work on something that isn't Hitman (mysterious!), Ubisoft invests in cartoons galore (bold!), and Donald Trump is the next major political figure to join Twitch (...JYNA). Plus: Listener inquiries on what happens to first party studios when they die, the far-flung fate of our digital libraries, the ruthless mediocrity of the PlayStation Store, and much more. Let's podcast, old friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been calling Sony's next-gen console PlayStation 5 for quite some time now, but we weren't sure that's what it would actually be named. Now, we know PS5 is indeed PS5, and along with that news comes lots of fresh details straight from the horse's mouth. From the console's release window to the nature of DualShock 5, there's a whole lot to talk about, and we do just that. Also: Activision-Blizzard appeases communists, Doom Eternal has been delayed, PS4's firmware livens-up the party, and SEGA's House of the Dead is being revived. Finally: Listener inquiries! Is Madden really just a turn-based RPG? Why does such a liberal industry like gaming glorify gun use? Can a bad boss fight ruin an entire game? Is Earth a ravioli...? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We recorded this week's podcast, flipped off the microphones, and went on Twitter, where we discovered a surprise piece of late-breaking news: Shawn Layden is leaving Sony. Layden used to be CEO of the American branch of PlayStation, and most recently held the position as Head Honcho of PlayStation's fully-owned, first party studios. So let's discuss his departure (albeit briefly, because we don't have all the answers yet). Beyond all of that, though, is our usual run of show, an episode littered with news. Sony is starting to cut the middleman out of its retail sales, there are lots of fresh details concerning The Last of Us: Part II, Call of Duty is absolutely dominating the historic PS4 sales charts, and Death Stranding is apparently finished and primed for publishing, whether you're ready or not. Plus: When will we learn more about Ghost of Tsushima? What's the actual definition of "Adventure Game"? What are the best places to buy and sell used hardware and games? Why are Colin and Chris so confused about the difference between sheep and a lamb? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The silence surrounding The Last of Us: Part II has been somewhat deafening, what with PlayStation 5 hurtling toward us on the horizon and PS4's most important and anticipated exclusive still unreleased. Our patience has been rewarded with precious new information, however, including the game's release date, and there's a whole lot to discuss, including for all you Joel fanboys and fangirls out there. Then: Borderlands 3 sells big (with seven out of ten copies purchased digitally), Sony promises a green PS5 (though not literally), and WB Montreal's Twitter account comes out of a long and dark slumber to tease a new Batman game (or so it appears). Listener questions on issues ranging from the lackluster state of the physical games market to the perilous finances of subscription services round out this week's offering, including tons of non-TLoU information from Sony's State of Play event concerning both PS4 and PSVR . Let's trek forward, friends! It can't be for nothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It may be hard to believe, but it's been nearly seven years since Borderlands 2 launched, and so with Borderlands 3's recent arrival, you may expect fans to be delighted. Some are, no doubt, but many others aren't, and such a situation calls much into question: Are there too many loot-based shooters? Can a game like this compete on the modern market? Is Borderlands 3 simply too late? Chris and Colin don't see eye-to-eye on this much at all, which makes for an interesting conversation. Then, how 'bout some news?! GameStop keeps tanking, Final Fantasy VII Remake appeals to the old-schoolers, Control's sales are soft, and Ubisoft promises massive open-world games galore in its future. Finally, to round things out, we take some listener questions. Are publishers and developers releasing DLC too far after a game's launch? What do we think of Katamari Damacy? How do we carve out time to game? If you get a DiGiorno Pizza delivered via Amazon, does it rip a hole in space and time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A rather interesting piece of industry news went largely unreported last week. It seems the Creative Director of Bethesda-owned Tango Gameworks' Ghostwire: Tokyo has randomly left the studio mere months after introducing and showcasing her game at E3. This was clearly unplanned and obviously spur-of-the-moment, so what gives? We speculate. Also: Thriving publisher Capcom has revealed an all-new Resident Evil spin-off with serious L4D vibes, a couple of Xbox and PC-centric Star Wars games are coming to PlayStation for the very first time, a leak suggests Remedy's strange action game Control is getting story DLC, and a Fairy Tail game is coming to PS4 next year, which is no doubt exciting news for all you weebs out there. Then, listener questions! Is PlayStation 2 Classic a non-starter? Are we being robbed of our gaming abilities by Father Time? Is Sony losing the Indie Battle to Nintendo? All of that and more in another stunning episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Capcom's recent resurgence hasn't only been fueled by Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, and slick retro collections. Resident Evil -- known as Biohazard in Japan -- has itself been a lynchpin since RE7 shocked us the gaming world early 2017 (not to mention RE2's wonderful remake earlier this year). Now, the Japanese publisher is teasing a new Resident Evil, but it's unclear just what it could be. A mainline entry? Another remake? Or perhaps something else entirely? Let's talk about our hopes and dreams for what's next for Raccoon City and beyond. After that, we delve into the apparent return of Telltale Games, September's surprisingly strong PS+ free games offering, the relaunch of some classic 16-bit Disney platformers, and much more. We then round out our weekly offering, as always, with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from the audience. Will game prices really go up next generation? Does Sony have any intention of playing nice with Stadia? Has 2K gone too far with NBA 2K20's gambling features? Is a Pizza Roll just an Italian Gusher? (That last one made Chris really angry.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices