Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Every once in a while, a game comes along that you think is one thing, but ends up being something entirely different. (This is especially true for those of us who do our best to avoid preview coverage for titles we're excited about.) Sometimes, this is a good thing. Other times, it isn't. With Remedy's newest game Control -- the dev's first adventure on a PlayStation platform in 16 years -- it's a little bit of both. Frenetic to play and puzzling to understanding, Control has all the makings of an MGS-like political thriller with a supernatural twist, and there's a lot to say about it. Then: We discuss GameStop's most recent round of layoffs, Final Fantasy VIII Remaster's imminent release date, Persona's big sales milestone, and much more, back-loading our fresh-out-of-the-oven episode with listener inquiries. Where's Mafia 4? Can Sony make a portable PS4 on the cheap? Could mandatory demos increase game sales? Do Shrek and Han Solo have the same stylist? Turns out, it's more complicated than you think. (Not really.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's episode was already shaping up to be a sizable one. After all, there's THQ Nordic-related news galore to get through, not to mention the conspicuous exit of two prolific producers from BioWare, new NPD sales data, and much more to discuss. But then a meteor struck: Insomniac Games has been purchased by Sony, the first acquisition PlayStation's first party has made in more than eight years! This news comes unexpectedly, but also represents a seemingly necessary move, particularly in light of Microsoft's recent splashes in the exclusive studio space. So let's chat about the biggest news in the PlayStation universe in quite some time, and then wrap things up with delightful listener questions on topics like retro game collecting, couch co-op, loading up on sales, and generation-defining experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While they share some commonalities, Microsoft and Sony are chasing next-gen victory in fundamentally different ways. Sony's doubling-down on everything that made it a resounding winner this go-around -- including a full embrace of its proprietary ecosystem -- while Microsoft seems more eager to lower barriers and spread the love. In a recent interview, the head of Xbox's first party studios candidly admitted that Microsoft sees some of its games migrating to other consoles. Such an admission draws a line in the sand and makes a bet on reach as next-gen's most valuable currency. So let's talk about it. Plus: Quantic Dream jumps head-first into independent waters, Death Stranding's PS4 exclusivity causes confusion anew, another game gets whisked away by the digital storefront grim reaper, and Shenmue III and Destroy All Humans Remake up the ante on collector editions. Inquiries from the audience round things out this week, as always. Thanks to you, we chat about our expectations for Remedy's Control, Infamous and Infamous 2's conspicuous absence from PS4, the persistent high cost of Vita memory cards, and much more. Like Microsoft and Sony of the future, let's be friends and have fun together (or die trying). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The popular gaming convention PAX West chose to host the first-ever live show in Sacred Symbols' history. We were excited, and so were many of you. Oh, but wait, never mind! Weeks after confirming our panel, the powers-that-be at PAX uninvited us from the show without explanation and with no recourse for fans. It's completely unacceptable, and we dedicate the beginning portion of our show to what went down. And yeah, fine, things happened in the video game world that had nothing to do with this, too. PS4 passed a staggering sales milestone, August's free PlayStation Plus games are a step in the right direction, Borderlands 3 is just about ready for primetime, and GameStop inches one step closer to death. Listener inquiries round out our show as always, touching on topics like Ninja's lucrative jump to Mixer, the future of game-sharing, the limits of retro appreciation, and the erosion of the console generation. And, of course, there are topics aplenty unmentioned in this meager write-up. So come aboard, friends. We still love you, even if PAX doesn't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony-owned Media Molecule is hiring for a most unusual task: The studio is seeking small dev teams to create experiences inside the Early Access version of its PS4 exclusive Dreams. And they're willing to pay. The question, of course, is what that says about the state of Sony's absurdly long-in-development sandbox, and if we're now officially entering Insane Territory. Is there something here we simply cannot see? We discuss. Plus: PS4's next firmware update is officially in beta, Dying Light 2 is crossing generations, Remedy's Control has gone gold, and Ready at Dawn's recent office move suggests some interesting behind-the-scenes happenings. And yes... yes! Of course we let you, the listener, in on the action, with inquiries about the popularity of Mario Maker 2 (and how Sony can replicate its success), Tokyo RPG Factory's quiet existence, the possible physical size of the PlayStation 5, and the likelihood of Red Dead Redemption 2 single player DLC. So wake up, sit up straight, and listen up closely. You can sleep once we're done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Resistance is futile: The future of video game distribution is digital whether you like it or not. But we're an agile sect of consumers, and even the most stubborn among us can change our buying habits. Corporations entrenched in the ever-stagnant status quo, on the other hand, will inevitably be less fortunate. GameStop in particular seems destined to be consumed by creative destruction, but can the American mega-games-retailer stop the inexorable march of progress? We discuss. Also: PS4's Spider-Man sets sales history, current-gen consoles sales slow to a crawl, Sony's slow censorship march continues, and Plants vs. Zombies is mounting a quiet comeback. As always, listener questions round-out this week's episode, touching on subjects like the future of Konami, Rainbow Six Siege's changing Trophies, the next step for Capcom's Breath of Fire, and much more. Oh, and Sacred Symbols is coming to PAX West 2019! Details within. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our beloved industry has a decades-long tradition of declaring a Game of the Year, which usually occurs in December or January. But such decisions can be quite overwhelming, especially with 12 months' worth of content to go over. So we thought we'd do things just a little bit differently. While you can count on a "proper" Game of the Year episode when you'd usually expect it, we thought we'd throw a six month checkup into the mix, giving us the time and space to discuss the titles we love most now that 2019 is halfway finished. Of course, such an endeavor requires a lot of feedback from you, too, which we've included in this episode. So let's chat about what's impressed us the most as we move into the back half of what can easily be described as one of gaming's strongest years in recent memories. At least so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The free market is a splendid thing. And sometimes, it's even a little scary. Today -- unplanned and at the tail end of our episode -- we discuss the eGirl Phenomenon on the back of the Gamer Girl Bathwater controversy. Just what in the actual hell is going on out there? We discuss (and we don't even judge anyone that much). If you're not into perverted stuff, though, that's okay, because most of this week's episode is of a more normal fare. The Batman Arkham Trilogy is coming to PlayStation 4 (again?), Sony pulled 'the ol' switcheroo' with July's free PlayStation Plus offerings, the weeb games are still coming in hot, Dragon's Dogma Online is about to quietly fade away, and an obscure FromSoft game is on the brink of its first western release. Plus, listener inquiries! About what, you might ask?! Possible console tariffs, the upside of censorship, the future of Skate, and Guerrilla's mysterious multiplayer game, of course! C'mon, you godforsaken nerd. Let's do this thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Until recently, we've been left to wildly speculate about PlayStation 5. And boy, have we speculated! But since spring, Sony has been more than willing to talk about its next-gen machine, though it still declines to name it publicly. In a wide-ranging Wall Street Journal article, sources both at Sony and familiar with their internal happenings describe a gaming machine with great capabilities, one being aimed at a specific, hardcore market in mind. But does Sony's approach to hardware, games, and player satisfaction in turn satisfy us? We opine. Then: July's PS+ games are lackluster (to say the least), Remedy has reacquired the rights to Alan Wake, a third Ni No Kuni game is incoming, Bernie Sanders gets crazy with the kids on Twitch, and much, much more. And, to close, listener questions about GI Joe video games, Colin's obsession with in-game clocks, the plague of terrible PSVR games, and one Sacred Symbols fan's quest for everlasting love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know words are important and have specific meanings? The gaming industry learned these essential lessons this past week, when a mistranslated and misunderstood Japanese interview concerning Final Fantasy VII Remake made it seem like the dev team was ordered to make one of the character's breasts smaller. And so we spiraled into madness... except... that's not what was said at all. Oh well! Also: Ape Escape may be making a comeback, EA failed to let everyone know Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a Metroidvania for some reason, Disaster Report 4 is finally finding its way to the west nine years late, and Platinum Games is none-too-impressed with PlayStation 5. As is tradition, we rounded our episode with some listener mail, on topics like the ever-rarer third party exclusive, the return of Dead Space, and Konami's lack of love for Suikoden. Fear not! We'll speak clearly so there's no confusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 2019 is behind us, but -- like the persistent radiation of Chernobyl -- its effects still linger. Indeed, there's much to discuss in the afterglow of the show, and we do just that, revisiting The Avengers, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Cyberpunk 2077. We also touch on Square Enix's plans for its own subscription service, the future of Amazon Game Studios, Konami's surprise new Contra game, and more, and take listener questions on Crash Team Racing, PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility, Assassin's Creed, and what our Game of the Year is thus far. As usual, though, all of that merely skims the surface of this episode of The Internet's Most Beloved PlayStation Podcast. So strap in, Little Billy, or whatever your name is. Let's talk about video games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's early June, which can mean only one thing: The NHL playoffs are nearly over, and it's time to hunker down for several long, lonely months without hockey. But something else happens in early June each year that's especially pertinent to this podcast's audience: E3! And isn't it so strange -- serendipitous, even -- that our very first E3 show would also be our fiftieth core episode? Fate's funny like that, sometimes. To celebrate both E3 and Episode 50, let's talk about the biggest, brightest, and most promising games showcased during the various publisher press conferences, the miscellaneous news items that always accompany such a busy time of year, and even hazard a guess as to E3's longterm future. Not surprisingly, there's a whole lot to get through. Could you imagine if Sony actually showed up? The podcast would never actually end. But perhaps that's what some of you wanted all along. You're not fooling anyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the week before E3, and all through LA, games keep on leaking much to publishers' dismay. A third Watch Dogs is coming. New Destiny DLC, too. And Modern Warfare's being rebooted, though that one didn't leak, it's true. So to welcome E3, we thought we'd cook up a game. One that replaces 'Predictions,' which have become stale and lame. "Fill in the blank!" Colin loudly declared. "Tell me your thoughts, Ray Gun, and your life will be spared!" With all he could muster, Chris gathered his might: "Doom Eternal will win E3, or your soul I shall smite!" Colin looked puzzled, and meekly added, "I can't control that, Chris, like those Nintendo scores that are padded." And so Sacred Symbols preps for gaming's big week, with all of the info and news that you seek. We suppose that's no different than your normal week, though. So enough of all of that: Let's get on with the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 2019 is right around the corner, and Sony ain't gonna be there. But that doesn't mean the company is being quiet. Quite the opposite! Likely in anticipation of big Xbox-related moves and announcements at the annual convention, PlayStation has loosened its spigot even more than it already had in recent weeks, talking PlayStation 5 (or whatever the hell it's going to be called), not to mention PlayStation 4, which it anticipates will be the brand's primary driver until 2022. We discuss. Plus: Mortal Kombat 11 and Days Gone sell big, the new Call of Duty is causing title confusion, Twisted Metal is coming to a TV near you, and The World Health Organization thinks gaming will kill us all. To wrap things up, we take some listener questions, including on Supermassive's upcoming horror game anthology, Sony's possible exclusive return to the FPS genre, and how Oculus Quest may just help PSVR. Oh, and did you know Chris is creamy? More details within! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In recent days, word emerged of a most unusual alliance: It seems Sony is teaming up with longtime arch-rival Microsoft across a series of initiatives that could have significant impact on both entities' future gaming success. Indeed, the announcement was such a surprise -- and seemed to have so much impact for both companies -- that Sony employees were internally fretting that plans for PlayStation 5 might have been altered. But, of course, there's nothing to worry about. Right? We discuss. Plus: Call of Duty's unannounced 2020 entry is in serious production turmoil, Square Enix closed its Tales-like studio just as quickly as it opened it, the PlayStation brand is eyeing the film industry, and THQ Nordic may just be tantalizing Chris at his innermost core. Also, let's delve into some listener inquiries too, on topics ranging from the philosophy behind menu screens and Final Fantasy VII Remake's possible Trophy conundrum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the seemingly endless march of open world something-or-the-others continues with the release of Bethesda's and Avalanche's Rage 2. How have we been enjoying the FPSRPG's opening hours? We go into all the highs and the lows. The last seven days have also provided fertile soil for news, especially on the back of Sony's second State of Play stream. PS4's Medievil remake finally has a release date, while a new second-party Predator-themed asymmetric multiplayer game is also en route to the console. Meanwhile, Capcom's mega-popular Monster Hunter: World is finally getting a major expansion, John Wick is now a video game, EA Access is coming to PS4 five years too late, and much, much more. Listener questions also bring us on a wild journey, touching on topics ranging from Final Fantasy VII Remake's episodic nature to the mysterious design philosophy of too-long button prompts. Also: Is Chris' shirt red or crimson? This is a podcast, so perhaps you'll never know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SEGA never stops trying to make Sonic the Hedgehog relevant again. Indeed, the storied games publisher even announced a foray into feature films some months ago. But now, that mere announcement has been given life and motion, and... well... the results are highly disturbing. But with the filmmakers' decision to heed fans' calls for design changes, have we reached Peak Entitlement? Let's chat about it. Plus: Sony reveals perhaps the most disappointing lineup of free PlayStation Plus games yet, Dreams is getting its first big update, Rage 2 is ready for launch, and Bloodstained finally has a release date. And what's that, you say? You have some input, too?! Why, of course you do, listener! So let's take your inquiries, per usual, touching on topics like the publisher-developer relationship, how to (maybe?) not support crunch in game dev, and the reinvigoration of the single-player FPS genre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation 4 is getting kinda jealous. After all, we've been heaping all this attention on its successor over the last couple of weeks, and it thinks we've forgotten about it. So let's prove it wrong with a heaping helping of PS4 news and info! For starters, new PlayStation 4 sales figures have been announced, and with PS4's all-new exclusive Days Gone now released, you'll be pleased to know that (free!) DLC is on the way. Plus: Bloodborne is now a board game, Kingdom Hearts III is getting new content, a Persona 5 Musou is en route, Square Enix will announce new games at E3, and much more! Then, to wrap things up, let's talk to the audience (that's you!) about topics ranging from playing Sekiro the really hard way and if DualShock 5 should have more buttons to Horizon's sequel and the reality of 8K gaming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sure, we talked about PlayStation 5 extensively last week, but we just can't get it off our minds. This is especially true considering an extra morsel of information we weren't aware of until recent days, a morsel all about price. We jump into the new info, plus take a bunch of PS5-related questions from the audience, 'cause it turns out you want to talk about it a whole bunch. Then again, we still need to dwell in this generation, and so there's plenty of news to cover there, too, including Mortal Kombat 11's leaked DLC roster, The Last of Us: Part II passing a key production milestone, and all the juicy (and nerdy) details about Konami's upcoming Castlevania compilation, plus more. Then, we put a bow on everything by considering the possibilities of more Xbox-Nintendo collaborations, the future of outrage-driven games journalism, and the possibility of upgrading your PS4 games to PS5 games... for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week was already going to be zany here on Sacred Symbols. That's 'cause there's a ton of news to get through, including the roll-out of the long-awaited, vaunted PSN name change functionality, new tidbits relating to Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us: Part II, kinda-sorta-maybe confirmations concerning new entries in the Horizon and Killzone franchises, and much more. Hell, we even learned more about Respawn's upcoming (entirely single-player?!) Star Wars game. But then something quite unusual occurred: An interview with Sony's Mark Cerny was released, like mana from heaven, and within it was a shocking amount of information about PlayStation 5 (though they won't yet call it that). For the first time, we have actual answers to common PS5-related questions (like backwards compatibility, various confirmations on components, PSVR integration, and more). So it's only right that the World's Most Beloved PlayStation Podcast jumped into the details with all the gusto you'd expect from such a mighty show. Thereafter, we round things out with listener questions, including one that presents a puzzling inquiry: Is there an unsolvable tension between art and play? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the last couple of weeks, a debate has raged within the gaming industry: Should games be easier? Should they be more accessible? And are those two things actually the same, or in some way, shape, or form different? On this episode, we take the time to drill down deep and get to the bottom of some lingering questions about game difficulty, disabled players, and the Games Are For Everyone philosophy. But no episode of Sacred Symbols would be complete without copious news and plenty of letters from the listeners. Borderlands 3 has a release date and couch co-op, the UK's Prince Harry thinks parents are helpless against their Fortnite-playing children, GameStop is hemorrhaging money, and much more, while fan inquires range on topics from Mega Man Battle Network and The Elder Scrolls VI to PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now, and the dreaded PlayStation Store. Oh, and we gush about Phoenix Wright for a bit, too. Objection?! We think not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Like virtually any gigantic multinational corporation, Sony has seen its share of ups and downs. Its most recent upswing, however, was overseen by Kaz Hirai, who -- from 2012 to 2018 -- served as Sony's CEO after nearly two decades cutting his teeth on the PlayStation brand. Now, he's on the verge of retirement, and so it's time for us to say goodbye. But fear not, for there's plenty of video game news this week, too. Borderlands 3 is real (shocking, we know), Dreams' Early Access is right around the corner, DriveClub is driving off a cliff, and a prominent Japanese developer left his studio over concerns of censorship. As always, we round out things with your queries, touching on topics ranging from Trophies on other hardware and remastered soundtracks to the status of Ready at Dawn and our lack of Mortal Kombat 11 coverage. Oh, and one listener makes a bet with Chris, and PlayStation 5 is involved. How intriguing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're barely through the first quarter of the year, but the new releases keep piling up. This week, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice joins the fray (and many others' backlogs), and we have a word or two to say about it. But after catching up on what we've been playing, we take a sharp turn into the news. Sony's new Nintendo Direct-like State of Play initiative debuted, with a few announcements and release dates worth noting, particularly when it comes to PSVR. Persona 5 is also back in the news with a mysterious announcement of an announcement, Konami piles on the classic compilations (Castlevania!), and a new Lord of the Rings game appears to be PlayStation 5-bound (yes, 5). Then, with your encouragement via listener mail, we leave the Sony ecosystem for a bit, diving deep into Google's Stadia announcement, the controversies surrounding Epic's new digital game store, the nature of game pricing, and much more. After all, we may be a PlayStation podcast... but it's good to venture outside every now and again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Division 2 has finally arrived, and players around the world are having a blast. So too are we here at Sacred Symbols, and so we delve deep into our experiences so far, while also pondering the obvious: Does this game have the long tail its competitor, Anthem, so severely lacks? There's lots of news to get through this week, too. Borderlands 3's announcement is imminent, Turtle Rock's Left 4 Dead spiritual successor is in the works, a new Sonic the Hedgehog game is a-comin', the Uncharted movie's ex-screenwriter apparently loathes Neil Druckmann, and much more. And what would Sacred Symbols be without letters from the listener, letters ranging on topics from Ghost of Tsushima's release window and Capcom's meteoric upswing to the pros and cons of turn-based combat and the glory of the South Park RPGs. There's much to get through, agent. Let's do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to the gaming industry, the war for your time and money is a relentless slog. It almost makes you wonder if -- in trying to give you more -- you're actually getting less, not only in content, but in creativity and wonder, too. A listener question sparks a conversation surrounding just such a topic, and we naturally delve head first into it. But before we get there, there's some news to attend to. One upcoming PS4 exclusive (Days Gone) has gone gold, while another (Death Stranding) seems to be falling behind. New firmware brings PS4 Remote Play to iOS devices. PlayStation is breaking the Chinese gaming industry wide open. And did you know NIS is bringing a new Vita game out... in 2020?! We discuss all of that, plus much more, rounded out by even more listener questions, like: Where's Killzone? Will Legend of Dragoon ever come back? And does Colin really hate gum more than anything else on Earth? The answers may just surprise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The longest slow death in world history is about to finally conclude. After more than seven wonderful, memorable, and possibly even unnecessary years, Sony has finally pulled the plug on the production of new PlayStation Vita units, signaling the end of the handheld's tortured life. But are we really, truly in its final chapter? We discuss. Plus: The news! Respawn is readying the reveal of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Horizon: Zero Dawn passed a huge sales milestone, The Division 2's puzzling season pass has finally been explained, Phoenix Wright has been dated for PS4, and more. Oh, and how about some questions, comments, and concerns from the audience, like: Why does EA refuse to publish the Mass Effect Trilogy on PS4? Should great game studios be held to a higher standard than their mediocre peers? Will BioShock 4 ever materialize? Is "moist" a worse word than "damp?" Listen, and find out... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthem is finally out in the wild, and it's arrived with a noticeable commercial and critical thud. But is it as thoroughly mediocre as it seems? We go in-depth into BioWare's newest online loot grind, and give you our candid thoughts. Then -- per usual -- we delve into the news. Media Molecule's Dreams is finally coming out (sorta), Bethesda has outlined Fallout 76's year-long content plan, The Outer Worlds may be closer than you think, Square Enix goes on a Mana-related trademarking binge, and more. Rounding things out are listener questions on topics ranging from the future of Mega Man Legends 3, the symmetric vs. asymmetric analog stick debate, Nintendo and Microsoft's increasingly cozy relationship, and the best JRPGs to enjoy for a player new to the genre. Enjoy this week's episode. Just please don't use the term "Looter Shooter." We beg you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the center of any enterprise is money, and the gaming industry is no different. But with the recent layoff of a staggering 800 people at gigantic (and profitable) publisher Activision Blizzard, questions are starting to be raised about the financial viability of game development as-is, and the treatment of the thousands of talented men and women that make the games we love. Se, we dive head-first into the subject. There's also plenty of news to get through. A high-ranking Sony executive has spoken openly and candidly about PlayStation 3's struggles. Is that a good sign for PlayStation 5? Also: Hollow Knight's getting a sequel, Tokyo RPG Factory's next game has been revealed, The Division 2's open beta is inbound, and both Catherine: Full Body and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night have much more release clarity for we, the western gamer. As usual, we round things out with your letters, including a chat about hunting games, the longterm viability of the Battle Royale market, the future of EA's NCAA Football series, and violent video games' relationship to real world violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Late last year, we learned that Sony would skip E3 in 2019, an unprecedented exit from the world famous trade show that began way back in the mid-'90s. But with the recent words of a top PlayStation executive, we now know for sure what we earlier suspected: The company feels June's annual gathering has grown increasingly irrelevant. Is their stance forward-thinking? We discuss. Plus: We open up to you about our relationship with gaming PR, wish the very best towards those likely facing layoffs at Activision Blizzard, recount January's best-selling PSN games, commiserate over Disney's relationship with EA, and more. Your questions, comments, and concerns round things out, as always, on topics ranging from subtitles in games and the ethics of using walkthroughs to Japanese voice acting and the old 3D fad we all hated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ready or not, a brand new battle royale adventure has joined the fray. It's called Apex Legends, and it's a free-to-play Titanfall spinoff from EA's Respawn Entertainment, launched on PS4 as a complete surprise to everyone. That's all well and good, but can the market sustain another one of these types of games? And why does it seem like Electronic Arts is competing with itself? We sort through it all. Then: Sony's recent financial report shows a healthy company and a very healthy PlayStation 4, but what does the future hold for the Japanese behemoth, what with a serious threat from Microsoft's Xbox brand on the horizon? Plus: Quantic Dream officially leaves Sony's second party family, GameStop could be in serious financial jeopardy, 2K announces a brand new studio, and more. And for dessert, your inquiries and thoughts, including on PlayStation 5's hypothetical launch library, the wisdom behind buying a PS4 late in its lifecycle, and the possibility of a new middle market emerging for A (not AAA!) games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For some strange reason, rock solid survival horror is somewhat scarce these days. (Indeed, if you think about it, that's kinda always been the case.) But with Resident Evil 2's long-awaited remake finally out, it's fair to say that our hunger for the undead is satiated, in the best way possible. After chatting about RE2, though, we get into the news. The NPD Group has released the best-selling games in America for the year of 2018, and the results may surprise you. Meanwhile, Ubisoft has added "Light RPG Elements" to Far Cry: New Dawn, making us even more excited for the game. Oh, and did you hear those rumors about Fallout 76 going free-to-play? Well, they're not true, and we'll tell you why. We cover all of that, plus more, rounded out with listener questions, comments, and concerns on topics ranging from Anthem's lack of PvP and its unimpressive demo performance to fixing the broken Trophy ecosystem and willing into existence a brand new modern shooter... if the market could even support one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2013, Electronic Arts signed a promising (and lucrative) deal with Disney to be the exclusive developer and publisher of Star Wars video games. Fast forward nearly six years to 2019, and EA has very little to show for it. With the most recent cancellation of yet another EA-developed Star Wars game, is it time for Disney to work with other publishers? We discuss. Additionally, we tackle other news items from the past week, including Guerrilla Games getting an extended peek at Death Stranding, Bungie remaining committed to Destiny's long-term future, Ubisoft bungling in-game relationships in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey's DLC, and much more. Plus, we tackle plenty of listener inquiries, including where Resident Evil should go in the future, the wisdom of revitalizing PlayStation Home, THQ Nordic's possible "Moneyball" tactics, and perhaps the most important question of all: Is a corndog a popsicle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This past week, something seemingly unthinkable happened: Developer Bungie and publisher Activision parted ways when it comes to the mega-popular Destiny IP, and weirder yet, the measure seems completely amicable. So let's spend some time dissecting this significant business move from all the angles. Also: PlayStation 4 continues to set the world on fire with both hardware and software sales, as it eyes 100 million sold. But does that milestone truly matter? Plus: GearBox Software's co-founder and CEO is being sued, Sony makes a covert corporate purchase, Catherine abandons Vita, and Ninja Gaiden might be making a comeback, and we answer listener questions concerning speedrunning, game narrative versus design, future retail and digital pricing, and the perfect DualShock 5 controller, in addition to much, much more. (Oh, and we render a final verdict on sour cream and onion potato chips, too.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We like to do things just a little differently here on Sacred Symbols, even with tried and true industry-wide traditions like Game of the Year. For our First Annual Prestigious Sacred Symbols Game of the Year Awards, we opted to dole out 20 accolades, but not in the way you'd probably expect. What's the best action game? Best RPG? Best exclusive? No, no, and no. Instead, we dole out our high honors like The What Could Possibly Go Wrong Award, The Best Unintentional PlayStation-Related Entertainment Award, The Game I Forgot I Played And Couldn’t Tell You Anything About Award, and much more. Of course, we also cover the news! The return of Telltale's The Walking Dead has a release date, From Software both apologizes to and teases its audience in the same interview, EA and BioWare are prepping two Anthem demos, et cetera, with your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas sprinkled in, as always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a new year, and it's time to get down to brass tacks. 2019 will almost certainly bring with it the first concrete details -- official or otherwise -- concerning Sony's PlayStation 5, and it's high time we start speculating. But while much of today's episode of Sacred Symbols is indeed dedicated to PS5, not all of it is. Rather, today's show is totally structured around your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas, not only about what's next in the World of PlayStation, but about what has been, and what is right now. We'll get back to normal order next week. For now, let's gather 'round the digital fire and chat, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we get into our Game of the Year awards in a couple of weeks, we wanted to clear our plates (so to speak) by touching on some of the greatest (and worst!) PlayStation-related moments of the last calendar year. For instance, God of War, Detroit: Become Human, and Spider-Man gave us a trio of amazing PS4 exclusives that lifted our spirits, but the likes of the PlayStation Classic and Sony's initial attitude towards cross-platform play left us a bit sour. Then there's the nebulous stuff -- such as Sony exiting next year's E3, the company acknowledging PlayStation 5 for the first time, and the like -- that have left us excited, but also nervous. Let's work through it all, with a ton of listener memories and thoughts complementing our own. We also get into some recent news, too, including the long-awaited Dreams beta finally arriving on the scene, Sony's inability to manufacture the Vita carts publishers ordered, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colin is just about near death with some sort of winterborne illness, but he and Chris gather for their weekly ritual -- bestowing upon you some PlayStation goodness -- nonetheless. Kingdom Hearts III doesn't come out until late January; yet, the game has leaked, and spoilers are abound. We discuss the fiasco in spoiler-free fashion. Also: Metro Exodus has gone gold and gotten a bumped-up release date, Detroit: Become Human hits a sale milestone, Uncharted guru Amy Hennig is set to receive prestigious honors, the Game Awards have us rethinking our most-anticipated games of 2019 podcast from last week, and much more. We also integrate plenty of your questions, comments, and concerns (as always), including on if in-game ads have gone too far, if games media needs to fundamentally rethink how it reviews games, and if developers are perhaps too focused on quality over quantity. Have at you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018 is just about behind us, and 2019 lies just around the corner. To celebrate the coming year, we sat down and sifted through our most anticipated games of the next 12 months. Chris came packing 10 games; so did Colin. Through some very complicated mathematics (not really), we made a solid list of 16 games, cobbled together to represent our collective excitement. The rules? The games in question have to be playable on a piece of PlayStation hardware, and have to be aiming (at least somewhat) for a 2019 release date. That's it. So enough talk! Let's do this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should video games be censored, or should anything go? The PlayStation ecosystem has recently found itself having to answer this important question, one framed around a peculiar (and often distasteful) grouping of fan service-heavy games. Some niche devs are claiming that they're being stymied, the consumers of those games aren't happy about it, and Sony itself has admitted that the rules are shifting. So, let's chat about where to go from here. Plus: December's PS+ games have arrived, GameStop posts a major financial loss, the FTC has its eyes on lootboxes, Fallout 76's drama continues, Rocksteady isn't making a Superman game, WayForward joins the Bloodstained team, and much more, enveloped -- as always -- by your questions, comments, and concerns. Oh, and it's Chris' birthday, so Colin got him a very appropriate gift. More details within. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The holiday gaming season arrived with a massive dud with the launch of Fallout 76, the online-centric Fallout game that's being poorly received both critically and commercially. What does it all mean for Bethesda as a publisher, its world-famous Bethesda Games Studios dev team, and fans alike? We delve in with our thoughts, and plenty of listener questions, too. Plus: PS4 continues its sales domination, Media Molecule's Dreams is getting a beta before year's end, Rockstar has abandoned its PS3-exclusive vaporware Agent, Kingdom Hearts III has gone gold, and Square Enix filed a new Parasite Eve trademark. Also: One listener asks what PS5's launch library could look like, and much, much more. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 began way back in 1995, and each and every year since, Sony has shown up with its PlayStation brand, often in a major way. But in 2019, that all changes. Sony has announced that it won't be at E3. At all. No press conference. No show floor offerings. Nada. This is a huge deal, and it gives us an enormous amount to chat about. Plus: PlayStation 4 turns five, Square Enix is toiling away on a PS5 title, THQ Nordic has an astounding 55 games in development, and much more. Listeners also chime in with questions about dormant franchises like Jet Moto and Parasite Eve, and one fan inquires about our respective audio setups, too. So let's get going, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just when things seemed to be going swimmingly for Square Enix, bad news strikes: Not only has most of Final Fantasy XV's DLC been cancelled, but the game's director -- one of their most vital employees -- has left the company. Combined with a $33 million loss over the past six months, the famous Japanese publisher may not be in fighting shape. We discuss. Plus: Red Dead Redemption 2 keeps selling huge, Activision is disappointed with Destiny 2's performance, Supermassive Games is still in the PlayStation exclusive fold, and Colin wonders aloud if he's going senile. Oh, and should Twisted Metal go Battle Royale? That's just one of the many listener questions we answer, too. So come one, come all! Let's get nerdy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The PlayStation news never stops rolling in, and with new PS4 global sales figures, random NPD releases concerning lifetime Vita and PSone software numbers, and fresh information about both the Medievil remake and the recently announced MLB 19: The Show, we have plenty to keep us busy. But we also wanted to take time to focus on the non-PlayStation fiasco surrounding Blizzard, Activision, the Diablo franchise, and... well... many gamers, including many of you. Why is the gaming industry becoming so increasingly toxic, and how can we repair the many rifts that exist around us? Did Blizzard commit a rare faux pas, are gamers expecting too much, or is the truth (as usual) somewhere in the middle? Plus: We remember Monster Rancher, discuss innovations from the multiplayer realm, give a fair shake to Fallout 76 and Kingdom Hearts, and gush over Netflix's Castlevania series. (And much more, of course.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony has finally revealed the 20 games that are set to come loaded onto each and every PlayStation Classic. The lineup has pleased some, but has left many others disappointed (and dare we say aghast). Not surprisingly, we jump into the ongoing conversation. Plus, Shawn Layden finally talks specifics when it comes to PS4's Medievil remake, Spider-Man sets sales records, Bethesda continues to pay for the trap it set for itself with Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI, there are problems galore with the PSN name change beta... and one intrepid listener asks what Sony thinks when its hardware appears in porn, which is a surprisingly great question. Speaking of questions, we wade through many other listener inquiries, too, including ones about review scores, midnight launches, and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just when you thought Sony Bend was actually going to release a game this generation, you were wrong. Well, kinda. The studio's eagerly-anticipated third-person open world game Days Gone has been delayed, and we discuss what that means for PlayStation 4's 2019 calendar year. Plus, the saga surrounding Rockstar's phantom 100-hour work weeks continues, and we sound off with some candid and honest thoughts. Also: News about Medievil Remastered on PS4 is imminent, CoD: Black Ops 4's online functionality is leaving people unimpressed, Jade Raymond has officially left Electronic Arts... and one wily listener had the audacity to ask Chris if a Pop-Tart is indeed a ravioli. So let's jump into a heaping helping of Sacred Symbols, where the news are noodles, and your many questions, comments, and concerns make for a savory sauce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an interview, Rockstar's co-founder seemed to indicate that the massive team working on Red Dead Redemption 2 is pulling 100-hour work weeks to finish the game. But is that actually true, or have his words been completely misconstrued? Is all well, or is it time to sound the alarms? We discuss. Plus: Sony finally confirms PS5 is coming (duh), PlayStation Network names will be a-changin' starting in early 2019, some naughty bits are being removed from the upcoming Senran Kagura game, and Sony Santa Monica appears to be working on two separate, unannounced titles. You can look forward to all of that -- and much more -- on this week's Sacred Symbols, with plenty of your questions, comments, and concerns peppered in. Y'know. For flavor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A few days ago, cell phone footage of a new, triple-A Harry Potter game (purportedly an open world RPG) was leaked, giving us a glimpse into what the popular franchise could look like on current-gen (and possibly even next-gen) consoles. But this week's news doesn't stop there. All signs are pointing to PSN name changing possibly happening very soon, Skybound Entertainment swooped in to save the Telltale Walking Dead franchise, Killzone's revival is looking mighty likely, The Witcher's author is suing CD Projekt Red, Symphony of the Night's PS4 release may disappoint Castlevania purists, and much, much more. Of course, we sprinkle a couple dozen of your questions, comments, and concerns in there, too. So keep it locked: We've much to discuss. Much to discuss, indeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fall rush is just about here, and there's much to discuss. For starters, Mega Man 11 has arrived, and Colin -- The World's Biggest Mega Man Nerd™ -- has some feelings about it. News concerning the recent (and very surprising) Telltale closure has also been flooding out, including word of a class action lawsuit, which we discuss. Plus: Our long PS4 cross-platform play national nightmare is over, new PlayStation Plus games have been revealed, Bungie trademarked a new video game title, and you better damn well buy Dragon Quest XI, or else. You have all of that (plus much more) to look forward to, rounded out, as we do each week, with your questions, comments, and concerns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last few days have been dire. Beloved adventure game dev Telltale has been suddenly shuttered, leaving some 250 people unemployed. It's incredibly sad, and we take the time to go through the whats, whys, and hows. Sony also revealed that PlayStation Vita manufacturing will officially conclude in the coming months, indicating that, after dodging death for years, Vita's end is nigh. And Capcom's Canadian studio, Capcom Vancouver, has been shuttered as well. But even with all of the blood, there's good news, too. Insomniac's Spider-Man has broken sales records, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is coming to PS4... oh, and did you hear about the PlayStation Classic? Where do we begin?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the calm before the storm, and we're looking to keep ourselves busy in the wake of Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Spider-Man. Colin made the unusual step of starting up Mass Effect Andromeda to pass the time. Did he make such a decision because he hates himself? We discuss. But beyond that, of course, there's news to discuss. Spider-Man is getting New Game+, PS4 firmware 6.0 is in the wild, Assassin's Creed ports are PS4-bound... and we apparently scarred someone by discussing the Human Centipede last week. All of that news (plus much more) is accompanied by your questions, comments, and concerns. Let's enjoy the lull while we can, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices