Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

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

Shadow of the Tomb Raider's launch is imminent, and we've been playing it, so we decided to dedicate a portion of this week's episode to Eidos Montreal's latest. Our conversation focuses not only on the finer points of the game, though, but on Lara Croft herself. Does her selfishness and callousness make her an unlikable protagonist? We discuss. We also go into the copious news that's emerged over the last seven days. Rocksteady is openly hiring for a next-gen game. THQ Nordic's buying streak continues unabated, this time with the Kingdoms of Amalur IP. Henry Cavill has been cast in the upcoming Netflix Witcher series. And that's just the beginning of a heavy news week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next year (presumably), we'll finally get our hands on Naughty Dog's highly-anticipated sequel to The Last of Us, the aptly-named The Last of Us: Part II. But one Sacred Symbols listener has a concern: Is it even possible for it to live up to the hype? We discuss. We also delve deep into news from the past week. Spider-Man's DLC has already been announced, PS2's Onimusha is finally coming to PS4, Battlefield V has been delayed, Anthem is getting a demo... and did you know Sekiro was originally going to be a Tenchu game? We talk about all of that, plus much more, with plenty of your questions peppered into the mix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gamescom came and went with a whimper this year, but thankfully, we don't need to rely on the show for news to discuss. After all, CD Projekt finally publicly released its Cyberpunk 2077 demo, giving us much to discuss. But our show doesn't nearly stop there. Supermassive Games announced an Until Dawn-like anthology of horror games, NPD numbers for last month illustrate how PS4 games are selling in the US, Assassin's Creed is taking another much-needed break, and Shenmue III finally has a release date. We chat about all of that, plus much more, wrapped up with plenty of your questions, and information about our coverage plans for Insomniac's Spider-Man, which is just around the corner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony recently announced updated sales figures for PlayStation VR -- 3 million and counting -- which raises an interesting question: Is that actually good? After all, only one in 27 PS4s sold have a PSVR unit hooked up to it. We discuss what that means. Meanwhile, there's news galore to cover, including DICE's long-abandoned Genesis game coming to PS4 and Vita, Until Dawn developer Supermassive's all-new IP trademark, the cancellation of Bloodstained on Vita, Bethesda's aggressive attitude towards Sony, and much more. Colin also gives a preview of Dragon Quest XI, the boys discuss the newly-released Metroidvania Guacamelee! 2, and we round things out, as always, with your questions. Oh, and there's a debate about the pronunciation of "GIF" as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In just the last few days, we were treated with the first gameplay footage ever for both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Doom Eternal. So naturally, we take the time to discuss what we thought of both demonstrations. Meanwhile, Chris is worried that Insomniac's Spider-man is being shown way too much, and so we dive deeper into his concerns. IGN's plagiarism scandal also keeps us busy, with a nearly half hour conversation about that alone. News ranging from a new PS4 Pro and God of War's New Game+ to Bethesda's newest in-house studio and Child of Light II rumors keep us busy otherwise, rounded out -- as always -- by your questions. Oh, and we sacrifice a baby during the show, too, in the name of the Dark Arts. Sorry about that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At 82+ million sold, PlayStation 4 is still lighting the gaming world on fire, and will sell in fewer than five years what PlayStation 3 sold in nine. Indeed, it's all but assured -- barring a mega meltdown at Sony, or within the gaming industry itself -- that PS4 will sell 100 million units, a number only three other home gaming consoles (two of them PlayStation-branded) ever reached. So naturally, we discuss what that means. We also take the time to chat about the Metroidvanias that are currently occupying all our gaming time, the newest NPD sales numbers, BioWare's strange insistence that it's still working on Mass Effect and Dragon Age, a possible (but unlikely) comeback for Resistance, FIFA 19's all-new survival mode, and much, much more, rounded out per usual with your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Developers are getting less and less stingy with their games' Trophies, almost to a comical -- and dare we say destructive -- degree. So this week, we discuss the Trophy ecosystem in-depth, and reflect on how Sony can better protect and nurture the ecosystem. But of course, we also get nitty-gritty with the games themselves. Chasm is out, and Chris has played it extensively, so we chat about the newest entrant to the Metroidvania genre. Old video game website The Escapist is returning, but is its apolitical slant too little, too late? Plus, Spider-man and Shadow of the Tomb Raider have gone gold, Quantic Dream lost an important court case, Capcom is making tons of money, and much much more. Get ready for a jam-packed episode, rounded out as always with your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony-owned studio Guerrilla Games, the minds behind Killzone and Horizon: Zero Dawn, recently announced that it's expanding its roster from 250 employees to 400. This is huge news, indicating that Guerrilla is going to start releasing games at a far greater clip. So naturally, we discuss. Of course, there's other pertinent news to chat about, too, including expectations that the battle royale genre is set to gross $20 billion next year, Fallout 76's newly announced beta, Spider-man's exclusive PS4 Pro console, the fate of Telltale's The Walking Dead, tons of Bethesda-related chatter, an update on the upcoming Sly Cooper cartoon, and much, much more. All capped off, as always, with your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nathan Fillion, an actor beloved in nerd culture from his Firefly days, released a movie-quality Uncharted short film, and it has the Internet abuzz. So we chat a bit about it. But in reality, news is pretty light this week, so we rely on a ton of awesome listener inquiries to fill our 100+ minute run-time. Should Sony's studios have Nintendo-level clout? Will we ever get a sequel to The Order: 1886? Is games journalism failing? How can Sony make PSN better? Will we ever do Sacred Symbols Spoilercasts? The questions are many. Many more than this. So, thankfully, are our answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been seven years since Sony-owned studio Media Molecule released a full-fledged triple-A game, which is ridiculous. So today, we figured we'd answer a listener inquiry about Dreams, Media Molecule's perpetually-upcoming game first rumored in 2012, shown in 2013, properly revealed in 2014, and... *looks at watch*... well, it's 2018, and it's still not here. We also take the time to chat about Nathan Drake's astounding luck, sales expectations for Red Dead Redemption 2, the status of the long-in-development Dead Island 2, possible release dates for Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us: Part II, the future of EA's Star Wars games, the recent God of War movie rumors, and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Sacred Symbols, a hardcore PlayStation podcast for hardcore PlayStation fans! In our inaugural episode, we keep it simple: What are we aiming to do with our show? What is the podcast going to be like? And how can you be involved? Of course, once we get through all that housekeeping, the lion's share of Episode 1 is full of PlayStation chatter. Will Sony ever allow cross-platform play? Is Sucker Punch preparing to be raked over the coals for its representation of 13th century Japanese society in Ghost of Tsushima? Will Final Fantasy VII Remake ever come out? Do we really need Jim Carrey playing Dr. Robotnik in a Sonic the Hedgehog movie? In our maiden voyage, we answer those questions, and many, many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices