The Easy Allies Podcast

This week is about playing demos and surprise remasters on the Switch while we keep laughing at or crying about the Super Mario movie cast. Also, THQ brings a batch of old franchises new life, Quantic Dream might be making a Star Wars game, and Titanfall 3 is not not happening 00:01:07 - Corrections 00:03:03 - Starring Role 00:06:23 - Super Mario Movie Cast 00:22:27 - Nintendo Direct Announcements 00:44:08 - Nintendo Direct Updates 00:59:27 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:03:59 - THQ Nordic Showcase 01:09:39 - Quantic Dream Star Wars Game 01:18:26 - Titanfall 3 hype 01:25:15 - Also This Week 01:30:35 - Game: Touhou or No Bro! 01:34:19 - L&R - Outside resource help? 01:38:03 - L&R - Average completion percentage? 01:41:49 - L&R - GOTY anti-spoiler preparation? 01:43:47 - Time For Bets 01:46:37 - Closing .Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how Upstart can lower your monthly payments today. Go to http://candidco.com/easyallies and use code easyallies to save $75 on your starter kit. Go to http://hellofresh.com/allies14 and use code allies14 for up to 14 free meals, including free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we go over the fine print. August NPDs hold some surprising winners, Nintendo’s financials provoke rumors of a Switch price cut, and the saga of Epic and Apple comes to a complex and often hilarious conclusion. 00:01:05 - Corrections 00:03:36 - Starring Role 00:06:23 - August NPDs 00:19:53 - Switch price cut? 00:29:24 - Kojima and real-time games 00:38:12 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:41:57 - Epic v Apple ruling 00:56:27 - Also This Week 00:59:29 - Game: NICE 01:03:13 - L&R - Superhero villains 01:05:37 - L&R - UI and menu touchstones 01:10:38 - L&R - Can we fix user reviews? 01:18:53 - Time For Bets 01:22:29 - Closing Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 months free on a 1-year package. Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies for 10% off! Tune in September 9th on Rooster Teeth to see who’s the last one laughing. And catch up on Season 1 with all the episodes available to stream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation finally shows up with a showcase and it’s worth the wait. Wolverine and Spider-man overshadow their fellow Guardians, KOTOR is remade, and Kratos is revealed running on the PS5. With fan favorite Alan Wake coming back into the light, and No Man’s Sky earning a “mostly positive” rank on Steam, it’s a week for big franchise wins. 00:01:06 - Corrections 00:03:14 - Starring Role 00:08:04 - God of War: Ragnarok 00:19:51 - Marvel’s Wolverine 00:30:25 - Marvel’s Spider-man 2 00:41:10 - Guardians of the Galaxy 00:48:06 - Knights of the Old Republic Remake 00:52:17 - PlayStation Showcase Updates 01:14:55 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:19:08 - Alan Wake Remastered 01:26:02 - No Man Sky is “mostly positive” 01:36:36 - Also This Week 01:40:30 - L&R - What’s next for Hazelight? 01:45:14 - L&R - Are pre-order bonuses worth it? 01:50:46 - L&R - Let’s talk about maps 01:59:01 - Time For Bets 02:03:08 - Closing Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for free. Go to http://hellofresh.com/allies14 and use code allies14 for up to 14 free meals including free shipping! Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We examine the PlayStation 5 from multiple angles - its new subtly advanced model, recently announced 2021 Showcase, and cloudy PS4 upgrade path for Horizon Forbidden West. Also, Dead Space looks early which is cool, and is Nagoshi leaving Sega? 00:01:20 - Corrections 00:03:43 - Starring Role 00:06:27 - Dead Space early look 00:22:55 - The New PlayStation 5 00:31:14 - Horizon Forbidden West on PS4 00:44:27 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:47:16 - PlayStation Showcase Predictions 00:56:07 - Is Toshihiro Nagoshi leaving Sega? 01:03:46 - Also This Week 01:11:15 - Game: Tag That! 01:14:46 - L&R - Can Etrian Odyssey stand out? 01:18:29 - L&R - Getting over losing progress 01:24:24 - L&R - Gaming’s greatest achievement? 01:27:33 - Time For Bets 01:31:08 - Closing 01:32:36 - Damiani drives around the Lake Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how Upstart can lower your monthly payments today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gamescom is live and the announcements are many. Opening Night Live drops some new IPs and revives old franchises while Halo Infinite and Xbox showcase a little less than anticipated. 00:01:19 - Corrections 00:03:45 - Starring Role 00:06:46 - Gamescom Opening Night Live 00:12:10 - Saints Row 00:17:05 - Marvel Midnight Suns 00:21:45 - DokeV 00:24:31 - Gamescom ONL reveals 00:31:12 - Gamescom ONL announcements 00:43:07 - Gamescom ONL updates 01:05:41 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:08:55 - Halo Infinite at Gamescom 01:22:12 - Xbox Gamescom Showcase 01:32:10 - Also This Week 01:41:32 - L&R - That’s A Wrap! 01:48:12 - L&R - Interesting difficulty levels 01:52:25 - L&R - EA redemption arc? 01:59:18 - Time For Bets 02:03:20 - Closing 02:05:27 - Producer Credits Go to http://candidco.com/easyallies and use code easyallies to save $75 on your starter kit. Go to http://getquip.com/allies to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we sail on a sea of updates and announcements. Vanguard tests the stability of the CoD franchise, Quake looks better than ever, Pokemon presents a bunch of new stuff, and Grimoire of Souls is seemingly back from the dead. 00:01:24 - Corrections 00:02:19 - Call of Duty: Vanguard 00:12:14 - QuakeCon 2021 00:18:38 - Pokemon Presents 00:36:14 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:41:06 - Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls 00:48:16 - Abandoned App Launch 00:53:24 - Also This Week 01:00:01 - Game: Lost in Translation: Taiwan 01:05:20 - L&R - DLC better than the original game? 01:09:24 - L&R - Ever delayed the final boss? 01:12:17 - L&R - Best version of Final Fantasy VI? 01:15:03 - Time For Bets 01:21:04 - Closing Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 extra months free! Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get 10% off. Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a celebration of indies! ID@Xbox and Nintendo game-pass and shadow-drop some exciting titles while the Amiga gets its own mini-console and Twitch tries a dash of unexpected transparency. 00:01:17 - Corrections 00:02:24 - ID@Xbox Indie Showcase 00:23:55 - Nintendo Indie Direct 00:44:46 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:46:35 - Twitch Transparency 00:57:17 - The A500 Mini Announced 01:01:56 - Activision/Blizzard Update 01:06:10 - Also This Week 01:11:10 - Game: Yakuza Substory or Segal Movie? 01:14:15 - L&R - Do you love any 3s or 4s? 01:17:00 - L&R - Which composer would you hire? 01:19:03 - L&R - What games make you “happy?” 01:21:31 - Time For Bets 01:26:29 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how Upstart can lower your monthly payments today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Team ASOBI teases their biggest game ever, and Zool Redimensioned kicks off a team of new developers. After PS5 and Xbox numbers drops, Nintendo touts one million-selling game after another, while Blizzard and Fullbright face the oncoming wave of industry change. 00:00:45 - Corrections 00:01:42 - Team ASOBI’s Next Game 00:11:17 - Zool Redimensioned Announced 00:18:39 - Nintendo Q1 Financials 00:36:32 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:40:55 - Blizzard Updates 00:52:56 - Toxic Work Culture at Fullbright 01:00:55 - Also This Week 01:07:43 - L&R - Is this the year CoD loses? 01:12:06 - L&R - What’s the next PC PlayStation game? 01:17:22 - L&R - Recommend 3 Assassin’s Creed games 01:20:18 - Time For Bets 01:25:17 - Closing Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for free. Go to http://hellofresh.com/allies14 and use code allies14 for up to 14 free meals plus free shipping! Go to http://babbel.com and use code ALLIES to get an extra 3 months of Babbel free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following a heavy news week, we kick back with some casual speculation and anticipation. Annapurna shows off their first showcase, Splitgate hits max capacity, the Pokemon live-action universe continues, and That’s No Moon hypes up a new hope for AAA development. 00:00:59 - Corrections 00:06:02 - Annapurna Showcase 00:23:13 - Next-Gen Sales Updates 00:41:37 - Live-Action Pokemon Series 00:49:54 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:52:56 - Have You Heard About Splitgate? 01:01:04 - That’s No Moon 01:11:03 - Also This Week 01:17:39 - L&R - What Switch games need DLC? 01:19:31 - L&R - The Olympics and game music 01:23:24 - L&R - Favorite Olympic events? 01:27:19 - L&R - The Easy Allies Olympic Games 01:30:00 - Time For Bets 01:33:15 - Closing 01:34:56 - July Producer Credits Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Go to http://candidco.com/easyallies and use code easyallies to save $75 on your starter kit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bloodworth moderates a mixed week of gaming news. EA has one of their best showcases in years, but working at Activision/Blizzard sounds worse than ever, and Ubisoft can’t stop announcing shooters or developing Skull & Bones. 00:01:31 - EA Play 00:10:29 - Dead Space Remake 00:16:09 - Battlefield Portal 00:24:36 - Other EA Play games 00:29:43 - California vs Activision/Blizzard 00:56:41 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:59:01 - XDefiant 01:05:26 - Skull & Bones & Ubisoft 01:17:19 - Also This Week 01:21:36 - L&R - My industry desire is dead 01:31:43 - L&R - What if Kirby eats you? 01:35:16 - L&R - Did remasters kill virtual console? 01:48:32 - Time For Bets 01:52:26 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how Upstart can lower your monthly payments today. Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Valve finally revealed their handheld, the Steam Deck. As we try to drop five bucks on one, Takuya Kimura’s agency might cancel the next Judgment, Netflix might start making games next year, and classic games might start selling for over a million dollars. 00:01:25 - Corrections 00:03:35 - Steam Deck 00:26:12 - Takuya Kimura and Judgment 00:35:44 - Netflix Games 00:43:35 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:48:00 - Have You Heard About Ynglet? 00:54:43 - The Million Dollar Mario 64 01:04:27 - Also This Week 01:09:50 - Game: Don’t Stop Achieving! 01:15:12 - L&R - Favorite start screen theme? 01:18:40 - L&R - Is the WoW to FFXIV shift a big deal? 01:24:21 - L&R - What else deserves a Smash Bros? 01:25:21 - L&R - Who needs to be in the Nickelodeon brawler? 01:27:01 - Time For Bets 01:30:51 - Closing Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 months of ExpressVPN free on a 1-year package. Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get 10% off. Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we got a very Nintendo announcement for the Switch, and a very Ubisoft announcement for Assassin’s Creed. This might not be what we want, but at least we’re getting a new RoboCop game in 2 years, and a bunch of fun third party stuff headed to PS5. 00:00:58 - Corrections 00:03:03 - Deathloop State of Play 00:21:05 - Assassin’s Creed Infinity 00:35:00 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:41:04 - Switch OLED Model 00:52:45 - Robocop: Rogue City 01:05:27 - Also This Week 01:10:48 - L&R - Marketing slow drip or blowout? 01:15:23 - L&R - Should most games have God Mode? 01:17:47 - L&R - Have any franchises lost you? 01:22:35 - Time For Bets 01:27:17 - Closing Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for free. Go to http://hellofresh.com/allies14 and use code allies14 for up to 14 free meals plus free shipping! Go to http://babbel.com and use code ALLIES to get an extra 3 months of Babbel free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Out of nowhere, and somehow predictably, Nintendo finally unveils the next Switch we might not need but are totally going to buy. Damiani, Brad, and Jones sunset their expectations for a higher-performance Switch and go through the OLED Model's features and sales potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a super-sized, 2-plus-hour episode we look ahead to the rest of the summer. Our quarterly multi-game preview picks the hottest and coldest releases from July, August, and September 2021. 00:00:41 - Corrections 00:02:55 - Q3 Preview July 00:32:46 - Q3 Preview August 01:08:51 - A Word From Our Sponsor 01:10:42 - Q3 Preview September 01:43:51 - Also This Week 01:58:07 - L&R - Other franchise FTP games? 02:01:01 - L&R - Another Rare Replay type game? 02:05:39 - Time For Bets 02:09:57 - Closing 02:11:15 - Mario Golf: Super Rush Bet Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out if you can lower your monthly payments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that the E3 news train has left the station, we dive into some truly strange headlines. Blue Box continues to deny the Kojima rumors, Harada kind of admits Tekken X Street Fighter is canceled, and Facebook wants to get you closer to their ads than ever before. 00:00:40 - Corrections 00:01:50 - Blue Box and Hideo Kojima 00:16:07 - Tekken X Street Fighter canceled 00:26:06 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:29:54 - VR Facebook ads 00:48:27 - Also This Week 00:54:39 - Game: Harrison Ford or Randy Pitchford? 00:58:35 - L&R - Steam Next Fest favorites 01:00:18 - L&R - What will blow up next from Japan? 01:05:06 - L&R - PS5 recommendation update 01:06:46 - L&R - How do you communicate demand? 01:11:57 - Time For Bets 01:19:34 - Closing 01:20:41 - June Producer Credits Go to http://candidco.com/easyallies and use code easyallies to save $75 on your Candid starter kit! Go to http://chime.com/allies to join the millions using Chime! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year’s digital E3 has come and gone, and there was no way to watch absolutely everything from the show. We search our heads and hearts for hype levels surrounding Nintendo, Xbox, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Capcom, and Devolver, along with the PC Gaming Show and Wholesome Direct. 00:00:50 - Corrections 00:02:44 - E3 ‘21 Impressions 00:13:13 - E3 ‘21 Nintendo Direct 00:36:43 - E3 ‘21 Xbox Showcase 00:58:56 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:03:09 - E3 ‘21 Ubisoft Forward 01:14:31 - E3 ‘21 Square Enix Presents 01:25:20 - E3 ‘21 Capcom Showcase 01:29:39 - E3 ‘21 Devolver Forwarder 01:34:01 - E3 ‘21 PC Gaming Show 01:39:49 - E3 ‘21 Wholesome Direct 01:46:32 - L&R - Obscure reasons for favorite genres? 01:51:03 - L&R - What did you play because of the pandemic? 01:53:10 - L&R - Do you accessorize your controllers? 01:56:39 - Time For Bets 02:00:33 - Closing Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get an extra 3 month of ExpressVPN on a 1-year package. Go to http://hellofresh.com/12allies and use code 12 allies for 12 free meals including free shipping. Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elden Ring is real, and E3 is just kickin’ off. The opening to the Summer Game Fest, including Day of the Devs, gives us plenty of announcements to review, not to mention Battlefield 2042. 00:00:51 - Corrections 00:02:24 - Elden Ring gameplay reveal 00:15:34 - SGF Kick-Off announcements 00:33:54 - SGF Kick-Off updates 00:54:11 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:59:14 - SGF Kick-Off extras 01:07:06 - Day of the Devs 01:18:49 - Battlefield 2042 reveal 01:28:24 - Also This Week... 01:35:59 - L&R - What would an EZA Showcase be like? 01:39:09 - L&R - Real-life gameplay styles? 01:40:16 - L&R - Any video game related injuries? 01:42:31 - L&R - Have you “gamified” your life? 01:45:34 - Time For Bets 01:49:33 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out if you can lower your monthly payments. Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get 10% off. Go to http://babbel.com and use promo code ALLIES for an extra 3 months free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 is upon us! Whatever form this year’s show will take, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Square Enix, Nintendo, and many more are getting ready to make big news. We handle our expectations with care while going down the event list, day by day, unlikely announcement by unlikely announcement. 00:01:18 - Corrections 00:03:25 - Silver Lining 00:04:38 - Ubisoft at E3 00:17:26 - Microsoft at E3 00:27:57 - Square Enix at E3 00:42:03 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:45:20 - Nintendo at E3 00:58:49 - Capcom at E3 01:02:42 - Everyone Else at E3 01:06:48 - Also This Week... 01:11:56 - L&R - Is PS4 cross-gen anti-consumer? 01:21:06 - L&R - What good RE words have IX in them? 01:23:25 - L&R - Game: Speedrun or Accounting Term 01:29:25 - Time For Bets 01:34:52 - Closing Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for free. Go to http://chime.com/ALLIES to apply now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four big, eagerly-anticipated, pre-E3 game updates lead us right into recording, including Dragon Quest, Horizon Forbidden West, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Dying Light 2. As we rank their significance, two heavy handheld rumors tease exciting announcements later this year. 00:01:28 - Corrections 00:03:28 - Silver Lining 00:05:46 - Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary Special 00:17:37 - Sonic Central 00:26:42 - Horizon Forbidden West gameplay 00:40:01 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:43:42 - Valve Handheld Rumor 00:53:18 - Nintendo Switch Plus Rumors 01:00:58 - Also This Week... 01:04:40 - L&R - Fill-in-the-blank Predictions 01:09:16 - L&R - Do we credit “originals” enough? 01:14:30 - L&R - Game: EZA E3 Game Quotes 01:20:53 - L&R - Should we archive old multiplayer? 01:24:46 - Time For Bets 01:29:12 - Closing 01:30:25 - May Producer Credits Go to http://candidco.com/easyallies and use code easyallies to save $75 on your Candid starter kit! Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get 10% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As usual, Geoff Keighley plans to kick off “E3” this year, but what should we expect? We brace for another weird summer as Timesplitters re-appears, WB Games gets broken up, more publishers submit financial reports, and Apple v Epic makes us chuckle some more. 00:00:41 - Corrections 00:03:23 - Silver Lining 00:04:16 - Timesplitters studio formed 00:15:36 - Summer Games Fest Kick-Off 00:30:02 - WB Games breaking up 00:34:39 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:40:04 - Take-Two financial report 00:48:19 - Square Enix financial report 01:02:33 - Apple v Epic continued 01:11:58 - Also This Week... 01:18:16 - L&R - Celebrating Kentaro Miura 01:21:12 - L&R - Forgiving yourself for screwing up 01:27:32 - L&R - Wait for PSVR2 for RE8? 01:28:01 - L&R - Game: Divisive Battle 01:37:48 - Time For Bets 01:42:55 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out if you can lower your monthly payments. Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 extra months for free! Go to http://canva.me/allies to get a free 45-day extended trial! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With updates on the next Vive and PSVR, we start with a look at upcoming VR tech. Then it’s earnings time has several publishers end their fiscal years, the Video Game Hall of Fame inducts 4 more titles, and the silliness of Epic v Apple continues. 00:01:01 - Corrections 00:05:13 - Silver Lining 00:06:51 - PlayStation 5 VR update 00:20:18 - Ubisoft earnings call 00:39:01 - Japanese Publisher Revenue Game 00:55:08 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:00:55 - Video Game Hall of Fame 2021 01:10:34 - Epic v Apple Continued 01:20:42 - Also This Week... 01:27:36 - L&R - Explain “Metroidvania” 01:32:03 - L&R - Ever had a meme ruin a game? 01:40:47 - L&R - Is there a place for classic RE? 01:47:07 - Time For Bets 01:51:51 - Closing 01:53:44 - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla cutscene Go to http://hellofresh.com/12allies and use code 12allies for 12 free meals including free shipping! Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 extra months for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While we’re unqualified to examine the court case between Epic and Apple, the documents released from it are fun to peek at. We chuckle at financial reports and private emails while pondering a return to Sunset Overdrive, Game Builder Garage’s surprise announcement, the best-selling Star Wars games ever, and our favorite moments from Giant Bomb. 00:00:00 - Opening 00:00:59 - Corrections 00:03:49 - Silver Lining 00:05:45 - Epic v Apple legal documents 00:46:51 - Giant Bomb restructuring 00:56:28 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:04:36 - Game Builder Garage announced 01:15:01 - Sunset Overdrive legal filing 01:21:43 - Top Selling Star Wars Games 01:28:52 - Also This Week... 01:39:55 - L&R - Do we love digital doubles? 01:46:00 - L&R - Game: Monster or Pokémon? 01:50:12 - L&R - Game: Same Game Engine? 01:56:56 - Time For Bets 02:01:27 - Closing Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for free. Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Visit http://hbom.ax/eadc to get HBO Max today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ratchet once again shows off the power of the PS5. As we marvel at the details, Marvel might be working with Netherrealm on a new fighter, a lost Castlevania demo returns from the dead, and Riot enforces their Jibber Jabber policy in potentially disappointing ways. 00:00:55 - Corrections 00:03:48 - Silver Lining 00:04:44 - Ratchet & Clank State of Play 00:17:57 - Riot Games shuts down Chronoshift 00:30:30 - Netherrealm and Marvel 00:43:10 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:48:02 - Canceled Dreamcast Castlevania 00:59:07 - Also This Week... 01:11:28 - L&R - Will Returnal be a series? 01:15:48 - L&R - Game: Metal Song or Magic Card 01:23:44 - L&R - Do pandemic delays concern you? 01:27:17 - Time For Bets 01:33:55 - Closing 01:35:01 - Producer Credits Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out if you can lower your monthly payments. Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get 10% off plus free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony goes for the rare gaming-news hat-trick by keeping the PS3 and Vita stores open after a rumor and announcement rile up their fans. Also, Blizzard loses Jeff Kaplan, and Amazon loses their LOTR MMO, but Oculus gains a Showcase. 00:00:47 - Corrections 00:02:50 - Silver Lining 00:04:24 - Jeff Kaplan leaves Blizzard 00:15:47 - Sony keeping PS3 and Vita stores open 00:28:09 - Oculus Gaming Showcase 00:40:25 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:44:08 - Have You Heard About Beasts of Maravilla Island 00:50:17 - Amazon cancels LOTR MMO 01:00:35 - NPDs for March 2021 01:17:27 - Also This Week... 01:26:33 - L&R - Battlefield 2021 expectations? 01:35:53 - L&R - Game: Kart Racer or Kart Faker 01:43:50 - L&R - Why replay Resident Evil games? 01:47:49 - L&R - Where do you start with sequels? 01:53:31 - Time For Bets 01:59:29 - Closing Go to http://candidco.com/easyallies and use code easyallies to save $75 on your Candid starter kit! Go to http://hellofresh.com/12allies and use code 12allies for 12 free meals including free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tarts and Strudels go head to head in a bloodbath of gaming hype-checks as we look at the next 3 months of big releases. Also, Resident Evil announced even more projects, and Sony might want to remake The Last of Us already. 00:00:47 - Corrections 00:02:12 - Silver Lining 00:03:38 - Resident Evil Showcase 00:24:34 - Q2 2021 Preview - April 00:38:36 - Q2 2021 Preview - May 01:07:03 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:13:48 - Q2 2021 Preview - June 01:32:46 - Sony and Bend Studio 01:41:52 - Also This Week... 01:47:01 - L&R - Next DK Country game? 01:53:51 - L&R - Game: Name the Asterix and Obelix character 01:57:31 - L&R - What’s the bigger risk, FF7R or TLOU2? 02:03:35 - L&R - The wife caved and got a PS5 02:05:04 - Time For Bets 02:10:14 - Closing Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 months free on a one-year package. Go to http://getquip.com/easyallies to get a free plastic dispenser with any gum refill plan. Go to http://canva.me/allies to get a free 45-day extended trial! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is lots of good news to celebrate this week. Pac-Man fans battle for free, E3 begins the road back to relevance, MLB The Show comes to Xbox, and Kojima gets “Abandoned.” 00:00:58 - Corrections 00:05:21 - Silver Lining 00:06:30 - Pac-Man 99 Announced 00:18:37 - E3 is back 00:39:39 - MLB The Show on Game Pass 00:47:26 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:53:32 - Abandoned and Hideo Kojima 01:04:13 - Also This Week... 01:10:24 - L&R - Any SP-hope for a CoD player? 01:15:30 - L&R - What’s your “comfort” game? 01:23:52 - L&R - Game: Guess the review by the YouTube description! 01:32:39 - L&R - PlayStation prices rise in Russia 01:33:37 - Time For Bets 01:39:13 - Closing Find out how Upstart can lower your monthly payments today when you go to https://www.upstart.com/easyallies. Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for free. Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get 3 months free on a one-year package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony’s actually going to shut down the PS3, PSP, and Vita stores, which wasn’t confirmed until this week. As we all weighed what to hurriedly buy and download, Platinum announced a shmup, the Ever Given mystifies our panelists, and two PGA Tour franchises face off on the green. 00:01:19 - Corrections 00:03:05 - Silver Lining 00:05:56 - Sony’s actually shutting down stores 00:19:10 - Sol Cresta announced 00:28:36 - The Ever Given crisis and games 00:35:48 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:41:19 - Have You Heard About - Forgotten Fields 00:48:03 - The Battle of the PGA Tours 00:57:01 - Also This Week... 01:06:41 - L&R - Online games we can no longer play 01:11:00 - L&R - Preferred Westworld game area? 01:13:28 - L&R - Game: Martial Art or Martial Rat 01:26:36 - Time For Bets 01:31:32 - Closing Visit http://logitechg.com and use code EASYALLIESFREESHIP44 to get free express shipping, but hurry because the code expires in 3 days! Go to http://betterhelp.com/allies to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spring has sprung for the Future Games Show while Amazon takes another crack at creating a new IP and Australia panics over Disco Elysium. Then it’s a round of pure speculation as rumors circle about Microsoft buying Discord and Sony shutting down old-gen marketplaces. 00:00:39 - Corrections 00:02:07 - Silver Lining 00:04:09 - Future Games Show Spring Showcase 00:20:24 - Microsoft wants to buy Discord 00:32:36 - Sony shutting down marketplaces 00:47:34 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:51:55 - Amazon’s new Montreal studio 01:00:13 - Disco Elysium banned in Australia 01:06:34 - Also This Week... 01:15:17 - L&R - Ben’s take on Sony and Evo 01:20:30 - L&R - Game: Board or Bust! 01:27:16 - L&R - Let’s talk anime games 01:34:19 - Time For Bets 01:38:30 - Closing 01:40:01 - March Producer Credits Visit http://logitechg.com and use come EASYALLIESFREESHIP328 to get free express shipping, but hurry because the code expires in 3 days! Go to http://hellofresh.com/12allies and use code 12allies for 12 free meals including free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony made big moves this week, acquiring Evo and partnering with Jade Raymond to create Haven Studios. We try to foresee the outcome of these investments, while getting excited about Forspoken and the next chapter of Life is Strange. 00:01:08 - Corrections 00:02:40 - Silver Lining 00:03:41 - Sony buys Evo 00:17:53 - Life is Strange: True Colors 00:33:52 - Forspoken 00:44:04 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:47:52 - Other Square Enix updates 01:07:51 - Jade Raymond’s new studio 01:16:19 - Also This Week... 01:21:49 - L&R - Game: Which number is higher? 01:28:09 - L&R - Game: Hollywood collaborations 01:35:37 - L&R - What genres deserve attention? 01:38:56 - L&R - Personal knowledge influencing games 01:45:01 - Time For Bets 01:49:28 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how much Upstart can save you today! Go to http://expressvpn.com/allies to get an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft now officially owns Bethesda and, following recent statements from Phil Spencer, we speculate what franchises will be exclusive to Xbox forever. Also, Paragon gets a second life as Predecessor, Valve halts development on Artifact, and the Ninja Turtles are back for another brawl. 00:00:52 - Corrections 00:04:03 - Silver Lining 00:06:03 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge 00:16:02 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trivia 00:25:59 - Xbox officially owns Bethesda 00:49:19 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:55:50 - Paragon becomes Predecessor 01:09:18 - Valve quits Artifact 01:19:53 - Also This Week... 01:25:21 - L&R - Resident Evil Village theories? 01:29:31 - L&R - Favorite video game child? 01:31:19 - L&R - Game: Real or Fake Japanese Rhythm Games 01:39:05 - Time For Bets 01:44:06 - Closing Visit http://logitechg.com and use come EASYALLIESFREESHIP37 to get free express shipping, but hurry because the code expires in 3 days! Visit http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get TEN PERCENT OFF PLUS FREE SHIPPING. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the week ends we’re now anticipating open-world Pokémon adventures and co-op Aliens shooters we didn’t even know existed. We’ll be enjoying these later this year while we lament the “reorganization” of Japan Studio and our lack of Hololens 2 headsets powered by Microsoft Mesh. 00:00:44 - Corrections 00:02:48 - Silver Lining 00:05:12 - Aliens: Fireteam Announced 00:15:51 - Pokemon Direct Updates 00:38:22 - Microsoft Mesh 00:57:36 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:04:09 - New Game Plus Expo Recap 01:15:01 - Japan Studio “Re-organized” 01:24:07 - Also This Week... 01:36:26 - L&R - Good New Game+ features? 01:43:26 - L&R - Game: Kidz Bop or DDR? 01:48:05 - L&R - What’s Seedlings, Ian? 01:50:52 - L&R - Who should Nintendo buy? 01:56:38 - Time For Bets 02:02:12 - Closing Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for FREE. Visit http://logitechg.com and use code EASYALLIESFREESHIP37 to get free express shipping, but hurry because the code expires in 3 days! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a big week for Final Fantasy VII and Diablo fans, with remake updates and mobile spin-offs celebrating the best of each beloved series. Also, Sony is hard at work developing the next-generation of PlayStation VR, and BioWare gets a break from fixing Anthem. 00:00:44 - Corrections 00:01:53 - Silver Lining 00:04:06 - PlayStation State of Play 00:40:43 - FFVII Mobile Games 00:54:46 - A Word From Our Sponsors 01:00:16 - PlayStation 5 VR Details 01:12:49 - BlizzConline Wrap Up 01:26:15 - Anthem Next Canceled 01:32:36 - Also This Week... 01:42:19 - L&R - Signature Review Phrases 01:52:10 - L&R - More Linear Game Design? 01:55:31 - L&R - Game: Spin It or Off It? 01:58:52 - L&R - First Cartridge Console? 02:00:00 - Time For Bets 02:05:11 - Closing 02:06:19 - Ghost ‘n Goblins Bet 02:07:42 - February Producer Credits Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how much Upstart can save you today! Go to http://logitechg.com and use code EasyAlliesFreeShip228 to get express shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week our expectations were put to the test. How much can Nintendo fit into a 50 minute Direct? How should we feel about our first look at the new Mortal Kombat movie? And is someone, anyone, getting ready to announce a new Silent Hill game? 00:00:40 - Corrections 00:03:40 - Silver Lining 00:05:37 - Splatoon 3 00:12:39 - Project Triangle Strategy 00:19:05 - Zelda: Skyward Sword HD 00:25:21 - Pyra in Smash Bros. Ultimate 00:30:28 - Mario Golf Super Rush 00:53:21 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:58:00 - Press Release Me 01:07:29 - Mortal Kombat Movie Trailer 01:19:25 - Multiple Silent Hill Rumors 01:26:30 - NPDs for January 2021 01:31:44 - Also This Week... 01:36:11 - L&R - Too Human or Duke Nukem Sequel? 01:38:36 - L&R - Where was New Pokémon Snap? 01:40:41 - L&R - Game: A Win For Anime 01:45:41 - L&R - Is game length unfair to critique? 01:50:00 - Time For Bets 01:54:19 - Closing Go to http://hellofresh.com/10allies and use code 10allies for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Visit http://expressvpn.com/allies to get an extra 3 months free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Final Fantasy XIV blasts off for the moon with Endwalker, and WBIE’s new patent all but guarantees a return trip to Monolith’s Mordor. What’s less certain is when we’ll get to play the Sands of Time Remake and when the creator of Terraria will get his Google account back. 00:00:51 - Corrections 00:02:15 - Silver Lining 00:03:23 - FF XIV Endwalker Revealed 00:11:55 - WBIE’s Nemesis Patent 00:27:03 - Sands of Time Delayed Indefinitely 00:41:30 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:46:12 - Have You Heard About “Hidden Deep?” 00:52:10 - Terraria for Stadia Canceled 01:06:17 - Also This Week... 01:22:14 - L&R - Easy Allies Movie Cast 01:25:36 - L&R - Why isn’t Ori bigger? 01:28:04 - L&R - Looping background music picks? 01:30:46 - L&R - Game: Pokemon or Drug? 01:35:31 - L&R - Game: Know Your R.E. Ammo Types? 01:38:28 - Time For Bets 01:43:38 - Closing Hidden Deep Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw9oKrG94s8 Visit http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get TEN PERCENT OFF PLUS FREE SHIPPING. Go to http://gabi.com/allies to see how much Gabi can save you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We relish in the opportunity to chuckle at Google and Amazon’s development efforts after Schreier eviscerates Amazon and Google stops making games. At the same time it’s nothing but good news for multiple Warhammer franchises, Gearbox Entertainment, and the Mass Effect trilogy. 00:00:44 - Corrections 00:02:18 - Silver Lining 00:03:36 - Total War: Warhammer III 00:10:15 - Gearbox Acquired 00:23:22 - Stadia Studio shutdown 00:37:12 - Amazon’s development woes 00:54:06 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:57:21 - Mass Effect remaster details 01:09:09 - Personal 2020 PlayStation stats 01:19:34 - Also This Week... 01:27:08 - L&R - Update: Life without PS5 01:28:01 - L&R - Most memorable licensed tracks 01:30:27 - L&R - Game: Consolation Discontinued 01:34:47 - L&R - PS All-Stars Battle Royale 2 cast? 01:36:39 - Time For Bets 01:43:35 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how much Upstart can save you today! Visit http://joinhoney.com/allies to get Honey for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GameStop shares and Xbox Live prices are going up. Or are they going down? We search for answers while lamenting Vicarious Visions getting absorbed by Blizzard, catching up on the Borderlands movie cast, and pondering Gabe Newell’s battle for your brain. 00:01:03 - Corrections 00:03:39 - Silver Lining 00:07:36 - GameStop Stock Squeeze 00:25:36 - Xbox Live Price Increase 00:40:06 - Vicarious Visions and Blizzard 00:49:28 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:51:29 - Borderlands Movie Update 00:58:33 - Gabe Newell and BCIs 01:09:30 - Also This Week... 01:16:18 - L&R - Game: Fiasconauts Characters 01:22:29 - L&R - Game: How Many GOTYs? 01:28:11 - L&R - Ever forget how to play an RPG? 01:30:27 - L&R - How do you explain our gaming language? 01:38:47 - Time For Bets 01:43:29 - Closing 01:45:28 - Producer Credits Visit http://joinhoney.com/ALLIES to get Honey for FREE today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Resident Evil gives us chills by how creepy Village feels and how weird Re:Verse looks in their recent Showcase. After replaying the Maiden demo a few times, we discuss Capcom’s plans for a successful 2021, the EU’s fines for companies that geo-block, and the big gaming investments of 2020. 00:01:02 - Corrections 00:03:46 - Silver Lining 00:06:07 - Resident Evil Village Showcase 00:36:21 - Capcom in 2021 00:51:05 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:53:27 - EU fines 6 companies for geo-blocking 01:01:08 - Gaming Investments in 2020 01:06:15 - Also This Week... 01:16:09 - L&R - Media events on your birthday? 01:18:51 - L&R - Game: Kirby with the Gravity Hammer in Spencer Mansion 01:23:07 - L&R - Recommended PlayStation exclusives 01:26:53 - L&R - Game: Either/Or, Schick or Xbox? 01:30:57 - L&R - Game: How Many Allies? 01:36:16 - Time For Bets 01:40:41 - Closing Visit http://expressvpn.com/allies to get an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lucasfilm re-invests in games so we share our excitement as Indiana Jones rides again and Ubisoft opens up the galaxy far, far away. Also worth speculating: new trademarks made by Square Enix, a very quick end-screen of upcoming Sony exclusive release dates, and some games you might not have heard of among Twitter’s biggest stats of 2020. 00:00:39 - Corrections 00:03:13 - Silver Lining 00:04:41 - Lucasfilm Games - Indiana Jones 00:27:16 - Lucasfilm Games - Ubisoft Star Wars 00:39:51 - Square Enix Trademarks 00:49:51 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:53:34 - Sony’s Exclusive Release Dates 01:12:30 - Twitter Gaming Stats 01:23:04 - Also This Week... 01:34:57 - L&R - Under-the-radar gaming stuff 01:40:04 - L&R - Game: E3 Conference Finales 01:45:22 - L&R - Helpless story moments 01:47:25 - L&R - Game: Name That Cheat Code 01:52:01 - Time For Bets 01:57:01 - Closing Go to http://upstart.com/easyallies to find out how much Upstart can save you today! Go to http://gabi.com/allies to see how much Gabi can save you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time to look ahead at the next three months of releases using a time-honored tradition of ridiculous breakfast food comparisons; a Q1 2021 preview with sprinkles and spreadable frosting. Also, Amazon reveals its list of the top 100 best-selling products from last year and we try to find something on it to analyze that isn't a gift card or a game exclusive to Switch. 00:01:03 - Corrections 00:04:27 - Silver Lining 00:05:38 - Q1 2021 Preview - January 00:26:43 - Q1 2021 Preview - February 00:52:32 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:57:19 - Q1 2021 Preview - March 01:17:50 - Amazon’s Best Sellers of 2020 01:27:46 - Also This Week... 01:38:01 - L&R - Most memorable box art? 01:41:15 - L&R - Game: Name that Steam Tag! 01:47:51 - L&R - Favorite pre-rendered trailers? 01:52:00 - Time For Bets 01:53:32 - Or Wars 01:57:42 - Closing Go to http://hellofresh.com/10allies and use code 10allies for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Visit http://joinhoney.com/ALLIES to get Honey for FREE today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This has been a strange and sometimes uncomfortable year to sort through, but before we tackle another 12 months we need to sort through the biggest headlines and most interesting stats of 2020. Also, Tencent picks up another handful of studio stocks and Star Citizen delays something yet again. 00:00:58 - Corrections 00:03:17 - Silver Lining 00:04:53 - Biggest Headlines of 2020 00:47:01 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:51:34 - Fun Stats from 2020 01:16:58 - Tencent acquires Leyou Technologies 01:23:26 - Squadron 42 delayed again 01:31:27 - Also This Past Two Weeks... 01:35:51 - L&R - How big is too big for indie? 01:42:01 - L&R - Game: Which open world is larger? 01:47:07 - L&R - Is hoarding skill points okay? 01:49:33 - Or Wars 01:57:59 - Closing 01:59:50 - Producer Credits Go to http://logitechg.com to get the G923 TRUEFORCE Sim Racing Wheel today! Go to http://hellofresh.com/10allies and use code 10allies for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What games got banned in Australia? What games have the best nightlife? What’s the best game we’ve never played? What the heck does “Best Direction” mean? The answers to these and many more burning questions are answered in this special Love & Respect episode. 00:01:31 - Silver Lining 00:03:12 - L&R - What came first in 2020? 00:07:02 - L&R - Favorite thing to do in games? 00:09:42 - L&R - Excited for Wolf Among Us 2? 00:12:17 - L&R - Coolest you’ve felt playing a game? 00:17:37 - L&R - Best game you’ve never played? 00:19:29 - L&R - Game with the best nightlife? 00:22:31 - L&R - Best “movie night” game? 00:26:05 - L&R - Bring it back or let it rest? 00:31:33 - L&R - What does “Best Direction” mean? 00:40:34 - L&R - Game: Banned, Censored, or Unscathed? 00:44:44 - A Word From our Sponsor 00:47:22 - L&R - Does the industry reward crunch? 01:00:54 - L&R - How do you cater to the Wii Sports market? 01:06:42 - L&R - Game: Officially released in Japan? 01:11:26 - L&R - Must we stop overhyping games? 01:20:42 - L&R - Game: What game is this song from? 01:25:07 - L&R - Last game inside an old console? 01:28:20 - L&R - Is “Games as a Service” dying? 01:32:59 - L&R - Pick these GOTY category winners 01:39:02 - Or Wars 01:44:04 - Closing Go to http://logitechg.com to get the G923 TRUEFORCE Sim Racing Wheel today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November’s NPDs give us a clearer picture of what everyone wanted and was able to buy when next-gen launched, before we also dig into reports of EA outbidding Take Two for Codemasters and evaluate the big 3’s big ideas on “Safer Gaming.” But the real breaking news is Cyberpunk’s continued launch woes, including a hot headline hitting while the podcast was rolling. 00:00:37 - Corrections 00:05:15 - Silver Lining 00:07:19 - November NPDs 00:27:13 - EA’s bid for Codemasters 00:41:39 - A Word From our Sponsors 00:49:23 - “Shared Commitment to Safer Gaming” 01:02:54 - Cyberpunk 2077 Updates 01:26:56 - Also This Week... 01:34:09 - L&R - Holiday break backlogs 01:36:03 - L&R - PS1 demake requests 01:37:51 - L&R - Game: Fastest Any% Speedrun 01:43:03 - L&R - Most broken game we’ve played 01:44:15 - Time for Bets 01:48:54 - Closing Go to http://logitechg.com to get the G923 TRUEFORCE Sim Racing Wheel today! Go to http://gabi.com/allies to find out how much Gabi can save you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Game Awards changes its format but still delivers plenty of surprising announcements and winners. We rattle off our favorite moments from the annual ceremony and share the early bugs, memories, records, and scandals of Cyberpunk 2077’s launch. 00:00:49 - Corrections 00:02:11 - Silver Lining 00:03:24 - Game Awards Top Headlines 00:41:55 - Game Awards Other News 01:04:26 - A Word From our Sponsors 01:08:30 - Game Awards Winners 01:23:07 - Cyberpunk 2077’s Launch 01:54:18 - Also This Week... 02:02:36 - L&R - Game: Huber Quote Quiz 02:07:10 - L&R - Least ideal gaming circumstances? 02:11:06 - Time for Bets 02:16:17 - Closing Use code EASYALLIES for $5 off your first 5 orders when you download the Postmates app or sign up online! Go to http://luminskin.com/allies to get a one-month free trial of everything you need to start your skincare journey at home! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BioWare says goodbye to a pair of creative leads and faces an uncertain future, and 2020’s Black Friday weekend isn’t as lucrative as expected. Still, things are looking bright for Travis Scott’s bank account, Super Nintendo World’s impending launch, and Aardman Animations’ newest IP. 00:00:38 - Corrections 00:02:12 - Silver Lining 00:03:42 - Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah leave BioWare 00:24:27 - Super Nintendo World Sneak Peek 00:39:00 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:41:57 - Black Friday 2020 digital decline 00:53:26 - Aardman and Bandai Namco's new IP 00:59:33 - Travis Scott's $20m Fortnite payout 01:04:53 - Also This Week... 01:11:10 - L&R - Black Friday gift card sales 01:13:58 - L&R - Why do bad side quests exist? 01:18:25 - L&R - Game: Worms or Frauds? 01:20:38 - L&R - Most memorable boss battle? 01:22:41 - L&R - Any hope for digital libraries? 01:27:10 - Time for Bets 01:31:44 - Closing Go to http://logitechg.com to get the G923 TRUEFORCE Sim Racing Wheel today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Random glitches with our fancy new consoles continue including PS5 crashes and Xbox loading issues. While we wait for a fix, it’s therapeutic to celebrate a new sequel announcement, discuss the current state of gaming mental health, and share what we’re thankful for from this tumultuous year. 00:00:40 - Corrections 00:02:10 - Silver Lining 00:03:17 - Neo: The World Ends With You announced 00:15:19 - Next-Gen console jitters 00:41:58 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:44:05 - Oxford mental health and games study 01:04:52 - What were thankful for from 2020 01:14:30 - Also This Week... 01:24:53 - L&R - How do you deal with FOMO? 01:27:41 - L&R - Bluepoint's next remake? 01:29:58 - L&R - Remember Overwatch 2? 01:31:16 - L&R - What MK 11 character would you replace? 01:33:24 - L&R - Game: Mash It or Trash It? 01:38:47 - Time for Bets 01:43:09 - Closing 01:44:32 - Producer Credits Go to HelloFresh.com/allies90 and use code allies90 to get $90 off including free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Game Awards have been announced, so we have to discuss the inevitable shoe-ins and snubs. Also, IOI and 007 join forces, initial next-gen sales numbers come out of Japan, Twitch has a record October, and Embracer Group can’t stop buying companies. 00:00:35 - Corrections 00:04:38 - Silver Lining 00:05:30 - The Game Awards nominees announced 00:30:52 - Project 007 announced 00:38:47 - A Word From Our Sponsors 00:41:48 - Next-Gen sales numbers from Japan/UK 00:51:39 - Embracer Group buys 13 new studios 01:01:37 - Twitch sees record viewership in October 01:09:54 - Also This Week... 01:18:29 - L&R - Could Microsoft's DRM plan return? 01:23:59 - L&R - Game: New Faces in New Places 01:27:20 - L&R - Genres due for a departure? 01:30:58 - L&R - Australia is in a funky place 01:34:29 - Time for Bets 01:38:41 - Closing Go to http://buyraycon.com/allies today to get 20% off your Raycon order! Go to http://everyplate.com and enter code allies3 to get 3 weeks of EveryPlate meals for only $2.99 per meal! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you bought them and they actually shipped or not, the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S means the next-generation is now the current generation. We follow the updates and odd reports surrounding both consoles before guessing Q4’s total revenue and predicting Square Enix’s future based on their recent financial ups and downs. 00:00:51 - Corrections 00:02:00 - Silver Lining 00:02:51 - PlayStation 5 Launch 00:21:17 - Xbox Series X|S Launch 00:32:00 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:34:59 - Q3 NPDs 00:45:03 - Square Enix 2021 Predictions 01:02:15 - Also This Week... 01:04:31 - Take-Two Buys Codemasters 01:09:18 - Dead by Daylight's New Villain 01:15:29 - L&R - What's your playground game? 01:17:30 - L&R - Language preference in games? 01:24:10 - L&R - Will we ever get a slim PS5? 01:25:35 - L&R - Why advertise consoles you can't buy? 01:26:55 - L&R - Easing European PS5 delay frustration 01:30:17 - L&R - What console would you be? 01:32:37 - Time for Bets 01:37:11 - Closing Go to http://hellotushy.com/easyallies to get 10% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Only one week remains until the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are upon us, so it’s time to grade the marketing, hardware, and games of both consoles. What wins and losses led us to where we are, and what expectations should we have for launch week? 00:00:59 - Corrections 00:02:31 - Silver Lining 00:03:43 - Xbox Series X Next-Gen Report Card 00:51:43 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:55:11 - PlayStation 5 Next-Gen Report Card 01:28:34 - Also This Week... 01:35:11 - L&R - What'll be in the gen, after? 01:38:55 - L&R - Real or Fake: Town Edition 01:43:57 - L&R - What generation is the Switch? 01:45:28 - L&R - Launch titles with good vibes? 01:49:15 - Time for Bets 01:55:07 - Closing Use code EASYALLIES for $5 off your first 5 orders when you download the Postmates app or sign up online! Go to http://luminskin.com/allies to get a one-month free trial of everything you need to start your skincare journey at home! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We finally got to touch the PS5 and Xbox Series X with our bare hands, so how do we feel about next-gen now? We also cope with perhaps the nastiest Cyberpunk 2077 delay yet, contrast Sony’s latest quarter financials with its personal next-predictions, and say goodbye to the Nintendo Partner Showcase series of 2020. 00:00:38 - Corrections 00:02:22 - Silver Lining 00:03:29 - Next-gen consoles unboxed 00:17:57 - Cyberpunk 2077 delayed 21 days 00:35:32 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:39:46 - Sony Q2 2020 Earnings 00:58:04 - The final Nintendo Partner Showcase of 2020 01:17:20 - Also This Week... 01:28:14 - L&R - Which horror game ranked higher? 01:35:40 - L&R - Not-scary horror game recommendations 01:37:38 - L&R - Do question marks incentivize exploration? 01:43:18 - L&R - What games used the Dualshock 4 touch pad? 01:45:43 - Time for Bets 01:52:06 - Closing 01:55:33 - Producer Credits Go to http://hellofresh.com/ALLIES80 and use code ALLIES80 to get a total of $80 off across 5 boxes, including free shipping on your first box! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gaming’s bottom line is looking good, with another NPD that brings record-breaking results for multiple games. But your average streamer’s bottom line is in jeopardy, with Twitch purging video collections that use licensed music. Also, Ubisoft Connect follows a trend of service updates, and Devolver Digital buys Serious Sam. 00:00:00 - Opening 00:00:53 - Corrections 00:03:29 - Silver Lining 00:04:23 - September 2020 NPDs 00:28:59 - Twitch DMCA videos deleted 00:46:15 - A Word From Our Sponsor 00:48:32 - Ubisoft Connect 01:00:06 - Devolver Digital acquires Croteam 01:06:30 - Also This Week... 01:12:13 - L&R - How should Dead Space return? 01:16:26 - L&R - Game: K-pop or DS? 01:21:10 - L&R - Is Godfall the Knack of this generation? 01:23:04 - L&R - Is GoT Legends like other loot games? 01:25:35 - Time for Bets 01:29:37 - Closing Go to http://buyraycon.com/allies to get 15% off your order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices