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  • This week in gaming showcased a bombshell announcement from one of the big pillars of the industry. Microsoft and Xbox announced the closure of three Bethesda studios and the consolidation of another one. Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog, Tango Gameworks, and Roundhouse are all gone. Although some of the employees will be put into other places or studios, many of these wonderful developers are now out of work.

    At what point do figureheads start to carry the blame for all of these bad decisions? How does anyone have any trust at all in Xbox moving forward? Should Xbox just rip off the Band-Aid and change lanes with Xbox Game Pass? Is this all beyond Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty? How much blame does the Activision-Blizzard-King purchase carry on this as well? Should other Xbox studios be on notice now too? Sean and Marc try to parse through all of this stuff and the terrible interview by Sarah Bond with Bloomberg as well.

    Thankfully, there are some positive things from this week, namely Nintendo dropping a lot of future news about the Switch 2, a June Nintendo Direct, game sales, and other things. Marc talks about games he's been playing and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/E0Psy6EvgEw

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:50: Housekeeping

    ---------- BIG TOPIC ----------

    00:04:25: Xbox Shutters Four Bethesda Studios, is there any trust in Xbox at all?

    ----------- What's in the News --------

    00:56:15: Vicarious Visions was working on a 3D Donkey Kong game for Nintendo Switch

    00:58:00: Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Announced

    01:03:30: Nintendo's President Finally Reveals Switch 2 Announcement Period and that the Switch 2 is a "Next Edition of the Switch"

    01:08:20: PlayStation reverses course on Helldivers 2 PSN Account Linking

    01:12:20: Atlus Considering Release Persona 5: Phantom X Mobile Game in more regions

    01:13:55: There could be an Elden Ring 2, but probably not more Elden Ring Expansions or DLC

    01:16:40: Newzoo Market Report on Top 10 Games of Q1

    --------- Games We Are Playing ---------

    01:19:15: Marc has finished Stellar Blade and talks some Knuckles TV Show

    ------------- The End ----------

    01:24:25: What's coming out this week!

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  • This week saw a quieter period for gaming with everyone still catching up on the deluge of games released in the last few weeks and also some showcases highlighting upcoming games too.

    Marc has now been playing Stellar Blade and makes up for Sean not getting to make any progress in the game this week. With Marc having more familiarity with the Souls genre how does his opinion differ from Sean's last week? Is Stellar Blade a hit for him too?

    Also, Square-Enix announced a massive loss due to content abandonment losses totaling $141 Million. What does this mean for the company? And what could be the canceled projects? Should Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest fans be worried?

    Plus, 7-Eleven and Tetris, the ID @ Xbox showcase, shocking studio closures at Take-Two Interactive, and much more!

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  • Gaming season has arrived at the end of April and the guys have some games to talk about on this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX. Sean's been playing Stellar Blade Another Crab's Treasure, and Tales of Kenzera Zau, and Marc's been playing No Rest For the Wicked. Quite a bit of Souls on this show.

    Also, Blizzard announced they will not have Blizzcon in 2024. Is this really a big deal? Or does it say something about not having really anything major to showcase?

    Plus, Embracer Group spits into three, Xbox financial figures cause a meltdown, some info on potential Switch 2 joycons, and more games are being delisted.

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/fNzswJNd_fg

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  • As we await the big game releases of next week, there are a few minor ones that have already made their way out to PC and Consoles. Sean's played Stop Motion narrative wonder Harold Halibut and the Final Fantasy XVI Rising Tide DLC. Does the Rising Tide serve as a seemingly fitting finale to FF16's content? Is Harold Halibut another indie darling that everyone should play?

    There's quite a bit of video game adjacent and actual video game news to discuss, with Nintendo providing a brand new Indie World and Sean has a few favorites to be excited about. The Witcher series gets a final Season 5, Sonic 3's Shadow has its voice actor, Mike Ybarra wonders if we should be able to tip AAA game developers, and are Final Fantasy VII Rebirth sales being overblown?

    Plus, Sean and Marc discuss more on the Fallout TV Show now that Sean has finished it. PC versions of PlayStation games will soon get trophies, Marc's been playing OuterWorlds and a lot more on this edition of Video Games 2 the MAX.

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  • * Apologies for the audio version coming out a little later than usual. Sean had some family matters to attend to. *

    This week saw the premiere of the Fallout TV Series on Amazon Prime and Marc has binged through it all, while Sean has watched the first few episodes. So the duo discusses their impressions of the series that's already received the greenlight for a second season.

    Also, this was a week of announcements, trailers, and lost possibilities. As the Star Wars Outlaws Story trailer released to much aplomb and wonder, but does it have the guys excited about what's to come when it releases on August 30?

    The Triple iii Showcase also took place and both of us have some favorite games coming out of it. Then, there's the whole debacle with EA and if there was going to be a Dead Space 2 Remake or even a new Dead Space game. EA has put an end to that not happening. Is it the best move?

    Plus, could we see less big-budget $70 games? EA Play goes up in price and more!

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  • We are now fully into April and as we wait for the big games coming at the end of the month, there are some demos out for some of them. So, Sean has some Stellar Blade Impressions to share on this episode. Along with that, he's also played two versions of the Saga: Emerald Beyond. As well as a beloved game that was released bout a month ago in Unicorn Overlord impressions too. Marc is also just enjoying more Granblue Fantasy Relink.

    Some details have dropped on potential games for the June Xbox Showcase including a long-awaited Gears 6 reveal. Likewise, rumors abound that much like last year, Sony may opt to get ahead of the Summer Games Fest brouhaha and have a showcase in May. Xbox is also in the news for some others including making a games preservation team and Hellblade 2 being locked at 30 FPS.

    Plus, according to an annual report from Newzoo most gamers are playing old games or recurring annual franchises. Does this say anything about the state of gaming? And does this paint a grim picture for how many new players are available for recent Live-Service games? The controversial Tekken 8 Fighter Pass, the status of the Knights of the Old Republic Remake, and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/3xHjN6GNOMA

    The Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Spoilercast: https://youtube.com/live/CtmUkGAtNt4

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:15: Housekeeping & Intro

    ------------- Games We Played ----------

    00:06:50: Stellar Blade Demo (Sean)

    00:12:35: Saga Emerald Beyond Demo (PS5 & Switch) (Sean)

    00:19:20: Unicorn Overlord Demo (Sean)

    ----------- What's in the News -----------

    00:22:15: Hellblade 2 will be locked to 30 FPS

    00:26:25: Ninja Theory (Hellblade 2 Developer) Co-Founder Antoniades Left the Studio

    00:28:00: Xbox has a Game Preservation Team, a possible Gears 6 reveal and Talking more about the state of Xbox

    00:47:40: Potential announcements at May 2024 PlayStation Showcase

    00:50:10: Newzoo's report of gaming habits in 2023 and Most Played Games

    00:55:35: Multiversus Returning and What will Nintendo do with the next Smash Bros game

    00:58:55: Tekken 8 Adds Fighter Pass and could they also add 3 vs. 3 Mode too?

    01:05:40: Dragon Quest XII in Trouble? Square-Enix reassigns Top Producer

    01:10:00: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Platinum issue will be patched soon

    01:11:40: Could Square-Enix surprise us with DLC for FFVII Rebirth that isn't just Queen's Blood?

    01:16:50: Knights of the Republic Remake is alive and well according to Sabre Interactive

    01:19:40: Ubisoft and Relic Entertainment both have layoffs, The Crew 1 going to be delisted

    01:26:05: Roku has patented a way to sell adds that can read what's connected to your HDMi is sitting idle

    01:31:30: Apple will allow Emulators on the App Store

    --------- The End ---------

    01:35:00: Games Coming Out This Week!

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  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is so massive Sean had to bring in five guests to break down their thoughts on various parts of the game including The Ending and where we go from here into Part 3. So, if you didn't catch the title, there will be SPOILERS for the game on this special edition of Video Games 2 the MAX.

    Sean is joined by the man who loves Bad Brackets Randy Isbelle and two members of The Outerhaven crew in SithScott and Andrew Agress (also, Andrew reviewed Rebirth for the Outerhaven.) Plus, you have freelance writers Hayes Madsen (he reviewed Rebirth for Inverse) and first-time guest Josh Broadwell (who reviewed Rebirth for Roger Ebert.)

    So if you also have finished Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, join us in this all-encompassing, (positive and negative) discussion about the second part of the FFVII Remake Project.

    -------- Guest Links -----

    Randy's Bad Brackets: https://www.youtube.com/@BadBrackets

    Scott's Stellar Blade Impressions: https://www.theouterhaven.net/2024/04/stellar-blade-demo-impressions/

    Andrew's FFVII Rebirth Review: https://www.theouterhaven.net/2024/02/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-review-the-pinnacle-of-a-journey/

    Hayes's FFVII Rebirth Review: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-review

    Hayes's FFVII Rebirth Ending Explained: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/ff-7-rebirth-ending-explained

    Josh's FFVII Rebirth Review: https://www.rogerebert.com/video-games/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-video-game-review

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  • After a week that saw some big releases and exciting announcements, we have a week of interesting announcements, and more layoffs, Gearbox is free from Embracer Group, and Phil Spencer has a big interview talking about Xbox. Sean and Marc discuss it all in this edition of Video Games 2 the MAX.

    Phil Spencer had an interview with Polygon while at the Game Developer's Conference (links further below in the description) where he speaks about all sorts of things including wanting PC storefronts like Epic Games and Itch.io on Xbox, the cost prohibition of exclusives, a potential Xbox handheld, and more! Could this be a potential lifespring for Xbox? Or is this all essentially wish-listing from Phil?

    Marvel Rivals was suddenly announced and seems to take a lot of its inspiration from Overwatch. With Overwatch 2 in a bad spot, could a game from a big IP like Marvel overtake it and become the Defacto hero shooter?

    Also, Gearbox is sold to Take-Two Interactive, Resident Evil 9 could be open-world, layoffs at several SEGA European studios, and other places such as Nintendo of America and Certain Affinity. New details on the codename Condor game from Remedy and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/PxuPcCdXINE


    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:01:55: Housekeeping

    ----------------- Games We Are Playing ------------

    00:04:05: Granblue Fantasy Relink (Marc)

    00:14:30: Random Stuff from FFVII Rebirth (Sean)

    --------------- What's Going on in the News -----------

    00:17:45: Gearbox is sold to Take-Two Interactive for a cool $460 Million

    ------------- BIG Topic ------------

    00:23:30: Phil Spencer Really Wants an Xbox Handheld and PC Storefronts on Xbox

    00:47:45: Marvel Rivals Announced

    ------------- What's in the News Part 2 ----------

    00:58:55: Resident Evil 9 Could Be Open-World

    01:04:35: Remedy gives info on the Control Multiplayer game, Codename Condor

    01:08:50: Earthblade gets delayed to 2025

    01:09:50: SEGA sells off Relic Entertainment and lays off 240 employees, Smilegate Barcelona to lose its entire staff, Nintendo of America lays off 120 contract workers, and Creative Assembly has layoffs too

    ------------- The End ----------

    01:19:00: Games Coming out this week

    ---------- News Story Links ---------

    Phil Spencer's big interview with Polygon at GDC:

    Phil's thoughts on the industry and why Microsoft had to do layoffs: https://www.polygon.com/24108700/phil-spencer-interview-2024-xbox-exclusives-layoffs

    Phil talks A LOT about a potential handheld: https://www.polygon.com/24108660/xbox-handheld-console-phil-spencer-interview

    Phil wants Epic Games Store, Itch.Io and other PC Stores on Xbox: https://www.polygon.com/24108670/xbox-epic-games-store-phil-spencer-interview

    Gearbox gets sold to Take-Two Interactive: https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/take-two-interactive-acquire-borderlands-maker-gearbox-entertainment-embracer-2024-03-28/

    Sega Sells Off Relic Entertainment and lays off 240 employees: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sega-sells-relic-and-will-cut-240-jobs-across-uk-studios

    Marvel Rivals Announced: https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/marvel-rivals-pvp-shooter-boasts-incredible-lineup-of-marvel-characters


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  • A huge week in gaming with some major releases all occurring on the same day and also big gaming news with GDC and PAX East happening this week as well.

    Right before recording Square-Enix had their Final Fantasy XVI: Rising Tide DLC panel and they gave some new info on what we'll be doing in the DLC, an all-important release date and so much more! Sean tries to go through the gist of it, probably much to Marc's chagrin.

    Although the guys aren't playing any of the big games just yet, Marc did finally get to play Granblue Fantasy Relink and Sean finished the main story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and also tried out the new Performance Mode Sharp as well.

    There's a ton of news including the U.S. Dept of Justice Suing Apple over Monopolistic practices which include Cloud gaming. Capcom once again being in hot water of its microtransactions, Helldivers 2 is the best-selling game of February 2024, PSVR 2 halting production amid overstock concerns, Larian dropping Baldur's Gate for something new, and much more!

    Marc's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: https://411mania.com/games/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-ps5-review/

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/PxuPcCdXINE

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:30: Housekeeping and Intro

    -------------- What's in the News -------------

    00:06:25: Dragon's Dogma 2 Comes under fire for the way it does its Microtransactions

    00:19:35: PlayStation 5 Pro DLSS feature, PSSR, gets more details

    00:23:05: Sony halts production on PSVR 2 due to overstock

    00:33:40: Amy Henning and New Skydance get to show off Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

    00:36:00: Connie Booth joins EA as Group General Manager of RPG's

    00:39:40: Blizzard may cancel the singleplayer for Overwatch 2 Completely

    00:43:20: Kotaku EIC Resigns over changes in focus of website from news to guides

    00:52:20: Baldur's Gate 3 Wins Big at GDC Awards, Sven Vincke makes statement afterwards

    00:53:40: Larian Studios drops Baldur's Gate franchise and opts for to make something new

    01:00:45: Velan Studio may have to layoff 46 workers because of a canceled major project

    01:02:20: U.S. Dept of Justice sues Apple over monopolistic practices in five areas and one of them is cloud gaming

    01:12:05: Remedy says they are looking to make even more Alan Wake and Control games

    01:13:55: Valve introduces an improved Steam Family Game Sharing

    01:15:55: Microsoft is redoing Xbox Rewards on Console

    01:17:10: The Sims Movie is in the works by the same studio that made the Barbie Movie

    --------------- Final Fantasy Section ---------------

    01:19:40: Sean gives details on the new announcements about the FF 16 Rising Tide DLC

    01:23:50: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Patch is finally out with a new Performance Mode toggle

    01:25:15: Sean's final thoughts on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth after beating the game

    ---------------- The End -------------

    01:32:40: Marc's thoughts on Granblue Fantasy Relink & Talks X-Men 97

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  • It's another week in gaming and another week of Video Games 2 the MAX as Sean and Marc are near the end of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, (actually, Marc beat it before we started recording), so the guys have some more thoughts on the game (without spoilers).

    And something that will help FFVII Rebirth look even better is a PlayStation 5 Pro as more rumors abound about the specs and insides of the future version of the PS5. Could 4K 60 really be a thing for consoles very soon? And will the guys think about maybe getting one?

    Plus, lots of announcements from Mario Day, including Super Mario Bros 2 Movie is official, Sabre Interactive is officially sold, and well, Helldivers 2 officially has sold extremely well. There are some other things to discuss too!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/_hutkHgeOsA

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  • Sadly a huge loss was announced to the world late Thursday/Early Friday with the passing of the legendary Akira Toriyama. The creator of Dragon Ball undoubtedly leaves a huge legacy not just in the Manga/Anime world, but also in video games with his character art for Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon among others. Sean is joined by Marc and The Outerhaven's SithScott as they discuss what Akira Toriyama meant to them, their origins with Dragon Ball, and more.

    Scott also discusses his thoughts on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as Sean and Marc have progressed to Chapter 9 in the game, along with some other games like Zoria, Skull and Bones, and Cave of Lores.

    Xbox also had their Partner Preview and there was certainly a varying degree of enjoyment in that, but it did have some cool games to look forward to. Rooster Teeth shut down. Deviation Games closes. Warner Bros looks to fully move into live-service games. Yuzu quickly goes into a settlement with Nintendo over their Switch emulator, and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/Rb78NxKz_sc
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  • This week has been absolutely incredible in showing the duality of the games industry at the moment. Two giants of video games, Sony and EA both have layoffs within a day of each other, closing studios, and echoing the same refrain of needing to reassess their strategies going forward. Embracer Group entered an agreement with Sabre Interactive so they can be owned by private investors. Borderlands studio Gearbox could also be sold off, and Toys for Bob, makers of Crash Bandicoot 4 and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy enter into an agreement to go independent from Activision-Blizzard-King.

    Oh yeah, and around all of this business stuff was the release of a small little game called Final Fantasy VII Rebirth that so many gamers, including both Sean and Marc, have been eagerly awaiting. Sean and Marc give their thoughts on the game so far, why Queen's Blood might be the best card game, and a whole lot more.

    Plus, the Pokemon Company announced Pokemon Legends Z-A set in Lumiose City is coming in 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo goes into yet another lawsuit, this time against the makers of the Switch emulator Yuzu saying that it promotes piracy of its hardware and games on the platform. Other studios also have layoffs, there's uncertainty over Apple Arcade and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/WY77HiRLd54

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:25: Housekeeping

    ------------ Games We Are Playing ----------

    00:04:30: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Sean & Marc)

    ------------ Troubles in the Industry in Multiple Ways ------------

    00:33:10: Sony laid off 900 employees at various PlayStation studios

    00:45:00: EA laid off 670 employees in various departments

    00:50:10: Sabre Interactive escapes Embracer Group and goes Private

    00:51:30: Toys For Bob Goes Independent but may still partner with Xbox

    00:56:00: Deck Nine and Supermassive Studios suffer layoffs, Apple Arcade and Indies questions

    -------------- What's in the News -------------

    01:06:30: A small interlude discussing some other things from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

    01:09:55: Discussing unionizing for Devs

    01:10:55: Pokemon Presents Big announcement is Pokemon Legends Z-A

    01:14:50: Nintendo aims to file a lawsuit against Switch Emulator Yuzu over piracy concerns

    01:22:45: Remedy buys rights to Control, Control 2, Control Multiplayer game from 505 Games

    ---------------- Random Stuff & The End ------------

    01:26:20: Helldivers 2 and do we listen to soundtracks outside of games

    01:27:30: Will the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Mini-Figures come to the USA?

    01:30:50: Games Coming Out this Week: The Thamaturge, Uforia: The Saga 2, Berserk Boy & More!

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    - Our Friend's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Reviews -

    Hayes Madsen's Review over at Inverse Gaming: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-review

    Hayes Madsen's chat with me on the podcast about FFVII Rebirth: https://www.youtube.com/live/ukmBOegaKGo

    Andrew Agress Review over at The Outerhaven.net: https://www.theouterhaven.net/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-review-the-pinnacle-of-a-journey/

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  • It is nearly upon us, the moment Final Fantasy VII fans have been eagerly anticipating, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is mere days away. Sean is joined by Gaming Trends Writer at Inverse Hayes Madsen. Hayes has reviewed and played the full game already ahead of its official release.

    In this SPOILER-FREE discussion about the game, Hayes gives his thoughts on the new additions, what's improved from Final Fantasy VII Remake, does going open-world make this everything we've ever dreamed of for FFVII? Hayes' favorite mini-game, what is so awesome about the new card game Queen's Blood, anything that stands out as a negative, and more!

    You can go read Hayes's review here: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-review

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/ukmBOegaKGo

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:25: Talking about the state of Gaming and Games Journalism

    00:08:30: Hayes's history with Final Fantasy VII

    00:09:45: Discussing all things Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Spoiler-Free)

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    Radulich in Broadcasting's Madame Web Review: https://youtube.com/live/QO4MZDd0k6E

    - Our Friend's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Reviews -

    Hayes Madsen's Review over at Inverse Gaming: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-review

    Andrew Agress Review over at The Outerhaven.net: https://www.theouterhaven.net/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-review-the-pinnacle-of-a-journey/

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  • This was a week of anticipation for the industry focused more so looking forward to two major games that are coming in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Not to mention, Nintendo finally dropped that Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase as well.

    Sean and Marc discuss all of these things, how reviews are shaping up for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, thoughts on the Elden Ring DLC Trailer, and also on the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase.

    They've also been playing some games, with Marc having some Helldivers 2 Impressions, and also can discuss the server issues preventing him from playing the game. He's also made it further in Persona 3 Reload and Regency Solitaire 2. Sean has more to say on Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden after spending a significant amount of more time with it.

    Plus, Sony will make it possible for PSVR 2 to work on PC so that the tech owners can access more games. The latest Circana report for January 2024 has dropped and brings with it some interesting info on game sales. SEGA's Crazy Taxi reboot has a Battle Royal mode and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/0dNAPYroo1g

    Also, Sean did an extra VG2M this week discussing all things Final Fantasy VII Rebirth w/ Hayes Madsen: https://youtube.com/live/ukmBOegaKGo

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:30: Housekeeping

    -------------- Games We Are Playing ---------------

    00:04:25: Helldivers 2 (Marc)

    00:14:43: Persona 3 Reload (Marc)

    00:24:38: Regency Solitaire (Marc)

    00:26:10: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (Sean)

    --------------- MAIN TOPIC ---------------

    00:31:50: Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Reactions

    00:42:05: Elden Ring DLC Trailer

    ------------ What's in the News -----------

    00:45:25: January 2024 Circana Report & Suicide Squad Kill the Justice doesn't meet Warner Bros expectations

    00:50:48: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Comes out to Great Reviews and a 94 on Metacritic

    00:55:10: Could There Be a Bloodborne Remake?

    00:57:38: Sony is working on allowing PSVR 2 to work on PC

    01:03:55: Crazy Taxi Reboot is a AAA game with a 100-person Battle Royal Mode

    01:08:40: Short interlude discussing the Sony Non-Spiderman Spidey movies & DC's New DCEU

    01:13:25: EA is trying to get over 11,000 College Players to sign up to be Licensed for EA Sports College Football 25

    01:16:25: Some discussion on HALO TV Series Season 2 and if Star Wars Jedi could be a TV Series

    01:19:10: Discussing the Borderlands Movie Trailer & IGN Creators Guild Gets Accepted

    ------------------ The End ------------

    01:21:25: Games Coming Out This Week: Pacific Drive, Promenade, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth & More!

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    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ag/podcast/video-games-2-the-max/id886092740
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    Radulich in Broadcasting's Lisa Frankenstein Review: https://youtube.com/live/VagxcEgQMG0

    Radulich in Broadcasting's Hazbin Hotel Review: https://youtube.com/live/YHZp-tbEkFs

    - Our Friend's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Reviews -

    Hayes Madsen's Review over at Inverse Gaming: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-review

    Andrew Agress Review over at The Outerhaven.net: https://www.theouterhaven.net/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-review-the-pinnacle-of-a-journey/

    - News Story Links -

    Circana January 2024 Report: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-was-the-best-selling-game-of-january-2024-in-the-us-per-circana

    Everything Announced at the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase: https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/everything-announced-nintendo-direct-spartner-showcase-2024/

    Sony working on getting PSVR 2 to work on PC: https://www.uploadvr.com/sony-working-on-psvr2-pc-support/

    EA working on getting 11,000 players licensed for EA CFB 25: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/02/22/ea-sports-college-football-25-to-block-gamers-from-manually-adding-players-who-reject-nil-opt-in/72703219007/

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  • Randy Isbelle joins Sean and Marc on this week's big episode, as Microsoft had its business update and wound up announcing four games will be coming to other console platforms. And while they did not announce which ones they are, reports are already out there that namedrop Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Pentiment as the four coming over. There's also new console hardware being worked on and even announcements coming in the fall regarding a possible mid-gen thing. Should this be enough to calm the fears? Or is this just the start of a whole new strategy for Xbox?

    On the other side, a recent earnings report from Sony had their president, CFO, and COO Hiroki Totoki state that no major franchise exclusives are coming in 2024, that they need to be more mindful of business when it comes to developing games, and even mentions being more aggressive about PC. Could Sony also be looking at modifying their strategy a bit?

    Unfortunately, layoffs and bad news also continue with Embracer Group once again leading the way in both categories and now in making terrible statements concerning these layoffs as well. Bandai Namco also admits they had to cancel games amid big losses. What does this say about where the industry is right now? And how has Nintendo seemingly been able to stay above all of it?

    Plus, Sean's been playing the newly released Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, Marc's been playing Persona 3 Reload, Regency Solitaire 2, and the Pacific Drive Demo. Nintendo may not release the Switch until Q1 2025, a Mandalorian game is coming from Respawn and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/4B-B85zTOBk

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:45: Housekeeping

    ------------------ MAIN TOPIC --------------

    00:05:15: Discussion on the Xbox Business Update and discussing Xbox's subtle new strategy

    00:28:55: Sony may be more aggressive with putting games on PC in the future

    ---------------- Games We Are Playing ------------

    00:45:25: Persona 3 Reload (Marc)

    00:50:40: Pacific Drive Demo (Marc)

    00:52:25: Startruckers Demo (Marc)

    00:53:40: Banishers: Ghost of New Eden (Sean)

    00:57:40: Turnip Boy Robs a Bank & Final Fantasy VII Remake (Randy)

    ------------------- What's in the News ---------------

    01:03:30: Yoshitaka Moriyama passes away

    01:05:35: Bandai Namco had to cancel some games and didn't have great earnings

    01:08:40: Embracer Group gives more details on how close they are to ending the restructuring

    01:12:40: ZA/UM cancels Disco Elysium expansion and incurs some layoffs

    01:14:25: Respawn is working on a Mandalorian Star Wars game

    01:18:45: Nintendo Switch 2 May Not Release until Spring 2025

    ---------------- The End ----------

    01:24:10: Games Coming out this week

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    Radulich in Broadcasting's Hazbin Hotel Review: https://youtube.com/live/YHZp-tbEkFs

    - Check out Randy's work as well -

    The latest episode of Bad Brackets, Best Super Bowl Moments: https://youtu.be/uXYnAdYHiP0

    The latest episode of the R & R Sports Report: https://www.youtube.com/live/cLUI5NFsXsg

    - News Story Links -

    The Verge's Interview with Phil Spencer: https://www.theverge.com/24073666/microsoft-gaming-phil-spencer-interview-ps5-switch-games

    Phil Spencer's Memo: https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/16/24074729/microsoft-phil-spencer-xbox-everywhere-memo

    Sony' may be looking into doing more with PC: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-wants-to-improve-playstation-profit-margins-with-more-aggressive-pc-release-strategy/

    Respawn's Mandalorian Game: https://insider-gaming.com/star-wars-mandalorian-game/

    Nintendo Switch to release in 2025: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-switch-2-could-now-launch-in-2025-its-claimed/

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  • This week has been a whirlwind of rumors, speculation, and reports centered around Microsoft's possible direction for the future of Xbox as a brand, as a console, and what that means for the gaming world in general. Gaming social media imploded so crazily that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had to reveal a business summit is occurring next week that will cover this.

    Sean and Marc discuss this possible major change to gaming, will it really be all that bad? Is it a big deal if Xbox no longer has any "true exclusives?" does this mean that it is now Game Pass or bust? What avenues does Microsoft gaming really have at this point? And is this the death of the Xbox Console?

    Also, Marc is near the end of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Sean has some thoughts on Persona 3 Reload and speaks generally (without spoilers) about the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo and some things from the State of Play.

    Plus, Disney invests big money into Epic Games and promises a major Fortnite partnership, Capcom asks which of their franchises you'd like to see make a return, rumors on the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, Knuckles TV show news, and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/PFov4lQW9cY

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:50: Housekeeping

    -------------- MAIN TOPIC ----------

    00:04:10 What's going on at Xbox? Are they about to go Multi-Platform? Is the Xbox Console Dead?

    00:36:30: Ubisoft defends the $70 Price tag of Skull & Bones because it is a AAAA Game

    -------------- Games We Are Playing ---------

    00:42:30: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Marc beat it)

    00:52:25: Persona 3 Reload (Sean)

    00:58:35 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Demo (Sean)

    ----------- What's in the News --------

    01:03:25: Report comes out that Nintendo Switch 2 could have its announcement in March

    01:05:55: Capcom asks in a survey what games you'd like to see get remade or have a sequel

    01:10:55: Disney invests $1.5 Billion into Epic Games

    01:16:35: Yoshinori Kitase says he'd change the Junction system for a Final Fantasy 8 Remake

    01:18:55: Kadokawa acquires Octopath Traveler Developers Acquire

    01:22:15: Knuckles TV Show gets release date

    ---------------- The End ----------

    01:23:50: Games Coming out this week

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    Latest Otalku Cafe Episode (Anime): https://youtube.com/live/7AUIjsRmzz4

    Radulich in Broadcasting's Argyle Review: https://youtube.com/live/Go4t0Hbiumo

    Radulich in Broadcasting's Percy Jackson Season 1 Review: https://youtube.com/live/U94u4q8wc5E

    - News Story Links -

    Ubisoft defends Skull & Bones Pricing: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-ceo-defends-skull-and-bones-70-price-despite-its-live-service-leanings-calls-it-quadruple-a/

    Nintendo Switch 2 Could Be Announced as early as March 2024: https://gamerant.com/rumor-nintendo-switch-2-reveal-march-2024/

    Capcom asks about old franchises in a survey: https://www.ign.com/articles/capcom-asks-players-if-they-want-sequels-to-okami-dead-rising-mega-man-and-more

    Disney Invests $1.5 Billion in Epic Games: https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/7/24065281/disney-epic-games-investment-fortnite-metaverse

    Yoshinori Kitase says he change the Junction system for a Final Fantasy VIII Remake: https://insider-gaming.com/final-fantasy-8-director-would-rework-battle-system-in-a-remake/

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  • This week, Sony graced us all with a rather lengthy PlayStation State of Play showing off the promised games such as Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin, but also delivering a few surprises such as an almost 10-minute look at Death Stranding 2 among other announcements. Sean and Marc give their thoughts on the State of Play and if they are more hyped about anything that was shown than they were previously.

    Also, Marc has been playing quite a lot of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, as he traverses through Hawaii with Ichiban and friends exploring the beaches, the Animal Crossing-like Dondoko Island, and battling it out with the Sujimon. Sean unfortunately hasn't been able to play much, but both of them will be able to discuss Persona 3: Reload next week at least.

    There's also a rumor that Sony may be working on a PlayStation Vita 2 or at least a true original portable device, but that it would not be released for at least another two years. Would it be possible to even have a PlayStation 5 portable? Does this mean we will see this become an even bigger trend in gaming? Or is this just another case of PlayStation and potentially Xbox going after Nintendo a little too late?

    Plus, sadly, more layoffs at Embracer Group, and SEGA of America also is set to have layoffs as well. games being delisted with no warning off Steam and consoles, Square-Enix saying a Final Fantasy VI remake would take 20 years to make, info on the PDP Fortnite Festival guitar and more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/8WzNlRXhOsM

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:10: Housekeeping

    ------------------ MAIN TOPIC -----------

    00:03:40 PlayStation State of Play Reactions

    ------------- Games We Are Playing ---------

    00:21:45 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Sean & Marc)

    00:36:40 Discussing if they are gonna play Persona 3: Reload, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and Helldivers 2

    ------------- What's in the News ------------

    00:39:25 SEGA of America laying off 61 people and Embracer Continues Layoffs as well at Eidos Montreal, Cancels Deus Ex game too

    00:42:25 Spec Ops the Line and Devil Mary Cry 3 & 4 Special Editions get suddenly Delisted

    00:45:40 Some European retailers to stop selling physical Xbox Games in stores

    00:49:10 According to a Hardware Leaker, there's a possible PlayStation Vita 2 or Original Portable in Development with AMD

    00:55:45 Yoshinori Kitase says it would take 20 years to make a FFVII-style remake of FFVI

    00:59:40 Sean talks about the PDP Rock Band 4/Fortnite Festival Guitar

    1:01:15 Skull & Bones is going to have an Open Beta February 8-11 and some random thoughts

    ---------------- The End ------------

    01:02:35 Mario versus Donkey Kong has a Demo on Nintendo Switch and the Games Coming out this week!

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    Latest Otalku Cafe Episode (Anime): https://youtube.com/live/VldMlSaoodw

    Radulich in Broadcasting Triple Feature: Streetfighter Live-Action/Street Fighter 2/Mortal Kombat Annihilation: https://youtube.com/live/MmcWXk95DDA

    - News Story Links -

    PlayStation possibly working a separate Vita 2 or non-Remote Play handheld: https://insider-gaming.com/sony-new-playstation-handheld-console-development/

    Devil May Cry 3 and Devil May Cry 4 Special Editions Delisted: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/devil-may-cry-3-special-edition-and-devil-may-cry-4-delisted-from-steam/

    Embracer Group lays off 97 people from Eidos Montreal: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/eidos-montreal-lays-off-97-staffers

    Final Fantasy VI Remake Would take 20 years: https://www.ign.com/articles/final-fantasy-6-remake-would-take-about-20-years-to-make-original-director-says

    PDP Riffmaster Wireless RB 4/Fornite Festival Controller: https://www.ign.com/articles/pdps-new-wireless-guitar-controller-works-with-rock-band-4-and-eventually-fortnite-festival

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  • In a total shocker, the first big move from Microsoft acquiring Activision-Blizzard-King becomes 1,900 employees being laid off. Many of them involved Activision-Blizzard employees and also Xbox employees leading to a 9% cut in Xbox's total gaming division among all of their studios. They also canceled the Blizzard survival game, "Odyssey" due to the engine being used to make the game being far away from being ready, and the game being many years from release.

    Sean and Marc attempt to do their best to discuss the story, the statements, and the aftermath, was this all really inevitable? Could something have been done to prevent it? And what does it say that the workers that have unionized were not part of these layoffs? Do the industry's employees need to do more to fight for themselves? And does this put a damper on acquisitions seeing such large-scale layoffs like this?

    Unfortunately, the layoffs don't end there, as Riot Games also suffered layoffs this week (530 employees) and closed their studio Riot Forge which were in-charge of their external partnership games furthering the lore of League of Legends. Embracer Group continued its string of layoffs by lowering the workforce of Black Forest Games by 50% as well.

    There are other things discussed in this episode, but it felt very weird to lead with that. Sean has early impressions of the newly released Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Nintendo puts out a statement indirectly about Palworld, rumors continue to grow about Nintendo Switch 2 releasing in 2024 and now with an 8-inch LCD screen to boot. Square-Enix wanting to focus on quality over quantity with their games lineup, and much more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/j7XMD1OmNSE

    Links:

    Preparing for two years of pain article from Christopher Dring: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/games-industry-leaders-braced-for-up-to-two-years-of-pain

    Microsoft lays off 1,900 gaming division employees: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-cuts-1900-staffers-from-its-games-division

    Riot Games lays off 530 employees and closes Riot Forge: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/riot-lays-off-530-staff-riot-forge-shutting-down

    Nintendo Switch reportedly will have 8-inch LCD Screen: https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-2-reportedly-has-an-8-inch-lcd-screen

    Radulich in Broadcasting's Review of Marvel's Echo on Disney +: https://youtube.com/live/6HaPqS0OD6Q

    The latest episode of Otalku Cafe: https://youtube.com/live/wgPJz036u3c

    Our Friend's over at The Outerhaven.net's newest Spectator Mode Podcast: https://youtu.be/FavWyBkhV4Q?si

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:02:50: Housekeeping

    ---------------------- Games we are Playing -------------

    00:04:50: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Sean)

    00:12:50: Far Cry 6 and Team Fortress 2 (Marc)

    ----------------- MAIN TOPIC ---------------

    00:15:00: Xbox introduces Xbox Selects Program for to help indie games with visibility

    00:17:20: Microsoft lays off 9 % of the Xbox gaming division including workers from Activision-Blizzard-King, Xbox, and Zenimax/Bethesda, and also Blizzard's Survival Game "Odyssey" canceled

    -------------- What's in the News -------------

    00:38:40: Square-Enix wants to diversify its portfolio of games and lessen its reliance on their big franchises

    00:48:35: Dragon's Dogma 2 Dev says Using Fast Travel means your game is boring

    00:54:15: Nintendo Switch 2 will have an 8-inch LCD screen according to analyst

    00:58:50: A little VR interlude

    01:00:05: Nintendo issues a statement on defending its copyright with Pokemon mention Palworld indirectly and Palword's first roadmap

    01:08:15: PlayStation is going to put Until Dawn on PS5 and PC

    01:09:45: Gamers want Tifa from Final Fantasy VII in Tekken 8, and Harada responds

    ------------------- Entertainment Corner ---------------

    01:11:35: Millie Gibson may be done with Doctor Who and the first season hasn't even aired

    -------------- The End --------------

    01:15:45: Games Coming out this week: Granblue Fantasy Relink, Persona 3 Reload, and more!

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  • This week it feels like 2024 in gaming has begun in earnest with Microsoft's Xbox Developer Direct 2024 where they showed off Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Avowed, Ara: History Untold, and the first look at the Machine Games Indiana Jones. Sean and Marc have their reactions primed and ready on the showcase itself, what they think of each game, if the surprise of Visions of Mana is a big deal or not, and much more.

    Also, a Ubisoft executive got the company into some hot water when speaking on its newly rebranded Ubisoft + Premium streaming service after being misquoted by gaming websites for saying "Gamers need to get used to not owning their games." This led to a lot of discussion on the state of Gaming subscription services and if we should be afraid of them taking over gaming like they have for television shows, music, and film distribution. Should we be worried about this? Or is there data that shows it isn't a concern?

    Plus, Sean has some impressions on the newly released Early Access and Xbox Game Pass title, Palworld, (also known as Pokemon with Guns), Hogwarts Legacy officially is the best-selling game of 2023, Stalker 2 Delayed, Foamstars on PS Plus for February, and much more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/qU4IuVj4Nkg

    Links:

    Ubisoft executive says Gamers need to get used to not owning games for subscription services to thrive: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-subscription-boss-says-gamers-are-still-used-to-owning-games/

    Radulich in Broadcasting's Review of Marvel's Echo on Disney +: https://youtube.com/live/6HaPqS0OD6Q

    The latest episode of Otalku Cafe: https://youtube.com/live/wgPJz036u3c

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:03:18: Housekeeping

    ------- BIG Topic ---------

    00:05:10: Xbox Developer Direct Reactions

    00:22:50: STALKER 2 Delayed Until September 2024

    ------- Games We Are Playing ------

    00:24:00: World of Warcraft and the Retro Gen (Marc)

    00:25:15: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Sean)

    00:26:55: Palworld (Sean)

    ------- BIG Topic -------

    00:32:00: Ubisoft exec believes Gaming subscriptions will thrive once players get used to not owning their games.

    ------- What's in the News -------

    00:49:50: Hogwarts Legacy is officially the #1 Selling game of 2023 in the United States

    00:55:50: Harmonix announces that Rock Band 4 Weekly DLC will end on January 25, 2024.

    01:01:20: Foamstars to be one of the PS Plus Monthly Games for February 2024

    01:07:20: Embracer Group lays off employees from Lost Boys Studio, Thunderful Group lays off 20% of its staff, and Dead By Deadlight developer also suffers layoffs

    -------- The End -------

    01:11:00: Games coming out this week: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Tekken 8, Another Code: Collection and more!

    --------- Entertainment Extra -------

    01:14:40 Discussing The Doctor Who Specials and Christmas Special, the return of David Tennant, and the debut of Ncuti Gatwa

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  • The new January 2024 game releases are nearly upon us, as this week, not one, but two demos dropped for major games releasing this month. Sean and Marc have played Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Granblue Fantasy Relink. How do they stack up? Did they get them even more excited for their perspective releases? You'll want to tune in for this.

    Also, Xbox announced their now yearly Developer Direct is happening next week with Machine Games Indiana Jones game getting some major screen time and more info on Avowed and Senua's Saga Hellblade 2. But the shadow drop from last year's Direct, Hi-Fi Rush, sent the internet buzzing because rumors have swirled that it could be going multiplatform along with Sea of Thieves. Does it hurt Xbox to put its exclusives on other platforms after its initial release? Or is this a smart business move?

    Nintendo also is apparently in deep discussions about working with more third-party developers on some of its own IP. The guys discuss the news and what dormant franchises could stand to benefit from this the most? Are there any of them they'd like to see make a return?

    Also, Sony was at CES 2024 and they teased some things, Golden Sun 1 and 2 are coming to Switch Online, the DICE Awards Finalists have been announced, and much more!

    You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/p4x8njWcKrA

    Links:

    Christopher Dring at Gamesindustry.biz says Nintendo is discussing with some third parties about making a game with their IP: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/how-can-nintendo-switch-2-surpass-its-predecessor-opinion

    Sea of Thieves Could be going Multi-Platform: https://www.gamefile.news/p/sea-of-thieves-playstation

    Hi-Fi Rush could be going Multi-Platform: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-microsoft-may-release-sea-of-thieves-hi-fi-rush-on-ps5-and-switch

    Radulich in Broadcasting's Review of Netflix's Rebel Moon: https://youtube.com/live/bSDDRJG8OWo

    The latest episode of Talk the Keki is their End of Year Awards: https://youtube.com/live/M5AGDZNxfYw

    Timestamps:

    00:01:00: START

    00:03:25: Housekeeping

    ----------- Games We Are Playing -----------

    00:05:10: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Sean and Marc)

    00:16:50: Granblue Fantasy Relink (Marc)

    00:21:50: Fantavision 202X (Marc)

    00:26:05: Final Fantasy VII: Remake (Sean)

    00:29:05 The Ascent DLC (Marc)

    00:30:10: Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis (Sean)

    ----------- What's in the News --------

    00:32:00: PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Games for January 2024

    00:33:20: Sony at CES 2024: Horizon Forbidden West coming to PC, Gravity Rush Movie does exist

    00:35:50: Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush Could Be Coming to Nintendo Switch and PS5

    00:44:05: Xbox Developer Direct is Happening on January 18

    00:50:15: DICE Awards 2023 Finalists Announced: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 leads the way

    00:53:05: Netflix May Develop an extra tier for the games that are added to the service

    00:57:05: Twitch, Discord, and Unity Engine all hit with layoffs

    01:04:50: Golden Sun 1 & 2 are coming to Nintendo Switch Online

    ------------ BIG TOPIC -----------

    01:06:00: Discussing some franchises that may fare better if Nintendo lets a Third-Party developer handle them

    ------------- The End -------------

    01:11:40: Games Coming Out This Week

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