Massive layoffs hit the industry, affecting Riot Games and ABK post-Microsoft merger. Notable departures include Mike Ybarra and Adham, with Blizzard canceling a survival game and outsourcing customer service. Concerns arise about Blizzcon's future. The Palworld vs. Pokemon debate unfolds, with accusations of imitation and AI stuff. Scott explores Forbidden West and Timberborn, Jon finishes Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Beau engages in TTRPG "Order & Defiance" and ENSHROUDED. Calls and emails and texts too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORE 402: We're All Pals Here

Hosted by podcasting vet, Scott Johnson, Jon Jagger and Beau Schwartz. Weekly, on the frogpants network. Video games and the issues around them every week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Video Games

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

There's a new study saying we are less interested in deep strategy games. Let's dig through that a bit and see what makes sense. Also, we played a load of games. (see below for more.) MS trying to buy valve rumors is horse poop. Arrowhead saw a big change this week, all in service to players according to the CEO. Fortnite is getting all kinds of Fallout stuff, and possible Mad Max stuff, maybe even today. Your emails and texts and lost more on today's CORE podcast!
GAMES PLAYED
SCOTT Rise of The Tomb Raider Arctic Eggs Started Fabledom
JON Final Fantasy XIV
BEAU Mullet Mad Jack finished! WoW SoD, SC2, played some Heroes of the Storm Got phished! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORE 419: No Sale!

We have some cool giveaways today, so get ready for that! Also, Dear Martha tackles gaming controversy. Plus Square is going full multi-platform, Tomb Raider is coming to TV, Assassin's Creed Shadows officially coming this year. Capcom is working on a remake of RE1 again. Sony did the thing we all thought they did with Helldivers 2. Frustrated devs on Steam, and your texts and emails and more!
GAMES PLAYED
SCOTT Instruments of Destruction Genopanic Animal Well (More F4, Diablo IV, Rotwood, Farm Together 2, and Cyberpunk)
JON Vampire Survivors - Operation Guns DLC Diablo IV - Loot 2.0 again Animal Well
BEAU Rotwood Mullet Madjack Terra Nil Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORE 418: Loot Too Point Oh

These layoffs and closures at Microsoft, affecting studios like Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. The silence from Phil Spencer raises questions about the future of AAA gaming and highlights the negative impacts of industry consolidation, a topic that Ybarra has also commented on, albeit controversially. Helldivers 2 drama ends, kind of, and new inductees into the Video Game Hall of Fame. The upcoming Rogue-Like DLC for Wildermyth and the discontinuation of sharing Nintendo Switch screenshots to Twitter. Your texts too! 
GAMES WE PLAYED
SCOTT V Rising 1.0 Farm Together 2 Rusty's Retirement More fallout 4
JON CyberPunk 2077 Animal Well
BEAU Hades 2 Manor Lords WoW, BG3, etc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORE 417: Industry Flux

Some quick early thoughts about this messy mess we call the gaming industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORE EXTRA: The MS Layoff and Shutter news

Las Vegas happened and there were rad arcade games there. Also DnD sessions with newcomers. Jon airs his thoughts on the potential demise of console gaming despite minimal research. New PSN requirements for Helldivers 2 and Todd Howard's comments on speeding up the release of major Bethesda titles. Listener emails and texts and more!
GAMES WE PLAYED
SCOTT Fallout 4 Monster Train Delta emulation on the road Feed The Kraken
JON Stellar Blade A little Fallout 4 CyberPunk 2077 Pokemon LeafGreen on Delta
BEAU Manor Lord WoW SoD BG3 Multiplayer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORE 402: We're All Pals Here

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