This is the final episode with technical issues (we swear!), but for now, just please enjoy the dulcet tones of Kaiser and Hio talking about the week's hottest news.

Topics:

Xbox live is coming to Nintendo Switch

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-xbox-live-on-nintendo-switch-is-no-big-surpris/1100-6464821/

Apex legends – comes out of nowhere, does super well, and is well liked.

Drops on monday

https://kotaku.com/titanfall-battle-royale-game-apex-legends-is-out-now-1832334942

And here's an interesting opinion piece on the marketing of the game

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-02-05-ea-didnt-pre-announce-apex-legends-because-it-was-scared-to

Final Round

Disney is apparently happy with EA's handling of Star Wars games

https://www.gameinformer.com/index.php/2019/02/06/disney-says-it-has-good-relationship-with-ea-prefers-to-license-games-rather-than

Indie Game developer to give money back to patreon pledges after game does well

https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/02/02/rise-to-ruins-developer-returning-patreon-pledges-for-double-their-amount-after-game-is

Fortnite hosted a concert in the game

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/2/18208223/fortnite-epic-games-marshmello-concert-exciting-bizarre-future-music

The Polar Vortex has killed half of all mankind, but a few brave souls remain to carry on the legacy!

Topics:

Metro makes an Exodus from Steam, also sells for cheaper, claiming it's because of revenue split

https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/28/18201004/valve-metro-exodus-epic-games-store

Metroid Prime 4 slips, taps retro to make it.

https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/25/18197166/metroid-prime-4-delay-reboot-retro-studios-nintendo-switch

Final Round:

More details on the new Switch model, also Nintendo plans for a more expensive online service

https://nintendoeverything.com/rumor-nikkei-claims-smaller-switch-is-coming-nintendo-planning-new-service-for-this-year/

Detective Pikachu movie sequel is in the works already

https://twinfinite.net/2019/01/detective-pikachu-sequel-is-already-being-worked-on/

NetEase owns a stake in Quantic Dream, company says it will go multi-platform

https://twinfinite.net/2019/01/netease-games-now-owns-a-stake-in-quantic-dream/

Guests:

Thegreen8ball: Twitch.tv/thegreen8ball

Dapper Dastard: Law School

Back in the saddle again! We had some light technical difficulties this week, but I bet you'll be too much of a coward to find them!

Housekeeping links:

8Ball and Kaiser collaborated on a video detailing the history of fire emblem in the west and the problems he has with the way the series has been marketed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oRoEMLaMWI

Fisher King released a video last week declaring his psuedo belief that "Wrestling is the Highest form of Art" https://youtu.be/3fleVykrTws

Topics:

NPD numbers for 2018 are officially out. Switch and Smash Ultimate win big, other interesting data

https://www.resetera.com/threads/december-2018-npd-results-switch-highest-selling-console-of-2018-by-units-and-revenue-super-smash-bros-ultimate-top-selling-game-of-december.95119/

Dreams managed to make it into the news again

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-01-21-player-takes-impressive-stab-at-recreating-cult-corridor-horror-pt-in-media-molecules-dreams

Also it's still not coming out soon

https://www.resetera.com/threads/dreams-ps4-not-ready-for-launch-yet-still-in-development.95464/

Final Round

Square Enix trademarks the term HD2D and HD-2D for maketing uses, sign of Octopath Traveler 2?

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-22-square-enix-trademarks-terms-for-octopath-travelers-visual-style

Microsoft grabs level designer from God of War for their new studio The Initiative

https://m.windowscentral.com/god-wars-chris-oneill-joins-microsofts-initiative-studio?fbclid=IwAR1dc-8zJ4lqHW3D_DV-5Tr0XT1q76vXbhWLyP7Z6nzod88MmvvE4Or7nQQ

Far Cry New Dawn is a $40 title, creative director says it's because they're generous.

https://twinfinite.net/2019/01/far-cry-new-dawn-price-tag-reason/

Guests:

TheGreen8Ball: Twitch.tv/thegreen8ball

Dapper Dastard

Fisher King: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcZl4WaCZZ0YzXNSDZRpdqw

Hio590: Twitch.tv/thegreen8ball

This week on Around the Monitor we dive into the Ellie Overwatch League scandal, talk about how hard it is for women to break into esports, and then we talk about Bowsette again.

Main Topics:

PS4 sales cannot be stopped

https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/8/18173711/ps4-hardware-sales-ces-2019

Overwatch Ellie Scandal

https://www.usgamer.net/articles/unpacking-the-wild-ellie-imposter-controversy-that-has-overtaken-overwatch

Final Round

Resident-evil 2 HD demo is coming, you can play for 30 minutes and then it deletes itself

https://twinfinite.net/2019/01/resident-evil-2-demo-announced/

Nintendo confirms Bowsette isn't cannon, also slightly trolls

https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/4/18168303/bowsette-super-mario-bros-u-deluxe-nintendo-switch

Ubisoft wont be releasing Division 2 on steam, instead going to epic store

https://twinfinite.net/2019/01/ubisoft-snubs-steam-will-release-the-division-2-on-epic-games-store/

We go through all of our predictions on all the big releases of 2019 (those we know, and those that might be speculated).

Games with confirmed release dates:

Walking Dead: Episode 3 – Jan 15

YIIK: A postmodern RPG – Jan 17

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes – Jan. 18

Resident Evil 2 – Jan 25

Kingdom Hearts 3 – Jan 29

Ace Combat 7 – Feb 1

Ape Out – Feb 7

Catherine: Full Body Feb 14

Far Cry New Dawn – Feb 15

Dead or Alive 6 – Feb 15

Crackdown 3 – Feb 15

Metro Exodus – Feb 15

Jump Force – Feb 15

Anthem – Feb 22

Left Alive – March 5

Total War: Three Kingdoms – March 7

Devil May Cry 5 – March 8

The Division 2 – March 15

One Piece: World Seeker – March 15

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – March 22

Shovel Knight: King of Cards – April 9

Mortal Kombat 11 – Apr. 23

Days Gone – April 26

Rage 2 – May 14

Team Sonic Racing – May 21 vs Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled – June 21

Shemue III – August 27

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries – September 10

TBA Release dates – also may slip into 2020

Animal Crossing

Atomic Heart

Bayonetta 3

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Code Vein

Control

Death Stranding

Doom Eternal

Dreams

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Gears 5

In the Valley of Gods

Last of Us Part II

Luigi's Mansion 3

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3

Medievil

Metroid Prime 4

Minecraft Dungeons

Next Core Pokemon Game

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Psychonauts 2

Sea of Solitude

Skull and Bones

Spelunky 2

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

The Outer Worlds

The Sinking City

Town (Game Freak)

Wargroove

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Yoshi's Crafted World

This week on around the monitor we talk about the video game store war, and which video game crossovers we want to see the most.