Boss Run

Welcome back to Episode 54 of Boss Run! Housh here, and this week we are diving into a chaotic mix of massive server outages, high-octane multiplayer reveals, audio/GPU tech tweaks, and what we are playing and looking forward to next.

Here is what we are covering on the show this week:

🔴 The 20-Hour Xbox Network Outage: Starting late on July 26th, the Xbox Network suffered a massive global outage that locked players out of profiles, store purchases, and multiplayer lobbies for almost a full day. We break down the license verification errors (error 0x87e107df) that kept players from launching even owned single-player games, and why hitting so close to the recent PSN outage has reignited the intense public debate around DRM and all-digital infrastructure.

🩸 Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Reveal & Beta: The official multiplayer reveal trailer just dropped, and we have all the details on the upcoming beta! Closed early access runs from August 6th to August 10th (for pre-orders and Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass subscribers), followed by the full Open Beta from August 13th to August 17th. We break down the brand-new 4v4 competitive modes, maps, skin rewards, and the headline 12-player Horde Siege mode where three 4-player squads tackle objectives across massive maps.

🎮 Halo Co-Op on Legendary: We've been grinding through classic Halo campaign co-op on Legendary difficulty. We share operational notes, friendly-fire chaotic moments, and why original campaign coop on max difficulty still hits completely differently.

⚙️ Shooter Performance & Tech Setup Notes: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6 are still running exceptionally smooth. I share my recent rig updates—including the latest Nvidia driver updates for multi-monitor GPU scaling—and why dialing in proper ear tips on your IEMs makes a world of difference for directional audio and footstep tracking.

🔮 Looking Ahead: Teasing what we are jumping into next, including initial impressions for Beasts of Reincarnation dropping Tuesday, August 4th!

Welcome back to Episode 53 of Boss Run! Housh here, and this week we are dealing with a wild mix of massive network outages, huge wins for PC game preservation, and deep-dive impressions on new shooter seasons, audio tech, and absurd weapon camos.

Here is what we are breaking down on the show this week:

🟢 OG Xbox Backward Compatibility Hits PC: Microsoft officially kicked off a massive game preservation win on July 22nd, bringing native original Xbox backward compatibility to Windows desktops and handhelds. We look at the launch lineup (Blinx, Conker: Live & Reloaded, Crimson Skies, and Fuzion Frenzy), the Play Anywhere cross-buy support, and the modern PC enhancements like 4x resolution upscaling, VSync, and customizable graphics toggles.

🔴 The Great PSN Blackout of July 24th: PlayStation Network suffered a massive global outage that crippled online services, store purchases, and digital license validation for over six hours. We discuss why this outage reignited severe consumer backlash—especially following Sony's recent announcement to stop producing physical discs by 2028—and why it serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of an all-digital future.

🪖 Battlefield 6 Season 4 First Impressions: I’ve been diving into the new Season 4 update and spending quality time on Tsuru Reef. Despite the internet complaints that the map is too big, the water physics and naval fleet encounters are incredible. As long as you actually play the objectives and stick with your squad, the engagement pacing feels phenomenal.

🎧 Testing Windows Spatial Audio vs. Dolby Atmos: I’ve been experimenting with the Dolby Access app and comparing Windows Spatial Audio against Call of Duty's internal audio mix. I break down whether dedicated spatial sound actually gives you a competitive advantage for tracking footstep directional cues or if it just muddy's the mix.

💥 CoD Serialized Camo & Modern Warfare 4 Hype: Season 05 launched with Activision's first-ever "Serialized Camo" pre-order promotion, forcing players through a 5,000 "Skull Score" elimination grind. I officially locked in my badge as #41,858 of the 100,000 degenerates to complete the challenge and get a unique, permanently engraved serial stamp on my Gilded Ruin camo.

Coming Up Next Week: Teasing my full hands-on impressions of Halo: Campaign Evolved!

Welcome back to Episode 52 of Boss Run! Housh here, and this week the live-service shooter landscape is completely shifting gears. We are jumping straight into the newly revealed roadmap for Battlefield 6's massive naval-focused Season 4, alongside the beginning of the end for the Black Ops 7 content cycle. Plus, I break down a massive hardware grievance with Valve’s new Steam Machine and spotlight a brand-new indie hit that is currently taking over Game Pass.Here is what we are covering on the show this week:

🛠️ The Steam Machine’s Biggest Hardware Flaw: I'm cracking open the hood of Valve’s new premium console, and we need to talk about its layout engineering. While upgrading the storage is standard fare, Valve's decision to use a single-channel RAM configuration—and how frustratingly difficult they made it to physically reach and slot in compared to a quick M.2 SSD swap—is a massive headache for hardware enthusiasts.

🪖 Battlefield 6 Season 4: EA and Battlefield Studios just dropped the massive roadmap for Season 4, and naval warfare is finally making its long-awaited return to the Pacific. Rolling out in three distinct monthly phases starting Tuesday, July 21st, we look at the sheer scale of Tsuru Reef (the biggest map in BF6 history), the licensed Top Gun crossover event hitting in August with the 10th iteration of Wake Island, and September's tight underwater infantry grids.

💥 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 05: The roadmap for Season 05 is officially live, launching Thursday, July 23rd at 12 PM EDT. With Modern Warfare 4 locked in for an October 23rd release date, this is officially the beginning of the end for the BO7 content cycle. We break down the new 6v6 Japanese rural map Jubilee, the new sandbox weapons (the FG42 AR, Gremlin SMG, and Mammoth LMG), and the day-one Survival Map that wraps up the Dark Aether saga against the Warden.

🚂 Game Pass Spotlight: Denshattack!: Dropping out of nowhere on July 15th, this day-one Game Pass addition is easily the most creative thing I've played all month. Think Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater meets Jet Set Radio, except your skateboard is a multi-ton, gravity-ignoring customizable train blasting through a neon-soaked dystopian Japan. It just locked down a stellar 88 on OpenCritic, but be warned: behind the vibrant cel-shaded art and elite soundtrack is a massive, hardcore skill ceiling.

💿 The Death of the PlayStation Disc: Sony has officially dropped a massive bombshell, confirming that starting in January 2028, they will completely stop producing physical game discs for all new PlayStation releases. We break down the corporate PR spin, the immediate industry blowback from game preservation groups, and what this digital-only mandate means for the future of the inevitable PlayStation 6 and the second-hand game market.

🌊 Deep Dive: Subnautica 2 Early Access: I am finally leaving Planet 4546B behind and diving headfirst into the terrifying new ocean world of Zazura. From surviving the catastrophic crash of the Alterra colony ship CICADA to dealing with unpredictable, terrifying dynamic ocean currents that suck you straight down into the abyss, I share my first impressions of Unknown Worlds' massive Unreal Engine 5 survival sequel.

Welcome back to Episode 50 of Boss Run! Housh here, and we have reached a major milestone episode—but the gaming industry is celebrating by sending our wallets straight to the intensive care unit. This week, we are breaking down the massive sticker shock hitting both hardware and software, tracking the newly launched GTA 6 preorders, and diving into what I'm playing on my desktop and Steam Deck.

Here is what we are tackling on the show this week:

💰 The GTA 6 Sticker Shock: Official preorders are finally live, and Rockstar has officially rewritten the rulebook for AAA pricing. While the US saw a standard $10 bump, Canadian gamers are staring down a massive $20 increase. We break down the math and why this release marks the absolute end of publishers giving the Canadian retail market a break on real-world currency exchange rates.

📈 The Great Console Inflation Tier List: It's not just the software. Between Valve's massive premium price tiers for the newly launched Steam Machine, Microsoft's incoming massive global Xbox price hike on August 1st (which completely sunsets the 2TB model), and Nintendo's upcoming Canadian price correction for the Switch 2 in September, staying in the console ecosystem is getting expensive. We compare the launch pricing vs. the reality of buying a console today.

🎮 What I'm Playing & Emulating:Forza Horizon 6: Keeping the pedal to the metal and testing my boundaries on the virtual track.Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: Dropping into the pure, unadulterated chaotic bliss of the new Season 4 Reloaded update featuring none other than Nicolas Cage as a playable operator. Yes, really. Jeanne d'Arc (PSP via PS Premium): Replaying this tactical RPG classic from Level-5 on modern hardware. It absolutely holds up.Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere: Taking to the skies and digging back into the roots of Namco's flight-arcade history.

Welcome back to Episode 49 of Boss Run! Housh here, and today we are breaking down a wild week of hardware FOMO, massive upcoming pre-orders, and the games currently keeping me glued to my desk—including a trip down memory lane on the Steam Deck.Here is what we are covering on the show this week:

🎮 The Steam Controller Reservation Trap: I officially locked in my reservation for Valve's new Steam Controller, and honestly, I'm glad I did. If you missed this wave, the next batch of pre-orders isn't happening until Fall, and they won't even ship until Spring 2027. We discuss why Valve's hardware rollout strategy is keeping demand sky-high.

🕹️ The Right Tool for the Job: While the new Steam Controller looks incredible for native PC experiences, let's be real—if you're playing sweaty console ports like Call of Duty or Forza, you want standard layout precision. I break down why I’re still reaching for the Flydigi Vader 5 Pro when it’s time to actually get competitive.⚔️ What I'm Playing This Week:Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Diving deep into the hardcore, brutal medieval realism. Henry's journey continues, and it is absolute peak RPG design.Forza Horizon 6: Tearing up the asphalt and continuing the open-world racing grind on PC Game Pass.✈️ Retro Deck Corner: When I'm not on my main rig, I've been using the Steam Deck for pure nostalgia—specifically emulating Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies. We talk about how beautifully the Deck handles PCSX2 emulation and why this specific entry still holds up as an arcade-flight masterpiece.

💰 The Next Big Wave: Mark your calendars—official pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6 are finally going live this Thursday. Are you locking your copy in on day one, or waiting out the inevitable launch day server meltdown?

Welcome back to Episode 48 of Boss Run! Housh here, and this week we are sorting through the aftermath of an absolute avalanche of gaming news. We are recapping a massive Nintendo Direct, laying out my official upcoming pre-order list, and diving into two of the weirdest, most fascinating indie game demos I have touched all year.

Here is what we are breaking down on the show this week:

🎮 The Steam Controller Dilemma: Now that the initial launch chaos and 30-minute scalper sellouts have settled down into a steady reservation system, we need to re-evaluate. Is Valve's new controller still worth the hassle and price tag, or has the hype train moved on?

🍄 Nintendo Direct Blowout: Nintendo absolutely delivered this week. We are doing a full recap of all the major announcements, surprise revivals, and unexpected ports that stole the show. Which announcements secured a spot on my immediate pre-order list? Tune in to find out.

🎣 Demo Spotlight 1: About Fishing: Let's talk about About Fishing. This demo is a wild, surreal trip. Imagine the arcade joy of classic Sega Bass Fishing smashed head-first into the eerie, small-town mystery aesthetic of Twin Peaks. It’s bizarre, atmospheric, and completely hooked me.

🐈 Demo Spotlight 2: Schrödinger's Call: On the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, we have Schrödinger's Call. This game manages to blend the scientific paradox of Schrödinger’s cat with the high-art psychological tension of Ingmar Bergman’s cinematic masterpiece Persona. It is an incredibly unique narrative experiment that you need to have on your radar.

Welcome back to Boss Run! Housh here, and we have an absolute milestone episode for the show. This week, we are sitting down for an incredible, wide-ranging interview with a true creative chameleon who has conquered everything from Hollywood film sets to stand-up comedy stages and rap tracks.Our guest is the CEO of Supreme Robot and the mastermind behind the High Score Game Arcade. We're tracking his fascinating trajectory from acting alongside cinema legends to stepping into the role of a mad-scientist game developer. We talk about his massive new venture: turning one of the oldest, simplest childhood pastimes into a global competitive esport with a Worldwide Tic-Tac-Toe Championship expanding to a publishing network of 100 million players. In this episode, we dive deep into:🎮 The High Score Arcade Revolution: The business model of a modern digital arena that pays out daily cash prizes to indie arcade leaderboard champions.❌ Making Tic-Tac-Toe High-Stakes: The design philosophy of turning a quick, casual time-killer into a massive competitive activation at major events like SXSW.🎨 From Hollywood to Tech Infrastructure: Deconstructing his multi-decade creative journey, how comedy writing translates into game design, and building cutting-edge media tools. 🕹️ PLAY ALONG WITH THE TOURNAMENT:Want to test your own grid strategy, climb the global leaderboards, and see if you can take the crown? Jump into the active tournament brackets right now for free at:👉 https://play.highscoregamearcade.com/

Welcome back to Episode 46 of Boss Run! Housh here, and the absolute maddest week in gaming has officially wrapped up. "Not-E3" 2026 did not disappoint. We are drinking from a firehose today as we break down the entire summer showcase gauntlet—from PlayStation’s heavy hitters to Xbox dropping the hammer, alongside some massive hardware news out of Taipei.Here is what we are unpacking on this week's massive show:

💻 Computex & The Handheld Future: Nvidia absolutely stole the show at Computex with the official unveiling of their new RTX SPARK chips. We look at the architectural leap this Arm-based system-on-a-chip brings to the table and what it means for the next generation of ultra-powerful gaming laptops and Windows-native handhelds.

🔵 PlayStation State of Play: Sony came out swinging early in the week. We break down the brutal, claws-out gameplay reveal for Marvel's Wolverine (mark your calendars for September 15th!), the surprise announcement of God of War: Laufey focusing on Faye, and the high-flying return of Ace Combat 8. Plus, the Call of Duty community is losing its mind because Modern Warfare 4 is officially bringing back DMZ mode.

🏙️ Summer Game Fest Live: Geoff Keighley delivered some absolute fever dreams on Friday. We get our first real looks at the Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake, a brand new Virtua Fighter, and the jaw-dropping new trailer for RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven. We also cover the announcements for Final Fantasy 7: Revelation and the upcoming Stellar Blade: Blood Rain DLC.

🟢 Xbox Games Showcase Dominance: Xbox might have won the weekend, and honestly, they had the best pre-show countdown music of the entire gauntlet. In a massive twist for the platform's strategy, they confirmed Gears of War: E-Day is staying a strict console exclusive. To top it off, Sega and Atlus fans are eating incredibly well with the official world premieres of Persona 6 and Crazy Taxi: World Tour (yes, Axel is back to "All I Want" by The Offspring!).

Welcome to Episode 45 of Boss Run! Housh here, and we are sitting right in the eye of the storm. "Not-E3" season is officially upon us, and we are breaking down the massive showcase schedule, a wild handheld price spike, and why I’m skipping the biggest game of the week despite the glowing reviews.

Here is what we are covering on the show this week:

📅 The Summer Showcase Mega-Week: It is the quiet before the storm! We are mapping out the absolute gauntlet of conferences hitting us over the next few days. We’re laying out our expectations for the PlayStation State of Play on Tuesday, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest on Friday, and the massive Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday. What are your prediction highlights?

💸 Steam Deck Sticker Shock: We have to talk about the hardware market. The Steam Deck just saw a massive, unexpected $300 price jump! We break down the market conditions and what this means for portable PC gaming moving forward.

🕵️‍♂️ 007 & Retro Hot Takes: IO Interactive's 007: James Bond - First Light just dropped to stellar reviews, but I have absolutely no desire to play it. We also look at Yacht Club’s brand new Mina the Hollower (which feels like Zelda meets Castlevania on a Game Boy Color). This spins us into a massive tech discussion: I never really connected with the 8-bit or 16-bit 2D eras. I’ve been completely fascinated by 3D tech ever since the days of Battletanks, MS Flight Simulator, Wolfenstein 3D, and Wing Commander—all the way to dropping a dedicated 3D accelerator card into my PC just to run Quake in glorious OpenGL.

🎮 The Game Rotation & GOTY Contenders:

• Lost Odyssey: Disc 3 is absolutely still kicking my ass. The JRPG grind is real.

• Current Grinds: Still chipping away at South of Midnight and Forza Horizon 6 on PC Game Pass.

• The Hot Take: Echo Generation 2 is currently my uncontested Game of the Year. We discuss why this sequel completely nails the vibe.