One of the biggest releases of early 2026 is out now, and The Game Informer Show crew is here to dig into all of it. Contributor Hayes Madsen, the writer of our Crimson Desert review, joins Marcus and Eric to talk about Pearl Abyss' plunge into single-player open-world action, and whether all the sights and sounds make up a memorable experience or not.

Then, Marcus takes the war to the bugs in Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War. And after a quick break, Hayes highlights the short-but-sweet RPG Etrange Overlord, and Marcus and Eric check in on their Pokemon Pokopia progress. It's another packed week on the podcast, so grab a cold drink and settle in!

The Game Informer Show is a weekly podcast covering the video game industry. Join us every Friday for chats about video game reviews, news, and exclusive reveals alongside Game Informer staff and special guests from around the industry.

Jump ahead to specific sections here:
00:00 - Intro
06:46 - Crimson Desert
48:27 - Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!
1:03:24 - Etrange Overlord
1:13:37 - Pokemon Pokopia