Micah has been completely consumed by Ghost of Yotei and breaks down how it improves on its predecessor. He explains what’s new, what’s changed, and why this follow-up has him more hooked than ever. Brad has a public service announcement for gamers: stay away from Megabonk if you value your free time! He explains why this deceptively addictive game might derail your entire gaming schedule. We also dive into the biggest news of the week — Xbox’s shocking 50% price hike for Game Pass Ultimate. We analyze what’s behind Microsoft’s strategy, how it impacts players, and whether this could alienate their most loyal fan base. Finally, Capcom manages to fumble with a major misstep as they plan to charge pay-per-view rates for major tournaments — a move so controversial that even Street Fighter 6’s director is publicly criticizing it.

We’re once again packed with fresh game impressions, including Metroid Prime Remastered, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor, and Borderlands 4. The spotlight shines on Hades 2, as Carrie shares her thoughts after rolling credits and why this sequel is dominating the conversation. The biggest bombshell of the week: the Saudi Arabian government, alongside Jared Kushner, has purchased Electronic Arts for $55 billion. We dive into what this means for EA’s immediate outlook—and why it could spell serious trouble for the publisher’s long-term future. Microsoft has raised hardware prices yet again, fueling frustrations about gaming affordability. Meanwhile, Doug Bowser is officially retiring from Nintendo - was he really there for only 6 years? We also break down the latest news in entertainment and gaming, including the casting of the next James Bond and why Monster Hunter Wilds has us stepping back—for now.

This week we break down the massive Nintendo Direct, packed with major announcements including a Super Mario Galaxy series re-release, Mario Tennis Fever, Hades 2’s 1.0 release, a Dragon Quest VII remake, and the long-awaited release date for Metroid Prime 4 Beyond. Oh, and yes—the Virtual Boy is back in some form. Steam has added new restrictions after pressure from payment processors, now banning early access games with adult content. We discuss why this is another step toward broader video game censorship. Fortnite has introduced a big change to how players purchase V-Bucks, and it’s a consumer-friendly move we hope more publishers adopt. Meanwhile, Sega is caught in one of the strangest stories of the year—using the London Police Department to harass a random individual after their own corporate screw-up. We wrap up with a fun Post Office segment where we talk about our favorite video game side quests, along with our favorite video game books.

This week we’re loaded with game impressions, covering everything from Touhou Farming ~ Minoriko’s Homestead Harvest and Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots to Donkey Kong Bananza, Timberborn, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, Metal Gear Solid 3 Delta, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Hollow Knight: Silksong has been the biggest talking point in gaming, and Terrence shares his hands-on impressions. We dive into the massive player counts at launch and debate whether Silksong’s incredible value might actually be hurting other indie developers. In a surprising move, the Saudi government has acquired a controlling stake in the EVO tournament. We discuss what this means for the fighting game community and future competition. Nintendo has won a lawsuit against a modder who chose to represent themselves in court, leading to disastrous results. Finally, Micah and Brad break down the extended gameplay reveal for 007: First Light.

Micah’s Donkey Kong Bananza adventure has hit a roadblock—his son has now taken over the game, leaving him stuck early on in the journey. Brad is attempting to use Beat Saber as an alternative way into fitness after a long battle with disinterest in exercise. Can VR rhythm gaming actually help build healthy habits? The crew breaks down last week’s Gamescom event, which left them feeling underwhelmed by most announcements. Has the AAA industry drifted too far from what we actually want? The biggest headline of the week came from the long-awaited reveal of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s release date, and it’s arriving sooner than expected. Sony has finally raised the price of the PlayStation 5 in the U.S., citing tariff pressures. We explore what this means for consumers and the broader console market. We also cover weeks of upheaval at Cloud Chamber, the current Bioshock developer, and the addition of Rod Fergusson to steady the project. This sparks a deeper conversation about why so few games strive to deliver meaningful narratives despite the medium’s storytelling potential. In the Post Office, we dive into legendary gaming myths and the shocking ringside behavior of Raja Jackson at a recent wrestling show.

Brad has fully immersed himself in Cities: Skylines, but now he faces a big question—stick with the beloved original or make the leap to Cities: Skylines II, which is currently plagued with technical and performance issues. We dive into a troubling new report on Microsoft, which details the company’s role in supplying Israeli intelligence with cloud computing services. Despite public statements, the report alleges Microsoft knows exactly how its technology is being used. Internal pressure is also mounting, as an Arkane Studios union publicly criticized Microsoft’s cooperation with Israel. Nexon finds itself in controversy after The First Descendant ad campaign was caught using the likenesses of several streamers without their permission, sparking backlash across the gaming community. Finally, we look at Sony’s latest statements regarding Marathon, which suggest the highly anticipated game may be rushed to release.

Brad reviews two more of Digital Eclipse’s standout “docu-games” with in-depth impressions of Atari 50 and Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, highlighting how these playable documentaries preserve game history in fresh, innovative ways. Carrie is deep into the Shin Megami Tensei multiverse, giving updates on her time with Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and Raidou Kuzunoha Remastered. We break down the biggest announcements from the latest Nintendo Partner Direct, including reveals for Monster Hunter Stories 3 and Octopath Traveler 0. In baffling hardware news, US tariffs have triggered a bizarre price increase on the original Nintendo Switch. We explain why this move was both predictable and unnecessary. Microsoft has become the top-selling third-party publisher on PlayStation, reinforcing the growing belief that console exclusivity may be fading into irrelevance. Meanwhile, Tencent may soon owe Sony big, as their game Light of Motiram is facing backlash for being a blatant clone of Horizon Zero Dawn. Finally, we talk about the Summerslam main event and why WWE seems determined to push away a portion of its core fanbase.

We’re still deep into Donkey Kong Bananza! Brad has already rolled credits, while Micah shares his early impressions of what could be the best game of 2025. The controversy surrounding the censorship of adult video games has now extended to Itch.io, where limited moderation resources have forced even broader content removals. Even worse, the backlash has led to journalistic censorship at Vice Media. We dive into a larger conversation about the dangers of censorship and the ongoing collapse of corporate-owned media as a credible news source. In a staggering case of self-sabotage, 1049 Games has effectively unreleased Splitgate 2, citing waning player interest and mismanagement. We unpack what went wrong. Microsoft appears to have walked back its decision to price The Outer Wilds 2 at $80, possibly due to underwhelming pre-order numbers. We explore what this reversal means for future AAA pricing strategies. We close with a candid discussion on the death of Hulk Hogan and our unfiltered thoughts on his legacy—both inside and outside the wrestling ring.

We’re going absolutely bananas over Donkey Kong Bananza! We kick things off by gushing over Nintendo’s latest generational game and why we can't put it down. Valve has begun removing certain adult games from the Steam marketplace due to pressure from payment processors. We discuss how this sets a dangerous precedent for video game censorship and why it’s a slippery slope that players and creators alike should be watching closely. Ubisoft is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons as Charlie Guillemot—yes, the CEO’s son—is appointed to lead their new Tencent-backed subsidiary. Generative AI continues its concerning rise in game development. Steam is reporting an 800% year-over-year increase in games disclosing GenAI usage. We also highlight the tragic irony of recently laid-off King developers who unknowingly trained the very tools that replaced them. In this week’s Post Office, what games do we wish we could delete from existence?

Brad shares why Patapon 1+2 Replay stirs nostalgia for a bygone era of creative, experimental gaming from AAA publishers and why the industry may be worse off without it. We explore Roblox's massive influence on the modern gaming landscape, from platform dominance to its role in shaping young gamers’ habits and expectations. The Subnautica 2 controversy takes center stage as we break down how publisher Krafton appears to have delayed early access to dodge a $250 million payout to Unknown Worlds. We discuss the looming threat of Buy Now, Pay Later services entering the gaming space and how they will likely exploit the players most vulnerable to predatory monetization and microtransaction spending. In the Post Office, we debate whether the world actually needs a Superman video game and why WWE may be sabotaging their own momentum by not properly capitalizing on their current success.