Even amid widespread tech layoffs, Microsoft managed to surprise the industry by cutting over 9,000 employees last week—its fourth major layoff in just 18 months. We explore the impact on Xbox, why AAA game development keeps fueling these cycles, and what the Xbox brand might represent going forward. Helldivers 2 is heading to Xbox. Is Sony starting a new trend? EA appears to be setting up the next Battlefield title to fail—and possibly on purpose. 11bitstudios is under fire for using undisclosed generative AI in The Alters. We explain why this story is a new concern for folks who are opposed to the use of these tools in games. Borderlands 4 may win back long-time fans thanks to a crucial design change from Gearbox. Brad shares why Foundation might be his “just right” city builder in a crowded genre. In the Post Office, we dive into Street Fighter movie casting rumors and debate whether this upcoming trainwreck could still be worth watching.

It’s a community show this week, but first we dive into the games we’ve been playing.
Terrence shares his love-hate relationship with REMATCH, calling it both his most beloved and most infuriating game of the year. He also gives quick takes on FBC Firebreak and Lost in Random: The Eternal Die.

Brad compares two action-packed brawlers—Midnight Fight Express and Dead as Disco—before digging into strategy with a breakdown of Age of Wonders: Planetfall versus Age of Wonders 4 to determine which entry speaks to him most.

Carrie finally got her hands on Mario Kart World and is returning to Pokémon Scarlet, now running much smoother thanks to the Switch 2.

Then we dive into listener questions from the Post Office, talking albums that peak early, the creepiest video game villains, and why Gen Z gravitates toward sandbox experiences.

Terrence has been diving into the new base-building game The Alters and shares his early impressions, along with his thoughts on Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dense Pixels' 2024 Game of the Year. Brad is working through his backlog and enjoying both Manor Lords and Shapez 2, with plenty of praise to go around.

In news, we cover the massive launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike against major game publishers, and Embracer Group’s Lars Wingefors conveniently stepping into a new role that still gives him influence—likely not for the better.

Then, in the Post Office, we go deep on the current WWE product and explore why recent portrayals of Black wrestlers may not be as progressive as they seem.

We’ve all finally gotten our hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 — even Micah — and we share our first impressions of the new console, along with thoughts on Mario Kart World and whether now is the right time to buy one.

Summer Game Fest just wrapped, and we start by breaking down the one presentation that stood out for all the wrong reasons, plus what it says about the current state of the AAA gaming industry.

We also highlight all of the games that grabbed our attention, including 007: First Light, The Outer Worlds 2, Persona 4 Revival, Clockwork Revolution, LUMINES Arise, Ratatan, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Resident Evil Requiem, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and many more.

***CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 SPOILER WARNING***

With news being light this week, we dive deep into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We explore the elements that make it stand out, what lessons we hope other developers learn from it, and give a full breakdown of the game's characters. Of course, we also unpack the ending and examine the major themes that run throughout this compelling title.

Terrence shares his quick impressions of Doom: The Dark Ages and makes a surprise return to Dragon Age: Inquisition. Did he finally make it out of The Hinterlands this time? We dive into the controversy surrounding Bungie, as the studio is once again caught plagiarizing art. With morale reportedly low and Marathon in a precarious state, we discuss what the future might look like for Bungie moving forward. In the Post Office, we reflect on how we've changed as gamers over the years and share the narrative tropes in media that instantly ruin the experience for us.

It’s a light news week, so we open the floodgates for a massive edition of the Post Office. We dig into our favorite independent media outlets, whether Jacob Fatu is officially invited to the cookout, and the most overrated bands in music history. Brad has found another hidden gem with Drop Duchy—a puzzle game dressed up as a Tetris-inspired roguelite that deserves more attention. We share our excitement about the resurrection of Giant Bomb as a worker-owned, independent games media outlet, and what that means for the future of games journalism. PalWorld is quietly scaling back its more obvious Pokémon inspirations—exactly the ending we all expected in its looming legal standoff with Nintendo.

Brad has reached the endgame in Last Epoch and confirms it has the juice for ARPG fans. Terrence gives his full review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 now that he's beaten it, and explains why he’s diving back into Avowed. Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed to next year—but does anyone on the panel actually care? Microsoft raises prices across the board for Xbox hardware and first-party games. We discuss what this means for the future of console pricing and why Microsoft may have jumped ahead of Sony. A brutal week in games media sees the effective end of both Polygon and Giant Bomb. We reflect on the corporate failures in the media and games industries, and how independent creators continue to lead by example.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster arrived unexpectedly, and Carrie and Terrence share their thoughts on how well it holds up today. Micah, Brad, and Terrence have all jumped into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Is the game living up to the buzz and lofty expectations? We also offer our impressions of Promise Mascot Agency and Last Epoch, and how each stacks up in their respective genres. Finally, we recap WrestleMania 41—which matches delivered, which disappointed, and what the outcomes could mean for WWE's future direction.

Brad shares his impressions of Blue Prince, diving into what makes the game engaging for him while explaining why it might not be a must-play for everyone—even with Game of the Year buzz. Terrence wraps up South of Midnight, and he and Micah discuss how the game stands out as a powerful and positive representation of Black culture in gaming. Tariff relief might be on the horizon for the U.S., but game consoles are notably excluded. We examine what this means for the Switch 2 preorder landscape and how Sony is adjusting its pricing strategy globally, including PlayStation 5 price hikes in some markets to offset U.S. losses. We also preview WrestleMania weekend and share why it’s looking like one of the weaker cards in recent memory.