Game Buoy

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, August 31, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy revisit the topic of adult content in gaming and how it has changed over the past 13 years!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 19 – Let’s Talk About [MATURE CONTENT], Baby, originally published on January 21, 2013.

Content warning: although Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy have a serious discussion about the topic of adult content in gaming, the very nature of the topic means that this episode is NSFW. (Lovely and beautiful) listener discretion is advised!

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME

RELEASE UPDATES

CULTURE CLUB

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

SO CONTROVERSIAL

DOOM AND GLOOM

SMASH HIT!

RUMOR HAS IT

DISCUSSION TOPIC

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy talk about the changing landscape of bad games! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at  Game Buoy Podcast Episode 19 – Let’s Talk About [MATURE CONTENT], Baby, originally published on January 21, 2013. Back in 2013, the Podcast Pirates looked at the controversial topic of adult content in gaming, starting by looking at the evolution of adult gaming over the years and its relative absence in the west. They discussed four main talking points: “Sex as a Weapon” (using sexual content as a selling point), “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” (using sexual content as a storytelling device), “Violence, Gore, and the AO Rating” (a brief look at the history of the AO rating), and “Silly SINuality” (examples of bizarre erotic content in gaming).

In parallel to their discussion from 2013, the Podcast Pirates break their discussion up into four main talking points:

WHAT’S UP

Captain Spike has been playing Super Robot Wars Y, Fortnite, and Final Fantasy XIV. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing eroge by Y Press Games, Robin Morningwood Adventure, Fortnite, and Final Fantasy XIV.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Hello, folks! This week we’re talking (respectfully!) about how representations of adult content in games (read: sex) have changed over the last 13 years. Have you observed any trends in how these types of scenes have changed (or haven’t!)?

Bonus question: Among series you play, how do you feel about how sexual content is depicted currently?

EXITLUDE

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– WoW… That’s Crazy, for throwback and modern posts about World of Warcraft (from the creator of Standard Issue Computing and Famicomputing)
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Thomas Game Docs, where each video covers “a different aspect of video game history”
– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– Game Mechanics, where TTRPG designers “kick tires and run diagnostics on tabletop experiences”
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode Episode 181 – People Are Still Having [MATURE CONTENT]: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 8 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, August 17, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy clear the news slate and talk about what they’ve been playing lately!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on previous news-themed episodes, as well as the Game Buoy Micro format last seen in 2015.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME

–Yuke’s has announced that they are acquiring AQUAPLUS.
– Former RedOctane employees have established RedOctane Games, a new studio that is working on a rhythm game to be announced later in 2025!
– IGN boss John Davison is leaving the site after six years, following the latest round of Ziff Davis layoffs.
– Digital Foundry is now independent from former owners Ziff Davis.
– Nexon is using bizarre AI ads to promote its mobile game The First Descendent.
– After multiple customers were told that LGBTQ content was not allowed to be purchased with Stripe, the payment processing company has confirmed that this information does not accurately reflect their business practices.
– A great lineup of games is available on PlayStation Plus for the month of August.
– Arcade Archives Aqua Jet for PS4 and Switch, and Arcade Archives 2 Aqua Jet for PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2, are now available.

RELEASE UPDATES

– Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack launches worldwide on November 13 for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. 
– Pixel action RPG Cladun X3 launches in the west on September 26 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection launches digitally for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam on September 9, with a physical edition available for preorder.  
– Chibi-Robo! is coming to Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics for Switch 2 for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on August 21.
– LEGO Party! launches on September 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– Necrosoft’s school life strategy RPG Demonschool launches on September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
– A Switch 2 version of The Exit 8, featuring new anomalies, launches on August 29 alongside the theatrical movie adaptation.
– UFO 50 Is now available for Switch.
– Cozy management game Tiny Bookshop is now available for Switch and PC via Steam.
– Mina the Hollower will launch on Switch 2 alongside the previously announced versions, and a limited time demo for Switch and Switch 2 is available until August 21.

CULTURE CLUB

– Crossover fighting game Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga, which was previously scheduled for release in the west this summer, has been delayed a few months. 
– Free DLC characters Evil Marian and Super Anubis are now available for Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons.
– The 7th and 8th DLC pack characters have been revealed for One Piece Pirate Warriors 4.
– Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater’s “Fox Hunt” multiplayer mode will launch later this fall.
– Speedrunning community RTA in Japan has revealed that Nintendo is requiring them to ask for advance permission to feature first-party Nintendo games at future events.
– Heretic + Hexen is now available for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam, Microsoft Store, and GOG.
– McDonald’s in Japan placed purchase restrictions for Pokémon Happy Meals over the weekend, after a promotion last week resulted in wasted food and disappointed children.
– New screenwriters have been hired for New Line Cinema’s Space Invaders film.
– PETA has called for Nintendo to remove Cow’s nose ring in Mario Kart World, as a means of bringing awareness to bovine cruelty.
– Nintendo has announced an adorable new line of merchandise for babies and toddlers in Japan called My Mario, featuring a wooden block playlet that doubles as amiibo figures. 
– In addition, a free app for Android, iOS, and Switch called Hello, Mario! will allow families and young children to playfully manipulate Mario’s face.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

– Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3: V Generation for Switch is getting a release this fall in Asia with English language support.
– Square Enix announced a Return Home to Vana’diel free login campaign and discount sale for Final Fantasy XI.
– Ratatan will launch in early access on Steam on September 19, after being delayed.
– A new One Piece punching game is coming to Japanese arcades. 
– After getting flooded with “Mixed” reviews on Steam recently, NetEase has responded to claims that Marvel Rivals uses engagement optimized matchmaking. 
– Capcom will be holding a “Capcom Presents” panel at New York Comic Con 2025.
– Exit the Gungeon is no longer exclusive to Apple Arcade on mobile.
– Date Everything has sold 500,000 copies.
– Katy Perry performed a verse from her Simlish version of “Last Friday Night” at a recent concert.

SO CONTROVERSIAL

– Roblox is being sued by the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana due to being “a breeding ground for child predators.”
– Scalpers ran rampant at the Pokémon World Championships.
– GungHo Online Entertainment has dismissed a former senior executive for embezzlement.
– An AI slop clone of Palworld has been spotted on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
– The Battlefield 6 beta, which requires Secure Boot to load, is already plagued with cheaters.

DOOM AND GLOOM

– Sony CFO Lin Tao admits that live service gaming is “not entirely going smoothly.”
– Genshin Impact is ending support for PS4.
– PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is ending support for Xbox One and PS4 on November 13, alongside the launch of its Xbox Series and PS5 ports.

SMASH HIT!

– Is whale-chasing a viable strategy in an era of recession? (GamesIndustry.biz)
– From Nintendo Power Hotline To Now, Human Labor Has Always Been The Soul Of Video Game Guides (Aftermath)
– Despite What NYT, WaPo, And Vanity Fair Seem To Think, We Still Need Critics (Aftermath)

RUMOR HAS IT

– Black Ops 7 is apparently releasing on November 14 for €80, but there is no indication it will release for Nintendo consoles.
– BioWare apparently pitched a Dragon Age trilogy remaster, but EA turned down the pitch.
– Dataminers have found that a new endless mode seems to be coming to Elden Ring Nightrein.
– Despite previously being indefinitely delayed, Marathon is expected to release “within this fiscal year,” per Sony.

WHAT’S UP

Captain Spike has been playing Marvel Rivals, Bakeru, UFO 50, Gradius Origins, Arcade Archives Macross 2, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, Fortnite, and Final Fantasy XIV.  First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Donkey Kong Bananza, Fortnite Festival, and Final Fantasy XIV. They also partook in a certain playtest that they did not have to sign an NDA for, but nonetheless prefer to not speak to specifically at this point.

EXITLUDE

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– WoW… That’s Crazy, for throwback and modern posts about World of Warcraft (from the creator of Standard Issue Computing and Famicomputing)
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Thomas Game Docs, where each video covers “a different aspect of video game history”
– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– Game Mechanics, where TTRPG designers “kick tires and run diagnostics on tabletop experiences”
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 180.5 – MICRO Episode 8: Oh My God, News (A Game Buoy Remake 7.5 Interlogue) appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, August 3, 2025, First Mate Slaggy McWaggy and Captain Spike discuss the changing landscape of bad games!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 28 – @#*$ Games (Or: The E.T. Episode), originally published on May 18, 2013.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME

– Steam and itch.io have responded to pressure from payment processors, driven by the organization Collective Shout, by delisting and reindexing adult games, respectively.
– Ana Valens wrote two articles for Waypoint investigating Collective Shout.
– Savage Ventures, the owner of VICE, ordered the articles to be taken down due to their controversial content In response, Valens quit Waypoint along with many other writers and managing editor Dwayne Jenkins.
– Aftermath discussed the troubled history of Waypoint during its relaunch over the past year.
– Collective Shout responded to the Steam and itch.io situation, citing “false claims and misinformation” being spread.
– The IGDA responded with their grave concerns about payment processors influencing what can appear on digital storefronts.
– Gamers started a mass calling campaign, with increasing levels of resistance from payment processors.
– GOG launched a giveaway of 13 NSFW as a means of “taking a stand against the quiet erasure of creative works from digital shelves.”
– Capcom Fighting Collection 2 will be getting a free title update on August 7, including characters for Street Fighter Alpha 3 UPPER that had previously only appeared on the PSP port.
– Capcom released a trailer for C. Viper, coming this fall as part of the Street Fighter 6 Year 3 DLC.
– Ken Masters is now available for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves as a guest DLC character.
– Arc System Works released a trailer for Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a guest DLC character coming to Guilty Gear Strive.
– Arc System Works released a “Beginner’s Guide” video for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and registrations are now open for a Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls closed beta on PS5 from September 5-7.
– Sony has formally announced their “Project Defiant” fight stick as the FlexStrike, available in 2026.
– A Dynasty Warriors remastered title and major DLC for Dynasty Warriors: Origins are in development.
– A new Friday the 13th game was teased at San Diego Comic-Con.
– Darksiders IV was announced at THQ Nordic’s 2025 showcase!
– Mario Paint is now available on the Nintendo Switch Online SNES library, including mouse support for Switch 1!
– Nintendo Switch and its accessories have undergone a price increase in the United States, including Nintendo Switch Online controllers as noted by Wario64.
– Nintendo Switch has reached a total of 153.1 million lifetime sales, nearly matching the lifetime sales of the DS.
– Per Nintendo’s Q1 report, 5.82 million Switch 2 consoles were sold, along with 5.63 million copies of Mario Kart World.
– Switch 2 set a first month sales record of 1.5 million in Japan, breaking the record previously set by the GBA.
– Switch 2 is officially the fastest-selling console in United States history, with first month sales numbers now confirmed to be 1.6 million.
– The Switch 2 Pro Controller has approximately a 1 in 3 attach rate.
– The official Nintendo camera’s attach rate is in the “mid single digit” percentage.
– The Pokémon Company made many announcements during their recent Pokémon Presents presentation.
– Nintendo showcased many games during their Partners Direct, with some exclusive games discussed during the Japanese Partners Direct.
– Square Enix has dropped a free Switch 2 performance patch for Dragon Quest III HD-2D, offering a Performance Mode and a Graphics Mode.
– Octopath Traveler 0 will be a Game Key Card on Switch 2, with no upgrade path from Switch 1.
– NIS America has sated that Trails Beyond the Horizon will be a Game Key Card on Switch 2 as it is the “most beneficial option” for the game’s fans.
– Borderlands 4 will run “mostly around 30 fps” on Switch 2, and it will release as a Game Key Card.

RELEASE UPDATES

– The Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4 will release on October 3.
– Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road has been delayed to November 13.
– A closed beta for 2XKO begins on September 9.
– Nicktoons & the Dice of Destiny launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam on September 30.
– Slime Rancher 2 is leaving Early Access and releasing on  PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store on September 23.
– BREAK ARTS III has been delayed to an undetermined date.
– Fate/EXTRA Record has been delayed to Spring 2026.
– Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution releases digitally for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam on August 19.
– R-Type Delta: HD Boosted releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam on November 20 in Japan.
– AQUAPAZZA: AQUAPLUS Dream Match releases on PC via Steam on September 25.
– Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage launches on October 30 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, coming later on Switch 2.
– Physical editions of Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection release on December 12; the Standard Edition coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and Switch 2, and the Deluxe Edition is coming to PS5, Switch, and Switch 2.
– The Switch 2-exclusive western release of Disgaea 7 Complete has been dated for October 10.
– Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution releases for PC via Steam on August 26.
– Hello Kitty Island Adventure will get a digital release for PS5 on August 5 and a physical release on August 29; the “Wheatflower Wonderland” DLC is coming to Switch, PC via Steam, and Apple Arcade on September 18 and “coming soon” to PS5.
– The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on October 17.

CULTURE CLUB

– Smashing entire levels, skipping layers and transformations, and not collecting a single banana are some of the examples of emergent gameplay seen in the Donkey Kong Bananza community.
– New voice actors have been revealed for Donkey Kong, Peach, Toad NPCs, Toad, and Toadette.
– Mario Kart World‘s Patch 1.2.0 has increased the frequency of “lap type races” in online multiplayer.
–  Former Capcom producer Yoshiki Okamoto shared insights to how it was difficult for companies like Capcom to make a profit during the Famicom and Super Famicom eras due to the cost of cartridges.
– An old interview with The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara resurfaced, in which he discussed how Nintendo of America thought Pokémon looked “too cute” and redesigned Pikachu to look like “a tabby cat with huge breasts.”
– The Final Fantasy Magic: the Gathering set earned $200 million in a single day.
– Final Fantasy XIV producer/director Yoshi-P has discussed how the game is approaching variable difficulty levels for the same content.
– Wolfenstein will be getting a TV adaptation from Amazon MGM Studios.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

– Paramount has shut down a Twin Peaks fan game.
– Handy Hockey, a 2010 DSiWare game originally only released in Japan, is now available on the Switch 2 eShop!
– An X-Men vs. Street Fighter player has been helping keep the game alive, including at a side tournament at EVO 2025.
– The “Gundam 45th Anniversary x Hatsune Miku: Energetic Haro Speaker Miku version” is available from Banpresto crane games in Japanese arcades.

SO CONTROVERSIAL

– The developers of Persona 5: The Phantom X held a stream to address player concerns, and just made players even more upset.
– NADA HOLDINGS and Dragami Games shared an anti-DEI press release for their upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw reboot.
– An “anonymous complaint” was filed against Stop Killing Games’ founder, Scott Ross, due to allegations that his unpaid time spent volunteering for the cause was equivalent to significant financial contributions if paid the market rate.
– Sony has filed a lawsuit against Tencent for a “slavish clone” of the Horizon series.
– An update for Super Mario Bros. Wonder made the game unplayable offline.
– A World of Warcraft community manager reminded players not to buy gold illegally, then reminded them about the WoW Token.
– A promotional image for a Diablo Immortal x Hearthstone crossover event had telltale signs of generative AI.
– A Chinese artist’s fan art of Ho-Oh appeared to have been plagiarized for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.
– GungHo Online is considering a shareholder request to oust CEO Kazuki Morishita.
– Four EA games are being shut down in October.
– Despite over 9,000 layoffs, Microsoft earned $27.2 billion in net income last quarter.

DOOM AND GLOOM

– ZeniMax employees have shared stories of their inhumane treatment in the wake of Microsoft’s mass layoffs.
– Ubisoft reportedly canceled a Star Wars Outlaws sequel.
– Despite losing $200 million on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, WB Games is recruiting an executive producer for what seems to be a DC-themed live service game.
– Devil May Cry 5 outsold Monster Hunter Wilds in Capcom’s last financial quarter, and their share prices have tumbled.
– Capcom put a $75 digital soundtrack for Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam, and it’s only available in MP3.
– The next BioShock game failed a review by 2K Games executives, and the BioShock remake has reportedly been canceled.

RUMOR HAS IT

– A LinkedIn post suggests that a Fire Emblem game for Switch 2 is on the way.
– With the Halo Championship series announced to be moving on from Halo Infinite next year, rumors of a new Halo game have more precedence than ever.

DISCUSSION TOPIC

This week, First Mate Slaggy McWaggy and Captain Spike talk about the changing landscape of bad games! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 28 – @#*$ Games (Or: The E.T. Episode), originally published on May 18, 2013. Back in 2013, the Podcast Pirates looked at the history of kusoge (literally “shit games”) and shared their examples of “The (Sorta) Good, The (Really Really) Bad, and The (Just Absolutely) Ugly” of terrible games. The Podcast Pirates follow up on the topic with another three part discussion, looking at various games as case studies for how some notably bad games from the past 12 years ended up the way they did.

In the first part, The (Regrettably) Bad, or “Think U the Shit? (U Not Even the Fart),” the Podcast Pirates discuss some of the most poorly received games since their last episode: Mighty No. 9, Balan Wonderworld, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, and the latest failure – the titular MindsEye. Next, in The (Actually) Good, or “I’m Doing Good, I’m On Some New Shit,” First Mate Slaggy McWaggy and Captain Spike discuss games that were poorly received at launch that were revitalized and given a second chance at life (which would not have been possible back in the day): Final Fantasy XIV, No Man’s Sky, and Cyberpunk 2077. Then, in The (Unforgiveably) Ugly, or “Vigilante Shit,” the Podcast Pirates discuss the increasing problem of “eShop slop” – poor excuses for games like Pirate Anime Quest: One Boy’s Journey, A Piece of Island Love that utilize generative AI art and are so bad that they are not even worthy of the term kusoge! As a sidebar, they also talk about Intentionally Bad Games! (aka “And the Desert Bus Award Goes To…”), spotlighting Goat Simulator,  Yeah! You Want “Those Games,” Right? So Here You Go! Now, Let’s See You Clear Them!, and Retro Game Master CX Remaster.

The Podcast Pirates wrap up the discussion by reflecting on common themes found in the failures of these games, lessons learned, and the outlook for the future of bad games.

Supplemental Reading:

– FFXIV Interview: Phoenix Down For a Fallen MMO (1UP)
– Cyberpunk 2077 Was Supposed to Be the Biggest Video Game of the Year. What Happened? (The New York Times)

WHAT’S UP

First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, Final Fantasy XIV. Captain Spike has been playing Donkey Kong Bananza, Final Fantasy XIV, the demo for The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, and the Blitz Royale mode in Fortnite.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Hello folks, this week we’re revisiting the topic of bad games! We’ll look at some notable flops from recent years and the factors that led to their failure. What do you feel are the biggest disasters of the past decade or so, and why do you think they failed?

Bonus question: We’ll be looking at some games that have been improved over time, to positive results. Have you played any games that have undergone these changes, and what are your thoughts on the process?

EXITLUDE

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Thomas Game Docs, where each video covers “a different aspect of video game history”
– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– Game Mechanics, where TTRPG designers “kick tires and run diagnostics on tabletop experiences”

– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 180 – @#*$ Games #2 (Or: The MindsEye Episode): Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 7 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, July 20, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy talk about under appreciated games of the past 13 years!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 12 – Under Appreciated Gems, originally published on October 23, 2012.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME

– Sega has announced that the physical release of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds on Switch 2 will contain the full game on the cartridge.
– Nintendo of Japan reportedly sent out a survey asking gamers their thoughts about Game Key Cards.
– Square Enix has announced that Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D won’t contain an upgrade path from Switch to Switch 2.
– A closed beta test for Blue Protocol: Star Resonance has been announced.
– Nintendo will be offering a “Global Jam demo” event for Drag x Drive on August 9 and 10 for users with Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions.
– The actors for Link and Zelda in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie were revealed on the Nintendo Today! app.
– The Nintendo Switch Game Voucher service will be coming to an end on January 30, 2026.
– A Nintendo Switch 2 owner’s console was banned after trying to load secondhand games that had unknowingly been cloned.

RELEASE UPDATES

– Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening releases for PlayStation 5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam on August 26.
– Ys X: Proud Nordics launches for Switch 2 on July 31.
– Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity launches for Switch on September 4.
– PixelJunk Eden 2 will be released for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on October 10.
– Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S+ launches July 24 for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– Groove Coaster: Future Performers launches digitally for Switch on July 31 in Japan.

CULTURE CLUB

– Life is Strange Collection has been announced for PS5.
– Fantasy Maiden Wars – DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER –, a fan game in the Touhou Project series, will release for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam worldwide in 2025.
– Astro Bot is continuing to receive free updates.
– The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is selling well, so Too Kyo Games is no longer at risk of bankruptcy.
– GiGO Akihabara #1, formerly Sega’s flagship arcade, will close on August 31 after 32 years of operation.
– Atlus has revealed that Metaphor: Refantazio has sold 2 million copies.
– Roblox creators are now about to apply to license characters from franchises including Ryu Ga Gotoku.
– Nintendo will be running a second playtest for its secret Nintendo Switch Online MMO project.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

– The “Lava Chicken” song from A Minecraft Movie is now obtainable in game by defeating a Chicken Jockey.
– Inti Creates has announced Majogami, a 2D action platformer coming to Switch and Switch 2 on October 30, with a PC release via Steam coming later.
– Arch-tempered monster hunts will no longer be time-limited in Monster Hunter: Wilds, based on player feedback.
– Bandai Namco has launched Gundam: Extreme Vs 2 Infinite Boost in Japanese arcades.
– Taito has announced the rhythm puzzle game QQQbeats!!! for Switch, coming this fall in Japan as a digital-only release.
– Iron Galaxy is investigating how an Easter egg of a box of the fictional game Banjo Champion in a trash can was put into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.

SO CONTROVERSIAL

– Ubisoft’s shareholders challenged the company to respond to the Stop Killing Games movement.
– Black Wings Game Studio has acknowledged the angry feedback regarding Persona 5: The Phantom X‘s launch and promises to respond.
– Francesco Salicini, an Italian YouTuber, is facing jail time for reviewing retro handheld consoles.
– The co-founders of Unknown Worlds have filed a lawsuit against their publisher, Krafton, for breach of contract after their sudden dismissal from the company.
– Hundreds of adult games have been delisted from Steam after “confusing new rules” have been introduced.
– At Ubisoft’s July 10 shareholder meeting, one shareholder complained about Assassin’s Creed Shadows being woke.
– 2016 visual novel Wheels of Aurelia has been delisted from the iOS App Store; developer Santa Ragione stated this is because they have not updated the game in years, despite it running fine on modern iPhones.
– Major Nintendo Switch piracy site Nsw2u has been taken down by the FBI.
– Limbo and Inside have been delisted from GOG.

DOOM AND GLOOM

– Virtuos has let go 370 employees due to “evolving to meet the changing needs” of its partners and the wider video games industry and “rebalancing of roles across [their] studios and geographies”.
– Laid-off staff at King say that they have been training their AI replacements.
– John Wick Hex has been delisted from all digital storefronts.
– Live service mech shooter game Steel Hunters will be shut down in October, just three months after its early access launch.

RUMOR HAS IT

– A Dragon Quest VII remake is reportedly in development at Square Enix.

DISCUSSION TOPIC

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy talk about under appreciated games of the past 13 years! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 12 – Under Appreciated Gems. Back in 2012, the Podcast Pirates looked at games that were the least loved in the franchises, cult classics, and relatively unknown hidden gems. The Podcast Pirates follow up on the topic by sharing some of their favorite under appreciated gems from the past 13 years. They discuss the concerning trend that many titles are increasingly hard to find due to being delisted from digital storefronts or facing end of service. The Podcast Pirates wrap up the discussion by talking about initiatives like Stop Killing Games are important to help protect games – especially under appreciated gems – not just fade into obscurity, but disappear and become inaccessible for future generations.

WHAT’S UP

Captain Spike has been playing Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the Blitz Royale mode in Fortnite. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Final Fantasy XIV.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Hello, folks! This week we’re talking about some of our favorite underappreciated gems from the last 13 years. Tell us about your favorite games from more recent generations that you feel were overlooked or deserve reappraisal.

EXITLUDE

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Famicomputing, for “Nintendo and PC stuff” including screenshots, videos, photos, and reviews
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Thomas Game Docs, where each video covers “a different aspect of video game history”
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 179 – Under Appreciated Gems, Again!: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 6 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, July 6, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss how the past decade has gone for Japanese gaming titans Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Konami!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 13 – Giants of the Japanese Gaming Industry, originally published on November 10, 2012.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME

– Xbox has been hit with mass layoffs as part of a 9,100 job reduction in force at Microsoft.
– Microsoft has closed their studio The Initiative and canceled the Perfect Dark remake.
– ZeniMax Online Studios’ MMORPG code-named Blackbird has been canceled as part of the Microsoft layoffs.
– Everwild has been canceled at Rare as part of the Microsoft layoffs.
– As Microsoft cuts 9,1000 jobs, it is investigating $80 billion in AI.
– Warcraft Rumble will not get any new content due to the Microsoft cuts.
– Despite the mass layoffs at Microsoft, Phil Spencer is not retiring.
– Alix Wilton Regan, the voice of Joanna Dark, has asked fans to call for the Perfect Dark remake to be saved.
– Gregg Mayles is reportedly leaving Rare after Everwild‘s cancellation.
– Nintendo has announced a “price change” for the original Switch in Canada starting August 1.
– The Season 3 trailer for Marvel Rivals introduces Jean Grey and Blade, with symbiote king Knull as the big bad.

RELEASE UPDATES

– Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X | S on August 26.
– Arcade Archives 2: Air Combat 22 (for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, and Switch 2) and Arcade Archives: Air Combat 22 (for PS4 and Switch) was released on July 3.
– Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is now available for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, and PC via the Microsoft Store.
– Turbo Kid is coming to Switch on August 5.
– Cladun X3 will be releasing for PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC via Steam in the west in 2025.

CULTURE CLUB

– Kotaku has been sold by G/O Media to Gizmodo owner Keleops.
– The anime Cyberpunk Edgerunners II has been announced.
– A limited Hello Kitty edition of Suika Game will be available as part of Japanese McDonald’s Happy Meals from July 11 to August 8.
– Nintendo has shared that Donkey Kong Bananza was developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team but has not named any specific developers involved in the project.
– Target is offering $50 eShop gift cards to those who received their Switch 2 delivery late.
– Neil Druckmann will not be involved in production of The Last of Us season 3 in order to focus on game development.
– A Fortnite tournament cheater has been banned from the game forever and forced to pay a $175,000 fine.
– Mobile free-to-play game Destiny: Rising comes to Android and iOS on August 28.
– Resident Evil Survival Unit, a mobile game, is currently in development.
– Supergiant has stated that Hades 2‘s Unseen Update Patch 10 is likely to be the final patch before its full launch.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

– Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons, a Bubble Bobble roguelike, is coming to PS5, Switch, and PC via Steam this winter in the west, with a Japanese release for PS5 and Switch in 2025.
– Arc System Works has announced the interactive adventure game Dear me, I was… for Switch 2 this summer.
– My Hero Academia: All’s Justice has been announced for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, and PC via Steam.

SO CONTROVERSIAL

– Patch 1.1.2 for Mario Kart World has removed an exploit that allowed players in online Versus mode to force 3-lap tracks.
– Front Mission 3‘s remake is using AI upscaling to terrible results.
– 11 Bit Studios has explained that AI text in The Alters was meant as a placeholder.

DOOM AND GLOOM

– Anthem‘s servers will go offline on January 12, 2026.

RUMOR HAS IT

– Nintendo and Amazon deny that they are in a feud, as Pokémon Legends Z-A and Donkey Kong Bananza are available for pre-order on the retailer.
– A comment from Matt Ryan, Edward Kenway’s voice actor, suggests that a long-rumored Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake is on the way.

DISCUSSION TOPIC

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss how the past decade has gone for Japanese gaming titans Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Konami! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 13 – Giants of the Japanese Gaming Industry. Back in 2012, the Podcast Pirates looked at Namco Bandai, Capcom, and Konami at three milestones – 1992, 2002, and 2012 – to examine where they were, where they had been, and where they were going. The Podcast Pirates follow up on whether their predictions panned out, discussing how things have gone for the three companies since 2012. They discuss whether the companies should have changed their approach during this time span, if they made any egregious errors, and their hopes for the next decade.

WHAT’S UP

Captain Spike has been playing Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Bravley Defaut HD, and the Blitz Royale mode in Fortnite. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Fast Fusion, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the Blitz Royale mode in Fortnite.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Hello, folks! This week we are talking about how Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Konami have fared over the last ~15 years. Have any of these companies delighted or disappointed you in recent years?

Bonus question: Are there any older games/series by Bandai Namco, Capcom, or Konami that you would like to see revived? (Please only respond if you’re comfortable with us reading your responses on air, thanks!)

EXITLUDE

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Famicomputing, for “Nintendo and PC stuff” including screenshots, videos, photos, and reviews
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Thomas Game Docs, where each video covers “a different aspect of video game history”
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 178 – Standing on the Shoulder of (Japanese Gaming) Giants: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 5 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, June 22, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the current state of LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion in gaming!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 7 – LGBT Issues in Gaming, originally published July 24, 2012.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME

– 79% of Switch 2 buyers in the United States also bought Mario Kart World.
– Polygon reported that third party Switch 2 games aren’t selling well.
– Conversely, games analyst Mat Piscatella observed that third party game sales for Switch 2 are stronger than they were during the Switch 1 launch.
– The Switch 2 sold almost 1 million units during its launch week in Japan.
– The Switch 2 sold over 1.1 million units during its launch week in the US.
– Hardware sales of the Switch 2 during its launch are double that of the Switch 1, and it is now the fastest-selling console of all time.
– The original Silent Hill is getting a remake from Bloober Team.
– SAG-AFRTA has called off industrial action after almost a year of strikes.
– The standard edition of Borderlands 4 will cost $70.

RELEASE UPDATES

– Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam in 2025.
– The “Eevee Grove” expansion is coming to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket on June 26.
– PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY is out for PS5, Switch, and PC via Steam on July 11 worldwide.
– The House of the Dead 2: Remake launches August 7 for Switch and PC and later for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox series.
– Doronko Wanko comes to Switch on July 24 with five additional playable dogs.
– Golden Tee Arcade Classics comes to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG on July 17.
– Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Title Update 2 comes out on June 30.
– Honkai: Star Rail‘s version 3.4 update.
– Persona 4 Revival and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN will be out in Fiscal Year 2027.
– Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter launches worldwide on September 19 for Switch, PS5, and PC via Steam.
– The Pokémon franchise is launching a new internet game show, The Gotta Catch ‘Em All! Game Show.

CULTURE CLUB

– Sandfall Interactive is exploring “a wide range of future improvements” for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, including more content.
– Elden Ring Nightrein has added new, more difficult bosses in its latest update.
– The live action film Return to Silent Hill will open on January 23, 2026.
– Bungie has delayed Marathon, with no release window currently set.
– SEGA has announced that SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and Avatar Legends DLC will be coming to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
– Spike Chunsoft is releasing a short animated series to tie into No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files.
– Nintendo is pushing back the release date of the Legend of Zelda movie to May 7, 2027.
– CD Projekt RED is developing The Witcher 4 with a “console-first” mindset.
– Adi Shankar has acquired the screen rights for Duke Nukem.
– The upcoming Patch 7.3 for Final Fantasy XIV will add more headgear options for Hrothgar and Viera.
– The Ghost of Yotei developers are making efforts to respectfully portray the indigenous Ainu people of Japan.
– Hideo Kojima changed some of the script of Death Stranding 2 because it was getting too positive of a response during play testing.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

– Tales of cards will be coming to Weiss Schwarz and Weiss Schwarz Blau.
– Shallot has been revealed as a DLC character for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
– A billboard in the London Underground erroneously stated that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was “out now.”
– An Alien Ant Farm song is being cut from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.

SO CONTROVERSIAL

– Splitgate 2 developers 1047 Games have had to lay off an unspecified number of staff, but the co-founders are taking no salary while the company restructures.
– Support for Beat Saber is ending on PS4 and PS5.
– NIS America has announced that Disgaea 7 Complete Ewwdo Edition is only coming to Switch 2 and will be on a Game Key Card.
– Nintendo has reportedly banned players using MIG cartridges to play pirated games on the Switch 2.

DOOM AND GLOOM

– Sony has laid off roughly a third of Bend Studio’s staff.
– The Smartphone game Black Clover M: Rise of the Wizard King will end service on August 21.

SMASH HIT

– Nathan Grayson’s article “The Summer (Game Fest) Before The Fall (Of America)” discusses the Summer Game Fest in the context of occurring during the protests and ICE presence in L.A.

DISCUSSION TOPIC

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the current state of LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion in gaming! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 7 – LGBT Issues in Gaming. Back in 2012, the Podcast Pirates discussed prominent LGBT characters in gaming, notable LGBT plots and subplots, and lesbianism being used in an exploitative way – along with highlighting Cho Aniki! After looking back at the past episode, the Podcast Pirates examine how LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion has changed over the years. They discuss LGBTQIA+ characters and themes in games that have stood out to them in recent years, games they would recommend to give historical and modern perspectives on LGBTQIA+ issues in gaming, along with their hopes for how inclusion and representation can improve in the games industry in the future.

Resources discussed:

– 2024 GLAAD Gaming Report: The State of LGBTQ Inclusion in Video Games (GLAAD)
– “It’s Time to Bury the Bury Your Gays Trope in Video Games” by James Troughton (Gayming Magazine)
– “Queer Lives Are Not Quests” by Cody Mejeur and Xavier Ho (Public Books)

WHAT’S UP

Captain Spike has been playing Bravley Defaut HD and the Blitz Royale in Fortnite. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077, and Pokémon Scarlet.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Hello, folks! This week for Pride we are talking about how LGBT issues and representation have changed in gaming in the last ~15 years. Regardless of your identity, have you observed any industry change from your perspective? How do you feel about these changes?

Bonus question: Are there any games that feature LGBT characters OR which you feel explore LGBT related issues that you’d like to recommend? (Please only respond if you’re comfortable with us reading your responses on air, thanks! )

EXITLUDE

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Famicomputing, for “Nintendo and PC stuff” including screenshots, videos, photos, and reviews
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Thomas Game Docs, where each video covers “a different aspect of video game history”
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 177 – More of That Gay Stuff: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 4 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, June 8, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 133 – Glamorous Nindie Rock & Roll, originally published March 7, 2017.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME [2:44]

– Arc System Works and Sony Interactive Entertainment have announced MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls, a tag-team fighting game for PS5 and PC.
– Nioh 3 has been announced for PS5 and PC.
– Resident Evil Requiem has been announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
– Sagat, C. Viper, Alex, and Ingrid have been announced as the Year 3 DLC characters for Street Fighter 6.
– Tencent has acquired a 15% stake in Arrowhead Games.
– Scott Pilgrim EX has been announced for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC.
– Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has been announced for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.
– Lego Party! has been announced for Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, and PC for a late 2025 release.
– Lego Voyagers, a 2-play co-op adventure with a Split Fiction style friend pass, has been announced for release on Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series.
– Bandai Namco announced that the next entry in the Tales of remaster series will be announced later this summer.
– Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, a remaster of the original game, is coming to PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam on September 30

RELEASE UPDATES [24:34]

– Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will also be launching for Switch 2 on its September 25 release date.
– Mina the Hollower launches October 31 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– ARC Raiders launches on October 30 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
– Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will launch on Switch 2 on July 11 alongside its release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam, Microsoft Store, and Battle.net.
– Sword of the Sea launches on August 19 for PS5 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and it will be available on the PlayStation Plus catalog on day one.
– Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound releases on July 31 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– Digimon Story Time Stranger releases on October 3 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
– Pokémon Legends Z-A releases on October 16.

CULTURE CLUB [27:49]

– Frontier Developments has announced Jurassic World Evolution 3 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store – but it will feature generative AI for its scientist portraits.
– The Mario Kart World fanbase’s love of Cow has continued with the release of the game.
– Mario Kart World‘s Smart Steering is on by default but is easy to turn off.
– SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s “Project Century” has been officially revealed as STRANGER THAN HEAVEN.
– Code Vein II has been announced for a 2026 release on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
– Marvelous USA’s CEO, Ken Berry, has stated the company’s commitment to release as many physical Switch 2 games as possible.
– Elden Ring Nightrein hit 3.5 million copies sold in just 5 days.
– Nintendo was true to its word when it said any USB-C camera will work with the Switch 2 – and people have found creative solutions (including Game Boy Camera).
– Despite Too Kyo Games being “on the brink” of collapse, Kazutaka Kodaka wants to keep expanding The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy.
– A Death Stranding anime is in the works.
– An Elden Ring film is in the works.
– Doug Jung has joined Amazon’s Mass Effect adaptation as showrunner.
– GameChat on Switch 2 allows for live captions and text-to-speech, and this includes swear words!

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO [47:33]

– Ratatan, a spiritual successor to Patapon, launches on Steam in early access on July 25.
– Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement has been announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
– A Kickstarter is launching on June 10 for Joe & Mac Retro Collection, planned for a 2025 release for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– 8bitdo controllers will require a firmware update before working on Switch 2.
– Grasshopper Manufacture has announced their latest title, Romeo is a Dead Man, coming to PS5.
– Giant Skull is working on a new single-player Dungeons & Dragons video game.

SO CONTROVERSIAL [53:58]

– Three former Ubisoft executives are on trial in France, accused of “creating a company culture…that allowed systemic sexual harassment and sexism to thrive.”
– Games that appear to rip off One Piece have been removed from the Japanese eShop.
– Samantha Kelly, who had been the voice of Peach and Toad since 2007, found out the roles had been recast on the release date of the Switch 2.
– An update to the Nintendo Today! app disabled the ability to record the screen or take screenshots.

DOOM AND GLOOM [1:04:51]

– Zynga, who bought Torchlight 3 studio Echtra Games in 2021, has shut down the studio.
– EA’s canceled Black Panther game would have featured a system similar to Shadow of Mordor‘s nemesis system.
– After suffering many cuts in 2024, People Can Fly has had to scale down its teams after the cancellation of “Project Bifrost” and “Project Gemini.”
– Yooka-Laylee developer Playtonic has been hit with layoffs.

DISCUSSION TOPIC [1:13:41]

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the launch of the Switch 2! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 133 – Glamorous Nindie Rock & Roll. Back in 2017, the Podcast Pirates discussed topics such as the pre-launch events for Nintendo Switch, attending a midnight launch, the hope of Nintendo adopting Switch as a platform moving forward, the console’s availability online vs. in stores, and their overall impressions with the hardware and software. They then discuss their experiences with the Switch 2 launch, hardware, and games and how they compare to its predecessor, along with their hopes for the future of the Switch 2.

Resources discussed:

– Nintendo Switch 2’s faster chip can dramatically improve original switch games (Ars Technica)
– Mario Kart World – All Retro Tracks Comparison (Switch 2 vs. Original) (YouTube)

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK [2:19:22]

Hello folks, this week we’re celebrating the launch of the Switch 2! Did you pick up Nintendo’s latest console? If so, what are your thoughts?

BONUS QUESTION

Bonus question: Did you participate in a midnight launch for the Switch 2? If so, how was your experience? (Please only respond if you’re comfortable with us reading your responses on air, thanks!)

EXITLUDE [2:20:51]

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 176 – Ninty, You’re a Star: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 3 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, May 25, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the current state of gaming journalism!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 6 – Gaming Journalism and the Industry, originally published July 1, 2012.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME [2:32]

– Aftermath gave space for former Polygon employees to say goodbye to to the site and share their favorite memories.
– Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has been canceled.
– Square Enix has shared new screenshots from Kingdom Hearts IV.
– Sony is considering increasing the price of the PS5 to compensate for tariffs.
– Doug Bowser says that physical games are still key part of Nintendo’s business.
– FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time sold 500,000 copies in its first two days!
– LEVEL-5 has announced a free DLC update coming for FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time called ‘Update the World!’
– Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka has announced a new multi-genre adventure game, SHUTEN ORDER, due out September 5 for the Nintendo Switch eShop and PC via Steam.

RELEASE UPDATES [22:29]

– Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is out on July 29, with a limited physical release on PS5 and Switch, and available digitally on both platforms as well as Xbox Series and PC.
– Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra has been delayed to early 2026.
– Killer Instinct Gold is now available on Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online.
– Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 is out for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Switch on August 14 in the west, two weeks ahead of its Japanese release.
– Parasol Superstars comes out on September 16 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Switch.
– Persona 5: The Phantom X is launches on June 26 for iOS, Android, and PC via Steam.
– Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is coming to PS5 this summer.

CULTURE CLUB [25:19]

– The title of the next Super Mario Bros. movie appears to be Super Mario World.
– Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is launching for PC and mobile in English this year.
– Hideo Kojima has a USB drive with ideas for games for Kojima Productions to use after his death.
– Jade Raymond has departed Haven Interactive Studios.
– A Monster Hunter Wilds x Street Fighter 6 collaboration is coming to Monster Hunter Wilds starting on May 28.
– The Leeroy Jenkins video is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO [32:32]

– Final Fantasy XI was almost shifted into maintenance mode in 2024, but an outpouring of fan support changed Square Enix’s mind.
– A UNIQLO x Pokémon Trading Card Game line of shirts will arrive in August.
– Ultra Beasts are coming to Pokémon TCG Pocket in the new Extradimensional Crisis expansion pack, coming on May 29.

SO CONTROVERSIAL [42:54]

– Players made a Darth Vader AI in Fortnite say terrible things, and SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice charge.
– Nintendo of America updated its EULA so that it can brick your console if it detects you are running a modded console or pirated software.
– WizKids’ Baldur’s Gate 3 minis were so bad that the company had to offer refunds.
– Bungie has admitted that stolen artwork was used in Marathon‘s alpha build.
– Geoguessr has pulled out of the Esports World Cup due to Saudi Arabia’s history of human rights violations.
– Randy Pitchford responded to concerns that Borderlands 4 may cost $80 by saying that “real fans” will figure out a way to buy it.

DOOM AND GLOOM [1:01:42]

– The Lego Group has shut down the fan game Bionicle: Masks of Power after years of development.
– Tribe Nine will shut down in early 2026, after only eight months of operation.
– Gun Media is ending development on Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Game less than two years after its release.

RUMOR HAS IT [1:08:26]

– Friday the 13th: The Game may be getting a revival.
– Marketing for Marathon has reportedly been canceled following the plagiarism controversy.
– An Arc System Works leak may have given insight into why so many third party Switch 2 titles will be coming out on Game Key Cards.
– Rayman looks to be getting an AAA revival after last year’s announcement of an “exploration phase.”
– Shuhei Yoshida said that sequels for fan favorite PS Vita games Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars were in development before resources were shifted to the development of the PS4.

DISCUSSION TOPIC [1:18:01]

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the current state of games journalism! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 6 – Gaming Journalism and the Industry. Back in 2012, games journalism was a bit of a “boy’s club” with an incestuous relationship with the gaming industry, and the Podcast Pirates were championing sites such as 1UP that should have been the standard rather than the exception. Now, over a decade later, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy reflect on the status of games journalism in the wake of Polygon’s mass layoffs and Giant Bomb’s newfound independence. Thanks to Pete Volk’s Polygon “exit interviews” and investigative reporting from Aftermath’s Luke Plunkett, they share insights directly from those in the field. The Podcast Pirates then examine how games journalism has improved and declined since 2012, and how their expectations have changed. They discuss what they would like to see from gaming journalism moving forward, and contextualize its current state of affairs in the larger sphere of journalism as a whole, its relationship with late-stage capitalism, and a societal shift in the way consumers engage with journalism and the news.

Resources discussed:

– Pete Volk’s Polygon Exit Interviews
– ‘There Are So Few Of Us Left’: Even Full-Time Games Journalists At Big Websites Are Feeling It In 2025 (Aftermath)
– Freelance Video Game Journalists Are Propping Up The Industry, And Many Are Being Paid Dogshit In Return (Aftermath)

WHAT’S UP [2:10:16]

Captain Spike has been playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Balatro and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK [2:19:53]

Hello folks, this week we’re looking at the recent kerfuffles in games journalism impacting beloved sites Giant Bomb and Polygon! Are you excited for Giant Bomb’s newfound independence?

BONUS QUESTION

What is your games journalism/news destination nowadays? It seems so many great sites have dried up! Keep sharing the links!

SUPER DELUXE BONUS QUESTION

What defunct gaming sites of yesteryear do you miss/wish were still in operation? (Please only respond if you’re comfortable with us reading your responses on air, thanks! )

EXITLUDE [2:24:02]

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 175 – Very Emergency: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 2 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, May 11, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the changing landscape of games distribution!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 3 – Digital Distribution and DLC, originally published May 8, 2012.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME [3:35]

– Polygon was sold to Valnet and hit with layoffs on the same day that Jeff Grubb announced he was leaving Giant Bomb.
– The news of Polygon’s sale to Valnet was first reported by Kotaku.
– Per Aftermath, at least 25 Polygon employees were laid off.
– However, Fandom sold Giant Bomb to its staff, and Giant Bomb will now be a fully independent, creator owned, and reader supported side.
– Microsoft has raised Xbox console and game prices in the US.
– The Overwatch 2 team at Blizzard has fully unionized.
– Nintendo Switch system software Version 20.0 includes the new virtual game card feature, which has changed the way players can share games.
– Fortnite has returned to the iOS App Store.
– 8bitdo is currently not shipping to the US from China due to Trump’s tariffs.
– Anbernic has suspended all shipments to the US from China as well.
– The Wii Homebrew Channel’s GitHub repository has been archived due to the discovery that one of its toolkits utilizes stolen Nintendo and open source code.
– Wholesome Direct will take place on Saturday, June 7 at 9 AM Pacific, with proceeds from merchandise sales supporting Point of Pride, a nonprofit that provides gender affirming care and financial support to trans people.
– Wolf Hawkfield will be a playable character in the new Virtua Fighter game.

RELEASE UPDATES [31:29]

– Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2.
– Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed until May 26, 2026.
– The release date of Borderlands 4 has been moved up two weeks earlier, to September 23.
– Sonic Rumble has been indefinitely delayed.
– Balatro, Ark: Survival Ascended, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun are free on PlayStation Plus for May 2025.
– Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter will release on September 19 for PS5, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– GEX Trilogy launches digitally June 16 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam, with a limited physical release shipping later in 2025.
– Gears of War: Reloaded is out on August 26 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
– Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution will launch for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam this summer.

CULTURE CLUB [37:52]

– Somebody beat the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 demo at a Nintendo event with a naked Link.
– World of Warcraft is adding an optional one-button rotation assist mode.
– Renowned Japanese TV drama actor Shinya Owada shared the sad news that his original Pokemon Red game save data from 1996 has been lost.
– The new Star Wars animated series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld premiered on Fortnite before Disney+.
– In a recent interview with Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paolo, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser stated that Nintendo had been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion long before the term DEI came into common usage, and will remain committed.
– The Nintendo Today app featured a video showing the Joy-Con 2’s mouse functionality in the system menu.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO [53:57]

– Kazutaka Kodaka stated that he is glad he made The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy, even if it doesn’t sell well.
– Unika from the Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime will be a new DLC character for Guilty Gear: Strive, coming May 27.
– A demo for Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is coming to PS5 and PC via Steam this month.

SO CONTROVERSIAL [59:49]

– Sackboy has been quietly removed from PlayStation Productions marketing material.
– Grant Kirkhope reveals why he was not credited for the DK Rap in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
– Nintendo is suing accessory maker Genki after it used a 3D-printed mockup of the Switch 2 earlier this year.

DOOM AND GLOOM [1:09:20]

– Respawn has laid off an unspecified number of employees and canceled two early in-development projects.
– EA laid off a narrative designer on Apex Legends the same day her new character was revealed.
– Evil Dead: The Game has been removed from digital storefronts.

SMASH HIT [1:16:11]

– Elijah Gonzalez at Paste discusses how Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a great game that is tainted by its controversy.
– Alanah Pearce, formerly of IGN and Sony Santa Monica, investigated the current state of the games industry, and things are “uh, not great.”

RUMOR HAS IT [1:24:00]

– Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is likely coming to Switch 2, per a rating from the Saudi Arabia ratings board.
– Valve watchers say that Half-Life 3 is “playable end-to-end” and has a definitive ending.
– Yuji Horii clarifies his comments about a Chrono Trigger HD-2D remake, stating that nothing is in the works, but many people are asking about it, and he is looking into it.

DISCUSSION TOPIC [1:28:33]

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the changing landscape of games distribution! As part of the Game Buoy Remake Project initiative, they take a look back at Game Buoy Podcast Episode 3 – Digital Distribution and DLC. Back in 2012, the idea of digital distribution was a new concept – but now it’s so widespread that the majority of new games on home consoles are purchased digitally. The Podcast Pirates discuss how their games consumption habits and preferences have changed since 2012, how comfortable they are with digital purchases in 2025, as well as the Game Key Card kerfuffle. Finally, they wrap up the discussion by discussing the outlook for the future of digital distribution and whether their current digital purchases will remain playable.

Resources discussed:

– How digital is the video games market in 2024? (GamesIndustry.biz)
– “Nintendo Switch’s digital sales ratio has now, for the first time, surpassed 50% globally” (Christopher Dring via X)
– Nightdive Studios’ CEO Says That Game-Key Cards On Switch 2 Is “Disheartening” (Nintendo Life)
– Doom: The Dark Ages Disc Is Pretty Much Useless Because You’ll Need An Internet Connection To Download The Full Game Anyway (TheGamer)
– DoesItPlay?

WHAT’S UP [2:03:47]

Captain Spike has been playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Fortnite. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster, Blue Prince, Sonic x Shadow Generations, and Link’s Awakening HD.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK [2:22:23]

Hello folks, this week we’re talking about the changing conditions of games distribution! Are you a physical copy adherent, do you prefer digital, or are you somewhere in between?

BONUS QUESTION

How do you feel about Nintendo’s controversial Game Key Card approach, particularly compared to download codes?

EXITLUDE [2:29:26]

SHOUT OUTS – “FRIENDS OF BUOY”

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Standard Issue Computing, retro and modern computer games, hardware, software, and history
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 174 – Digital Love: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 1 appeared first on GAME BUOY.

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, April 27, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss Square Enix’s various approaches to remakes and remasters in the modern era!

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME [8:11]

– The Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 airs on June 7.
– Over 2.2 million people submitted My Nintendo Store lottery applications for Switch 2 in Japan.
– Masahiro Sakurai-san got lucky with the Switch 2 lottery.
– The Mario Kart World Direct aired, giving an overview of the game.
– Ziff Davis is suing OpenAI in a case against copyright theft.
– Respawn Entertainment and former XCOM devs at Bit Reactor are developing Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based tactics game set during the Clone Wars, due out in 2026.
– Breath of Fire 4 is available on GOG as part of its games preservation program.

RELEASE UPDATES [20:01]

– Fishing adventure RPG Nice Day for Fishing comes out May 29 for PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam.
– Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road comes out August 21 for Switch and Switch 2.
– The 2004 GBA game Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is now available on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass.
– Dragon Ball Daima DLC is now available for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
– The “Celestial Guardians” expansion comes to Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket on April 30.
– Sonic x Shadow Generations will be a launch title for Switch 2.
– Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars will be a launch title for Switch 2.
– Ghost of Yotei comes out October 2 for PlayStation 5.

CULTURE CLUB [23:30]

– Marvel Rivals quietly patched in graphical improvements that increased the size of male characters’ butts and bulges.
– Paul Rudd stars in a new commercial for Nintendo Switch 2 that calls back to his original SNES commercial.
– A new demo is available for Unbeatable, a rhythm game where music is illegal.
– Assassin’s Creed Shadows had the third biggest US launch month in the series and is currently the second best-selling game so far this year.
– Diablo IV will have a Berserk collaboration running from May 6 to June 3.
– The Yunobo amiibo is not yet available for preorder.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO [32:03]

– The full title roster has been revealed for Super Robot Wars Y.
– Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster will include mini-games that take advantage of the mouse functionality of the Joy-Con 2.
– Humble Choice will be increasing in price by €3/$3 CAD per month and will include a subscription to IGN Plus starting in May.
– FuRyu has announced VARLET, a school life RPG coming August 28 to PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

SO CONTROVERSIAL [38:00]

– Although the game is being pulled from Steam, the devs behind No Mercy defend their controversial despite featuring incest and nonconsensual encounters.
– Square Enix says that Barret was designed to look “well-built and not gassy” in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.
– Many third-party Switch 2 games will not include the full game on the physical cartridge, instead opting for “Game Key Cards” instead.
– Marvelous has confirmed its Switch 2 titles will contain the full game on the physical cartridge.

DOOM AND GLOOM [48:35]

– Following the multi-billion dollar sale of its gaming division, Niantic is laying off 68 employees.
– Meta has laid off an unknown number of employees from its Reality Lab division, impacting the Oculus Labs team.
– Mighty Yell has laid off an unknown number of employees.

MINI-DISCUSSION [50:31]

Speaking of “so controversial,” Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy have a mini-discussion about the Switch 2 pre-order hullabaloo! They discuss the general consumer experience with the various retailers, as well as their own personal experiences, and how vitriol against Nintendo for retailer mishaps is misguided. With six weeks to go before the console’s launch, the Podcast Pirates also share their hopes for the period leading up until June 5.

DISCUSSION TOPIC [1:03:11]

This week, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss Square Enix’s various approaches to remakes and remasters in the modern era! From full 3D remakes with metanarrative elements, to the Pixel Remasters, to the much loved 2D-HD style, and even more – Square Enix has revisited classic games and lesser known gems alike. Along with a historical note on Square Enix’s legacy of remakes, the Podcast Pirates examine the pros and cons of each approach for both new and returning players, as well as their own personal experiences and preferences. They wrap up the discussion with the Square Enix games they’d like to see remade in the future, and which approaches might be best suited to certain types of games.

WHAT’S UP [2:09:58]

Captain Spike has been playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. First Mate Slaggy McWaggy has been playing Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster and Live A Live HD-2D.

SOCIAL LINKS QUESTION OF THE WEEK [2:18:04]

Hello folks, this week we’re talking about Square Enix Remakes and Remasters! Do you have a favorite approach of the several they’ve taken for revisiting their catalog material?

BONUS QUESTION

What Square Enix classic would you like to see revisited, and what approach would you like them to take?

SUPER DELUXE BONUS QUESTION

Did you attempt to partake in the Switch 2 pre-order kerfuffle? If so, how did it go?

EXITLUDE [2:23:53]

SHOUT OUTS

– Orange Lounge Radio, where every gamer has a voice
– Aftermath, an independent, worker-owned website about video games, other media and internet culture
– The Bobby Blackwolf Show, a weekly internet radio show and podcast discussing the latest news in gaming as well as sometimes reminiscing about gaming’s history
– Video Game Realness, a dose of gaming chit chat among friends
– Nintendo Pow Block, a dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo
– Standard Issue Computing, retro and modern computer games, hardware, software, and history
– Sasha’s Retrobytes, “bytes” of vintage gaming including magazine scans and photographs
– Defunct Games, your daily source for modern video game reviews, exciting trivia competitions and old school magazine analysis
– Craig, Slaggy McWaggy’s robot boyfriend a multi-track voice channel recording bot for Discord

Also, our theme music was done by the late, great Zelda Reorchestrated, which lives on in the form of ZREO: Second Quest!

The post Game Buoy Podcast Episode 173 – One More Time: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 0 appeared first on GAME BUOY.