GameBurst

In this week's episode, the team dissects Microsoft's ongoing turbulence as new Xbox chief Asha Sharma insists the platform is not for sale, even as morale plummets at Gears of War: E-Day developer The Coalition amidst fears of post-launch redundancy. Meanwhile, Xbox rolls out its disc-to-digital entitlement program, former franchise director Frank O'Connor shares advice for Activision's stewardship of Halo, and European regulators mount a major crackdown on major publishers over opaque in-game microtransaction pricing.

On the studio front, Ubisoft grants Massive Entertainment control over Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon while teasing a new IP, March of Giants. The panel also shares their weekly highlights, covering Surviving Mars, Transport Fever 3, and hardware thoughts on the PS5. #gameburst

In this week's episode, we unpack a wave of seismic shifts across the gaming industry, from Xbox's significant studio reorganisation—cutting 268 roles and handing the Halo franchise to Activision—to Bungie's long-awaited pledge to restore vaulted Destiny 2 content. We also examine Hideo Kojima's candid reaction to Physint's cancellation, Microsoft's controversial new in-game advertising patent, and the remarkable rise of the independent sim Dressmaker, which has unexpectedly eclipsed Diablo 4 on the Steam charts.

Rounding out the show, Gary highlights the newly released Screamer, while Taylor delves further into the runaway success of Dressmaker alongside some audio production highlights. Join Gary, Jerome, and Taylor for a comprehensive breakdown of the week's biggest headlines. #gameburst

Hideo Kojima's announcement of Bill Skarsgård leading his espionage title Physint leads a packed week of industry developments, from Bungie quashing rumours of a Marathon and Destiny merger to Shinji Mikami's well-earned induction into the AIAS Hall of Fame. Alongside fresh Xbox Game Pass additions and Nightdive's new Thief Remastered expansion, regulatory scrutiny intensifies as the European Commission drafts sweeping child safety protections under the EU KIDS Act.

On this episode, the team dissect the week's headlines before diving into their personal highlights. The team explores tabletop strategy with the board game Dungeon Lords, alongside a quirky foray into I Joined a Convent of Undead Seamstresses. Join the conversation using #gameburst.

YouTube Links:

• I Joined a Convent of Undead Seamstresses: https://youtu.be/ColTUe0qv9M?si=iFVGzDzqTlhMBLLg

It has been a landmark week for Nintendo's upcoming hardware, with the surprise announcement of Metroid Ravenousarriving in January 2027 alongside confirmation that Monster Hunter Wilds will hit the Switch 2 this December with local cooperative play. Elsewhere in the industry, Hello Games celebrated a decade of No Man's Sky with a massive anniversary cosmos update, while Microsoft stepped in to secure publishing rights for Hideo Kojima's anticipated espionage thriller Physint.

On this week's episode of GameBurst, Gary, Jerome, and Taylor also dive into their personal picks of the week—including Sektori, the Winter Burrow and FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE demos, and more.

#gameburst

YouTube Links from Show Notes:

• Stage Fright Official Reveal Trailer

In this week's GameBurst, we unpick a surprisingly nostalgic news cycle, led by Sony's delightfully retro Lego PlayStation 1 and Nintendo's unexpected eight-player split-screen update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch 2. We also examine the industry's evolving relationship with physical media, celebrating Insomniac's commitment to making Marvel's Wolverine fully playable straight from the disc, alongside a surprise PS5 launch for Double Fine's nautical adventure, Keeper.

Beyond the headlines, the panel dives into a robust round of weekly picks, with Gary detailing his time with Star Wars: Zero Company on PS5, while Jerome champions PC title Divinum and the striking Beast of Reincarnation. Tune in for a comprehensive, ad-light breakdown of the week's biggest shifts across the interactive entertainment landscape. #gameburst

This week's GameBurst delivers a packed dispatch from the frontier of gaming, dominated by heavy-hitting announcements out of Gamescom 2026. We unpack CD Projekt Red's surprise free remaster for The Witcher 3, dissect the brick-by-brick civic management of Lego Skylines, and welcome the return of plastic peripherals with the rhythm-genre revival Stage Tour. Alongside the big reveals, we run the rule over Snoop Dogg's unexpected foray into Hitman, plus the newly confirmed release dates for Gears of War: E-Day and Silent Hill: Townfall.

Beyond the headlines, the panel steps away from the news cycle to delve into this week's personal picks. From early impressions of StarWars Zero Company and Sonic Racing Cross Worlds to the strangely nostalgic revival of ripping CDs, join Gary, Jerome, and Taylor for all the essential critique and conversation. #gameburst Links

• https://www.mixcloud.com/Xantiriad/live-mettricks-southampton-set-march-2026/

In this week's episode, the industry landscape shifts as Nintendo posts robust profits despite a hardware sales dip, while legendary developer Warren Spector announces his retirement. We also unpack Harvey Smith's new venture, Black Pony Immersive, 2K's strategic move to rival EA Sports FC, and the unexpectedly deep RPG mechanics heading to the Tomb Raider remake.

Meanwhile, the panel shares their top picks of the week, ranging from the tactical tabletop depths of Duel of Meloch and the deck-building brilliance of Balatro, to the pastoral charm of Fields of Mistria and a nostalgic deep dive into CD ripping. #gameburst

The video game industry faces turbulent economic tides this week as Halo Studios suffers fresh redundancies following the launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved, even as corporate juggernauts like Gamescom 2026 sell out their exhibition spaces entirely for the first time in history. Meanwhile, creative shifts continue to reshape beloved franchises, with Game Freak abandoning its turn-based traditions for a soulslike apocalypse in Beast of Reincarnation, and House House returning with cooperative sandbox antics in Big Walk.

In this episode of our weekly podcast, Gary, Jerome, and Taylor dive deep into these monumental industry tremors, alongside our regular features and Picks of the Week—including discussions on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Wingspan Pocket, and The Odyssey. Tune in as we dissect the week's biggest headlines and pressures shaping modern digital entertainment. #gameburst

• Eurogamer: Xbox Game Pass Lineup August 2026

• Eurogamer: Halo Studios Layoffs

• GameSpot: Biggest New Game Releases of August 2026

• Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone

• GamesIndustry.biz: Gamescom 2026

• Insider Gaming: Top Games Coming August 2026

The latest landscape of interactive entertainment presents a striking study in corporate consolidation and preservation, as Microsoft expands Xbox backward compatibility to PC players while European regulators clear Saudi Arabia's historic $55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts. Meanwhile, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has posted a formidable three million sales in its opening week, underscoring an enduring commercial appetite for modernized heritage titles alongside Bethesda's ambitious Fallout roadmap and Jagex's expanding ambitions for RuneScape.

In this week's episode, hosts Gary Blower, Jerome, and Taylor weigh in on these macro industry shifts before turning to their individual highlights. Their weekly picks span the hardware charm of the Super Pocket Rare edition and HERO GP, the indie allure of Vampire Crawlers, and a sharp retrospective on Batman Beyond's rogues' gallery. #gameburst

• Casually Comics - Was Inque Batman Beyond's Best Villain?: https://youtu.be/hepnxhWZI-w?si=2YY1yQ_5cHtgCIwk

A seismic shift at Microsoft leads this week's GameBurst podcast, as newly appointed Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma executes a sweeping corporate restructure. The dramatic overhaul will see 3,200 layoffs, alongside a rare strategic reversal that allows celebrated studios Double Fine and Compulsion Games to regain their independence. Meanwhile, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs face new ownership, and Arkane enters a formal consultation period. Beyond the corporate fallout, we dive into Nintendo's quiet, EU-mandated redesign of the Switch Joy-Cons to feature user-replaceable batteries, and discuss a licensing snag that abruptly pulled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 from July's Game Pass lineup. #gameburst

In our Picks of the Week, the team explores a eclectic mix of tabletop and digital media. Gary takes us on a historical transit journey with 1840 Vienna Tramways and reviews the Aftergame.app platform, while Jerome highlights narrative adventures in The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales and the competitive martial arts of Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game. Jerome also shares an insightful video essay examining why curiosity ultimately triumphs over raw talent, drawing comparisons between the acclaimed series Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries.

YouTube Link:

• Why Curiosity Beats Talent | Frieren & Maomao: https://youtu.be/gviNk85q-_0?si=gbXvRHpQ8cizpIhT