GameBurst

This week on GameBurst, the team unpacks a turbulent few days for the games industry. Sony has reportedly reversed its strategy of simultaneous PC and console releases, returning first-party titles to a period of PlayStation exclusivity — a significant shift that analysts believe is designed to shore up the platform's appeal ahead of its next hardware cycle. In sadder news, Eurogamer faces a second round of layoffs under IGN parent company Ziff Davis, with senior editors, its video team, and staff behind the popular Outside Xbox YouTube channel among those affected. Meanwhile, Bungie has launched its long-awaited extraction shooter Marathon, pledging to avoid pay-to-win mechanics and "FOMO-inducing" battle passes as it bets heavily on a live-service future. Summer Game Fest 2026 has confirmed its return in June, bringing with it the revived industry event The Game Business Live — and with GTA 6 looming on the horizon, expectations are running high. Finally, in a remarkable piece of gaming history, the US National Videogame Museum has acquired the fabled Nintendo PlayStation prototype, the failed Sony-Nintendo collaboration that inadvertently gave birth to the PlayStation brand.

In this week's Picks of the Week, Gary champions the Anglo-Saxon board game Bretwalda, Jerome highlights the indie PC title Sector Unknown and a theatrical wildcard in Phil Porter's BLINK at the King's Head Theatre, while Taylor turns their attention to the Nintendo Switch 2.

#gameburst

In this week's episode of GameBurst, we navigate a particularly turbulent period for the video game industry, marked by significant leadership shifts and mounting legal pressures. We lead with the executive upheaval at Xbox, where the sudden departures of stalwarts Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond have forced a swift pledge from new leadership to return the brand to its console hardware roots.

The legal landscape for Valve also intensifies this week. The PC gaming giant is currently facing a dual-front battle: a lawsuit from the New York attorney general over alleged illegal gambling within loot box systems, and a staggering £656m collective action claim in the UK courts regarding Steam's market dominance. Meanwhile, the human cost of industry consolidation is felt at Eurogamer and Outside Xbox, which have been hit by a fresh wave of editorial layoffs following their acquisition in 2024.

On a brighter note for fans of gothic platforming, Konami has announced Castlevania: Belmont's Curse for a 2026 release, developed in collaboration with the team behind Dead Cells. We also discuss the departure of creative director Clint Hocking from Ubisoft's upcoming Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe and dive into our Picks of the Week, featuring the board game Speakeasy and the latest from LumiBricks. Finally, we address community feedback regarding the ethics of game ratings and the evolution of the podcast's format. #gameburst

In this week's episode of GameBurst, we cast a critical eye over a turbulent period for the gaming industry. The news is dominated by Sony's strategic pivot, as the company confirms a remastered trilogy of the original God of War titles alongside the surprise release of the 2D prequel, Sons of Sparta. However, this nostalgic revival is offset by the somber news of the closure of Bluepoint Games, the celebrated studio behind the Demon's Souls remake, marking another casualty in a string of recent internal restructures at Sony.

The industry also pauses to mourn Hideki Sato, the visionary engineer who designed every Sega console from the SG-1000 to the Dreamcast, whose passing marks the end of an era for hardware innovation. Furthermore, we examine the looming threat of global component shortages that Valve warns could impact hardware availability and pricing throughout 2026.

Our "Pick of the Week" segment features a diverse range of titles, from the high-octane racing of Grid Legends to the indie charm of Cast n Chill and The Rogue Prince of Persia. Finally, we dive into the mailbag to address listener questions regarding podcast analytics and the motivations behind independent gaming broadcasts.

YouTube Recommendations:

• The Tragedy Of Becoming Better by The Masked Man: https://youtu.be/FNAyjfDUX2o?si=Rb46TxDd3wxEXPrJ
• Mass Effect - Shaped By Stories: https://youtu.be/ghAXbX-F5K0?si=WxFVibwCOMD8DKS1

In this week's episode of GameBurst, we examine a series of significant disruptions across the video gaming industry, from retail collapses to industrial action. We report on the high-street stalwart GAME, which has reportedly filed for administration, potentially ending its long-standing presence in British retail. Meanwhile, Valve faces a substantial £656m class action lawsuit in the UK over allegations of anti-competitive practices on its Steam platform.

The programme also covers the four-day strike launched by Ubisoft unions in France over wages and return-to-office policies, and Jagex's firm commitment to human artistry by rejecting generative AI for in-game content. Additionally, we analyze Microsoft's hardware struggles as Xbox revenue continues to decline. For this week's "Pick of the Week," our panel shares their latest experiences, ranging from the indie title MIO: Memories in Orbit to a visit to Nuuksio National Park in Helsinki.

#gameburst

YouTube Links:

• If Ryan is dead, then where is the body? by Siobhan Brier Aguilar: https://youtu.be/vrUir0fnB4Q?si=X37HzJFuujbJaJh9

Gary's MixCloud

• https://www.mixcloud.com/Xantiriad/

This week on GameBurst, we dissect a turbulent week for the gaming industry, led by Ubisoft's sweeping "portfolio reset" which has seen the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake axed alongside the closure of several studios. While the French publisher pivots toward a new "Creative House" model, the UK sector finds cause for optimism with the unveiling of the 2026 Games Growth cohort, a government-backed initiative aimed at scaling thirty of the country's most promising emerging studios. We also explore the record-breaking success of Amazon's Fallout series and how a shift toward shorter, "one-sitting" experiences like Inkle's TR-49 is challenging the dominance of the bloated open-world epic. #gameburst

Featured Video Content:

• 230 games came out the first week of 2026: An Investigation by Jenna Stoeber - https://youtu.be/Yjf-GPp3n5k?si=6z3ifgZSZ9sV6WCW

New #gameburst: Chloe Price returns in Life is Strange, Sophie Turner is Lara Croft, and Sony purges the PS Store. Plus, picks including Indiana Jones and The Outer Worlds 2. Pre-order James Batchelor's Pokemon history book now!

Pre-order "The History of the Pokemon Games" by James Batchelor:

• Pen & Sword: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-of-the-Pokemon-Games-Hardback/p/57238
• Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-history-of-the-pokemon-games/james-batchelor/9781036100988

In an era where digital landscapes are as much about the cultural zeitgeist as they are about mechanics, GameBurst's "Pick of the Year" special provides a refreshing, if eclectic, snapshot of the 2025 gaming world. From the administrative whimsy of Two Point Museum to the looming cinematic dread of A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, the panel's selections underscore a medium that remains defiantly varied. Yet, the discussion transcends the screen; the inclusion of craft stouts, Welsh aqueducts, and DJ controllers suggests a community where gaming is merely one thread in a much broader, richer tapestry of modern experience. Whether it is the tactical depth of Galactic Cruise or the haunting design works of Citizen Sleeper, this retrospective celebrates the year's most resonant moments. #gameburst

Links:

• Chris Spargo https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisSpargo
• F.D Signifier- https://www.youtube.com/@FDSignifire/featured
• Garage - https://greenlit.com/project/garage
• Urban Shadows https://rpggeek.com/rpg/25371/urban-shadows
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct https://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk/

Total War: Medieval III confirmed! Sony links with Left 4 Dead co-creator for a new shooter, and Amazon is building a "unified universe" for Tomb Raider. Plus, Dan Houser compares open-world games to Dickens. #gameburst

PS5 leads Black Friday sales + LEGO Horizon Adventures hits PS Plus day one. Nintendo acquires Bandai Namco Singapore & expands Switch Online classics. Valve confirms next Steam Machine will not be subsidised. Plus: Xbox Crocs & Yakuza 0 delisting. #gameburst

Links

• People make games (Youtube) - https://www.youtube.com/@PeopleMakeGames/videos

The gaming world felt the tremor of resolution this week as Epic Games and Google settled their landmark Android lawsuit, concluding a five-year legal battle over mobile app store practices. Meanwhile, the digital landscape received a blast from the past: Springfield's finest, The Simpsons, have descended upon Fortnite in a huge crossover event, turning the battle royale map into a delightfully absurd animated town.

In hardware news, Nintendo's Switch 2 is cementing its place in history, reportedly having sold an astronomical 11 million units since its June debut, outpacing the PlayStation 5's launch success. Not all news was celebratory, however, as Rockstar Games disputed allegations that staff firings were linked to union activity, bringing the contentious issue of workers' rights back into sharp focus.

Finally, while Arc Raiders climbs to the top of the OpenCritic charts as the highest-rated multiplayer shooter, fans are finding solace in the unexpected return of therapeutic gameplay with the release of PowerWash Simulator 2. Hear Gary, Jerome, and Taylor dive into these headlines, plus their personal picks including Hades 2 and the board game The Old Kings Crown, on the latest GameBurst Podcast.

Links

• https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357873/the-old-kings-crown
• https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/429405/orloj-the-prague-astronomical-clock