Episode 234

After months and months of rumors, Valve has finally dropped the bomb - new hardware is coming! With the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and new Steam Controller finally revealed, Valve looks poised to disrupt the status quo in a big way...if they nail the pricing. Today, we analyze Valve's latest hardware, speculate on the price, and compare the hardware to its contemporaries. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin). This episode was recorded in November 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

3:34 - Steam Machine

41:34 - Steam Controller

50:51 - Steam Frame

1:18:24 - Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

1:21:03 - Mike's Tabletop Campaign

1:30:24 - Metroid Prime 4 Trailer Impressions

Episode 233

Over the decades, some game franchises have established themselves as champions of quality gaming, while others are more hit or miss with their entries. From Zelda to Mario to Resident Evil to Castlevania, we give our thoughts on all these storied video game franchises and many more. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Europa Universalis V, ARC Raiders, PEAK). This episode was recorded in November 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

14:56 - Franchise Discussion 1 (Mario, Zelda, Monster Hunter, Dark Souls)

33:44 - The Pokémon Franchise

45:20 - Franchise Discussion 2 (Castlevania, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy)

1:01:42 - Europa Universalis V

1:17:23 - ARC Raiders

1:37:26 - PEAK

Episode 232

Nintendo Switch 2 has been on the market for a little under half a year, we have some concrete sales data, and spoiler alert - it's a juggernaut. Today, we examine the hardware and software numbers at this very early stage in the Switch 2 lifecycle, and then offer our opinions on the device and its ecosystem after using it for the past several months. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Alan Wake 2, Crusader Kings III, ARC Raiders). This episode was recorded in November 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

2:22 - Latest Switch 2 Sales Data

11:06 - Our Current Thoughts on Switch 2

37:49 - Alan Wake 2

1:02:00 - Crusader Kings III

1:09:40 - ARC Raiders

Episode 231

From Nintendo vs Sega to PlayStation vs Xbox, the so-called "console wars" have been raging for decades. Now, with the announcement of Halo coming to PlayStation, is it finally time to put the idea of console warring to rest? Where does Xbox go from here, and what could their future hardware look like? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Battlefield 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, Pokémon Legends: Z-A). This episode was recorded in October 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

10:42 - How The "Console Wars" Ended

21:12 - Halo Remake On PlayStation

27:56 - Next Generation Xbox/PC Hybrid?

36:32 - Future Console Wars / AI Tangent

51:21 - Battlefield 6

58:24 - Monster Hunter Wilds

1:03:11 - Pokémon Legends: Z-A

1:10:22 - Ending Banter

Episode 230

Electronic Arts (EA) is being purchased by a private equity consortium for 55 billion dollars. Today, we discuss the implications of this purchase - what will happen to high profile EA studios like Bioware and Dice? Will EA's new owners "trim the fat" and reduce EA to Madden/FIFA factory? How will Saudi Arabia's influence impact future EA games? Also, we talk about notable Steam Next Fest games. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Battlefield 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, Yooka-Replaylee). This episode was recorded in October 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastGametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

4:11 - The EA Acquisition

38:47 - Steam Next Fest

47:26 - Battlefield 6

58:43 - Monster Hunter Wilds

1:21:47 - Yooka-Replaylee

Episode 229

The seemingly unstoppable downward spiral of Xbox continues with the latest salvo of bad news - a drastic price increase for Game Pass. Today, we analyze how the Activision deal ultimately led to Xbox's current situation and examine the current state of Xbox and Game Pass after the price hike. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Ghost of Yōtei, Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, League of Legends). This episode was recorded in October 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastGametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

10:30 - Time to Cancel Game Pass?

20:42 - The Impact of the Activision Deal

27:58 - Xbox Leadership Has To Go

32:27 - Paid Online is a Scam

40:02 - Xbox Has Lost Consumer Trust

53:57 - Game Pass With Ads?

59:37 - The Xbox Brand is Dying

1:16:53 - Ghost of Yōtei

1:36:49 - Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut

1:46:16 - League of Legends

Episode 228

Sony's September State of Play has come and gone, and in addition to hotly anticipated first party games like Wolverine and Saros, they had an good variety of games to show. After we discuss the State of Play highlights and briefly go over the latest Monster Hunter Wilds update, we dive deep into another standout game released this year: Hades II. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Hades II, Cyberpunk 2077). This episode was recorded in September 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Check out Connor's game jam game, EAT ROLL REPEAT! https://proudmomgames.itch.io/eat-roll-repeat

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastGametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

8:11 - PlayStation State of Play

37:11 - Monster Hunter Wilds Update

46:56 - Hades II

1:27:51 - Mike's Vampire: The Masquerade Campaign

1:31:12 - Cyberpunk 2077

Episode 227

With the proliferation of modern graphics technologies like ray tracing, we increasingly see AAA games struggle to maintain respectable resolutions and frame rates. Silent Hill F and Borderlands 4 are the latest examples of new games using modern technologies that have image/performance issues. At what point do consumers decide they've had enough and demand better optimized products? Today, we dive deep into the image quality and performance issues that plague modern games, and discuss potential ways to course-correct. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (EAT ROLL REPEAT, Fortnite, Dragon Age: Origins). This episode was recorded in September 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Check out Connor's game jam game, EAT ROLL REPEAT! https://proudmomgames.itch.io/eat-roll-repeat

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastGametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

17:51 - Trading Performance/Resolution for Ray Tracing

25:20 - Consoles Becoming Too Expensive

29:55 - Image Reconstruction Techniques Have Become A Crutch

35:09 - Companies Lack Monetary Incentive To Optimize

45:22 - Optimization Woes and Future Technologies

59:26 - EAT ROLL REPEAT

1:03:39 - Fortnite

1:05:49 - Dragon Age: Origins

1:16:31 - Things We're Looking Forward To

Episode 226

We have completed Silksong, and what a game it was. Today, we talk about our full, spoilery, in-depth thoughts on the bosses, lore, and impactful moments from the game. Then, we briefly give our impressions of the latest Nintendo Direct. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Mario Kart World, Fortnite). This episode was recorded in September 2025. Intro and outro music composed by Christopher Larkin and owned by Team Cherry.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:59 - Hollow Knight: Silksong Discussion (SPOILERS)

50:54 - Thoughts On The Nintendo Direct

1:00:07 - Mario Kart World

1:02:53 - Fortnite

Episode 225

Silksong is out and it proves once again that Team Cherry stands at the pinnacle of their craft. We give our (relatively) spoiler-free impressions of the game and gush about the world design, new mechanics, and much more. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Victoria 3). This episode was recorded in September 2025. Intro and outro music composed by Christopher Larkin and owned by Team Cherry.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastGametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

10:47 - Silksong Launch and Initial Thoughts

21:00 - Difficulty and Mechanics

34:47 - Art, Music, and World Design

43:52 - Quests and NPCs

54:01 - Game of the Year?

1:10:42 - Victoria 3