Gametalk

Episode 262

The Steam Machine is imminent - it was reviewed by several creators and priced at an eye-watering $1049 for the most basic SKU. Today, we give our thoughts on the Steam Machine in the context of its price and the current hardware landscape. Is the pricing an anomaly or a foreboding sign of things to come? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Halo 3, Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon, Mario Tennis Fever). This episode was recorded in June 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:40 - Steam Machine Pricing / Impressions

31:24 - Steam Hardware Speculation and Comparisons

52:14 - Halo 3

1:00:44 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

1:07:09 - Mario Tennis Fever

Episode 261

In today's episode, Dylan makes his podcast debut! We speak at length about the future of the games industry and how it might parallel the film/music industries, as well as some of the challenges that the industry may face in the years to come. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Destiny 2, Resident Evil). This episode was recorded in June 2026. 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 - Game Ownership Replaced With Access

11:13 - Game Companies Have Increased Risk Aversion

23:34 - Individual Creators Become More Valuable

27:29 - Increased Emphasis On User-Generated Content

35:01 - Game Discovery Becomes A Massive Problem

43:49 - AI Will Open Up Game Development To The Masses

55:31 - Attention Becomes The Most Valuable Currency

1:01:25 - Will Gaming Become The Dominant Entertainment Medium?

1:08:49 - The Dire Xbox Situation

1:16:13 - Destiny 2

1:33:52 - Resident Evil (Series)

Episode 260

Summer Games season is over, and it was packed to the brim with exciting games! We go through Geoff Keighly's Summer Games Fest, the Xbox Showcase, and the Nintendo Direct and discuss all the games that caught our eye. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Mina the Hollower, Slay The Spire 2, 007 First Light, Final Fantasy XIV, Destiny 2). This episode was recorded in June 2026. 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

4:38 - Summer Games Fest 2026

30:57 - Xbox Summer Showcase 2026

53:17 - Nintendo Direct Summer 2026

1:35:13 - Mina the Hollower

1:41:44 - Slay The Spire 2 / 007 First Light

1:45:48 - Final Fantasy XIV

1:53:29 - Destiny 2

Episode 259

Summer Games Fest season kicks off with PlayStation's State of Play, and there is much to discuss! With a deluge of single-player games shown, could this be Sony beginning to course-correct from their misguided live-service venture? We give our thoughts on the State of Play, then discuss the end of Destiny 2 and the situation Bungie finds themselves in. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing. This episode was recorded in June 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

4:56 - State of Play June 2026

46:03 - The Death of Destiny 2

1:01:00 - Miscellaneous Games We're Playing

Episode 258

Summer is finally upon us, and that means Summer Games Fest! Today, we predict what we might see at this year's showcases from PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and more! As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (007 First Light, Monster Hunter, Battlefield 6). This episode was recorded in May 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

7:30 - Summer Games Fest Predictions

31:46 - 007 First Light

40:58 - Monster Hunter

47:39 - Battlefield 6

53:18 - ARC Raiders

Episode 257

PlayStation has announced that they are abandoning their PC initiative for their single player games. Though it seemed in recent years that exclusives were a thing of the past as games were increasingly available on PC and competing consoles, present circumstances have spurred a return to the exclusivity ways of old. Today, we talk about why this shift is occurring, and what that means for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC going forward. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Fall Guys, Directive 8020). This episode was recorded in May 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

5:05 - PlayStation Moving Away From PC

27:08 - Shifting Exclusivity Strategies

47:12 - Fall Guys

55:57 - Directive 8020

Episode 256

Capcom has proven themselves one of the most prolific and acclaimed AAA developers of the modern age. Today, we discuss Capcom's success, sales numbers for some of their major IP, and Capcom franchises (like Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Dragon's Dogma, etc.) that we hold near and dear. We also give our impressions after going hands on with the new Steam controller. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Windrose). This episode was recorded in May 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:52 - Discussing Capcom IP

39:08 - Capcom Future Growth and Sales Numbers

53:42 - Steam Controller Impressions

1:08:44 - Windrose

Episode 255

Asha Sharma has been CEO of Xbox for just under three months, and she is already making major moves. With a promise to return back to what made Xbox great and slashing the price of Game Pass, is she the salvation the Xbox brand so desperately needs, or is there a sinister undercurrent to her actions? On the other side of the fence, Saros has launched for PS5. We have finished the game in its entirety, and we give our thoughts on Housemarque's latest action-packed adventure. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Saros, Factorio). This episode was recorded in May 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

2:18 - Asha and Xbox

40:10 - Saros

1:03:03 - Factorio

Episode 254

The AAA games industry is not in a stable state. Ballooning development costs and timelines, extensive layoffs, AI integration, and the chase for high live-service revenue are a few aspects of the industry that are leading to increased uncertainty and instability. Today, we explore the current (tenuous) state of AAA gaming, and how new studios like Sandfall Interactive may pave the way for sustainable "premium" game development going forward. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Deadlock, Thomas and Friends: Wonders of Sodor). This episode was recorded in April 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

4:24 - AAA Industry Issues

34:49 - GTA6 in the Current AAA Landscape

49:17 - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check

54:48 - Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

1:01:49 - Deadlock

1:08:01 - Thomas and Friends: Wonders of Sodor

Episode 253

Everyone has a game or two that they turn to when times are tough, a familiar experience that you can return to time and time again to relieve stress. Today, we talk about our personal "comfort games" and how they perk us up when we're feeling down. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Crimson Desert, Kerbal Space Program 2). This episode was recorded in April 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

11:22 - Comfort Gaming

48:11 - Crimson Desert

54:10 - Kerbal Space Program 2