Gametalk

Episode 242

2026 is looking to be an eventful year - between increasing hardware prices, the upcoming Steam hardware, and the ever-looming GTA VI, there's something to consider for just about everybody! Today, we take stock of the games industry in early 2026 and make some predictions for how the year will go. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Palworld, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak). This episode was recorded in January 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:41 - Hardware Inflation

16:21 - Increasing Domination of Free to Play Games

24:03 - VR's Dwindling Mindshare

35:10 - Nintendo's 2026

45:05 - Xbox's 2026

54:44 - PlayStation's 2026, GTAVI, and Other Upcoming Games

1:11:22 - Palworld

1:24:53 - Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

1:32:36 - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

Episode 241

In late 2025, Netflix announced that they were purchasing Warner Bros Discovery for 80 billion dollars. Though the story of the purchase is ongoing with fresh drama unfolding even still, it looks likely that Netflix will end up acquiring WB - and most interestingly to us, their game studios. Today we discuss how this purchase could shift the gaming and streaming landscape. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Hitman: World of Assassination, Palworld, Monster Hunter). This episode was recorded in January 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

15:37 - Netflix Purchases Warner Bros Discovery

25:57 - Movie Theater Tangent

36:42 - Speculating on a Netflix Game Pass Competitor

44:36 - Thoughts on the "Streaming Wars"

57:39 - Hitman: World of Assassination

1:07:40 - Palworld

1:18:04 - Monster Hunter

Episode 240

2026 is here and with it, some potentially dire news for video game hardware. As the RAM situation continues to deteriorate, the stage is set for massively increased gaming hardware prices. Today, we discuss the ramifications of the inflated RAM prices on PC and console hardware, and predict how the situation will unfold in the short and long term. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Monster Hunter Rise, Donkey Kong Bananza, Void Stranger). This episode was recorded in January 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

8:16 - Impacts of Inflated RAM Price

30:08 - AI Discussion

46:12 - Short and Long Term Effects of RAM Inflation

54:28 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

1:03:13 - Monster Hunter Rise

1:23:13 - Donkey Kong Bananza

1:35:20 - Void Stranger

Episode 239

2025 has truly been an exceptional year for video games. As the year comes to a close, we pit our top 16 games of 2025 against each other in a bracket to determine Gametalk's Game of the Year! To follow along, please check out the YouTube release for this episode. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Neon White, Monster Hunter Wilds). This episode was recorded in December 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]

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

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

1:49 - Top 16

47:51 - Quarterfinals

1:04:45 - Semifinals

1:13:25 - Finals and Gametalk's Game of the Year 2025

1:24:04 - Neon White

1:30:41 - Monster Hunter Wilds

Episode 238

The Game Awards have come and gone, and now we analyze the results! We discuss the big winners of the evening, as well as the new games that were revealed at the show. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Red Dead Redemption 2, Persona 5 Royal). This episode was recorded in December 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]

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

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastgametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:22 - Winners at TGA 2025

44:20 - TGA 2025 Announcements

1:03:52 - Red Dead Redemption 2

1:37:44 - Persona 5 Royal

1:44:01 - Monster Hunter Wilds Update

1:49:01 - Will Ahmed Ever Finish A Video Game?

Episode 237

2025 is coming to a close, and it's time to take stock of the games we played this year. Today, we discuss every single game we played this year and form a list of the top 16 games, which we will pit against each other at the end of the year in a tournament bracket to determine Game of the Year! As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Hitman VR, League of Legends, Until Dawn, I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine). This episode was recorded in December 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]

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

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastgametalk

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

4:54 - The Top Games We Played in 2025

1:14:16 - Hitman VR

1:28:07 - League of Legends

1:31:25 - Until Dawn

1:37:47 - I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine

Episode 236

On today's very special episode, we welcome Jim and Chris, the creators of TerraClash! TerraClash is an adaptable deckbuilding fantasy RPG that offers tons of replayability and fun with friends (or solo)! We chat with Jim and Chris about the design of TerraClash, their interesting backgrounds, how the game came to be, and much more! As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman VR). This episode was recorded in December 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Check out the TerraClash Kickstarter to reserve your copy now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/terraclash/terraclashtm-roguelite-deckbuilding-and-dice-rpg

And check out the TerraClash website for more information: https://terraclash.co.uk/

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 - Introducing TerraClash!

17:02 - TerraClash Mechanics, Art, and Anecdotes

38:56 - TerraClash Kickstarter

49:14 - Cyberpunk 2077 and Games Jim and Chris Are Playing

58:13 - Hitman VR

Episode 235

The Game Awards 2025 nominees have been announced! What becomes evident after looking at the nominees is that 2025 is an extremely strong year for video games. Today, we predict the winners and losers, as well as predict some announcements that may be made at the show. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Cyberpunk 2077). 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]

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

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastgametalk

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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgametalk.bsky.social

Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

12:04 - Predicting The Game Awards 2025 Winners

1:36:04 - Predicting Announcements at The Game Awards 2025

1:43:18 - Cyberpunk 2077

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.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastgametalk

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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.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastgametalk

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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgametalk.bsky.social

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